Storm

Buzzcut Season

In a timespan of weeks, the Corona Crisis has brought so many changes to our daily lives. As always, I love to observe how the behaviour of people under these circumstances changes. And I am not even talking about the bulk buying (hamstering!) and the mass immigration to beaches and parks on the weekends. I find most joy in the smaller things. The individual changes in people's decisions.  

The first thing I’ve learnt is that celebrities and rich people are also going through a hard time! Firstly, I’ve seen many celebrities share emotional pictures of themselves online, crying in lock down. And I completely understand! It must be so difficult to be quarantined in an enormous mansion with a pool and home cinema… I can’t even imagine what that must be like. Secondly, the rich and famous seem to want to help us all out by inspiring us! Because right now, what we need is some celebrities singing us songs on social media. So helpful! What else could they do? I mean, if I would have just lost my job and were about to be homeless, there is nothing I would want more than to hear Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman!) sing “Imagine” on Instagram TV (here you go!). So brave. So inspiring.

But it isn’t just celebrities that show such interesting behaviour: it seems that we all collectively crawled up to the dusty corner in the attic to find the things we used to love. I’ve heard of so many people finding back their old game consoles and spending hours catching pokémon or racing in Mario Kart. Or finally getting back into journaling or drawing. Furthermore, as the gyms are closed and people generally seem to hate jogging, many people found something else in that dusty little corner: while going outside for my daily hour of fresh air, I don’t think I have ever seen so many people on inline skates, roaming the streets and parks. I don’t know what it is with inline skating and its sudden success, but as long as you keep that 1.5 metres distance, do whatever you please.  

Lastly, I think my favorite thing happening in these strange times is the following: after Mark Ruttes advised all nail salons, hairdressers and barbers to close, something peculiar occured. Because since that time, everytime I open social media, I see another boy that has shaved all his hair off. I was always vaguely aware of the fact that so many men find their haircut incredibly important, but never had I thought that the desire for a fresh cut is so strong that it cannot wait another month: longer hair is a disgrace: the head must be shaved. It’s buzzcut season.