LUCKY TO BE ALIVE
Good writing is not an easy thing, it takes talent and lots of work. If, on top of that, you decide to write in a language that’s not your native tongue, the difficulties increase exponentially.
What we leave behind (2020). I think, can be considered an “Annus Horribilis” by pretty much any standard.
With the advancements in science and technology, and the consequences to our work and lives in general, many of which we can not fully understand yet, more about this later. We have to add the coming of a new virus, which has brought the human species to its knees. Especially in my case, due to a severe case of heart failure, after a nasty cardiac infarction a couple of years ago.
These last years have been a bumpy ride. After surviving the initial blow, I’ve been through a series of ups and downs after my heart got “broken”.
BACK IN THE HOSPITAL
Being the latest episode, a forced stay in the hospital for a month, due to infectious endocarditis provoked by a bacteria called “Abiotrophia defectiva”.
All of us have this cute bug in our digestive system. But in my case, it decided to make itself comfortable in one of the three mitraclips. I got installed last year in my mitral valve. Thus, it gave me the dubious honor of being allegedly one of the first humans to have experienced such an affliction.
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
Thanks to the emotional and material support of friends and family. (Food in the hospital is… a little hard to swallow.) And to the impeccable job of the medical team at the https://bellvitgehospital.cat/en/home (There’s no doubt in my mind one of the best in the world), our friendly neighbor “Abiotrophia defectiva” was “evicted”, and the “Abiotrophia Spa” installed in my Mitral valve got dismantled.
I won’t say I’m as good as new, my heart will never be that of a 25-year-old guy. I have no delusions of grandeur riding in the Tour de France, but then again, that is a delusion I abandoned a long time ago.
But at least, the latest echocardiograms show that my EF (ejection fraction). The most important indicator of the overall health of the heart, is stable.
STABLE, BUT COVID-19 IS STILL THERE
My heart is not getting better. But it’s not getting worse either, so as the Spanish believers say, “Virgencita virgencita, que me quede como estoy. ”Little Virgin Mary, little Virgin Mary, keep me as I am, no better, but most importantly, no worse.
That brings me back to the microscopic elephant in the room, a.k.a.. COVID-19. 2020 will be forever known as the year of COVID-19. I’m assuming you all have been more or less affected by COVID-19, hopefully, less.
In my particular case, I have to be very careful not to get infected, so I always wear my N99 respirator.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
So what about 2021? Well, call me irrational, but I think 2021 it’s going to be better, not because I think it can’t get worse, it can always be worse.
Lots of good scientists have been working hard in an unprecedented effort to bring a solution to the stalemate we are in. Vaccines are here, and they use a new system mRNA, based on which we have a relatively low experience, but overall I think it’s going to help us get out of this mess.
I’m sure I’ll be one of the first individuals to get the vaccine. And eventually all of us.
TECHNOLOGY, PROS AND CONS
Again, science and technology are making possible to have a vaccine in record time. We still have to be careful for a few months, but I am convinced that we are on the right path to get rid of this f****** virus. Does that mean that the troubles for our jobs and our industry, in general, are over? Far from it, some of the same science and technology that make it possible for us to beat this terrible pandemic have brought such changes in the TV and film industry, which make the future somehow uncertain (AI).
Let’s face it, traditional TV is over, same goes for films and commercials, I still remember arguing with my DoP friends about the end of film vs digital not that long ago, the industry is evolving and it will continue to do so at an even faster pace, needless to say, that means challenges, but also opportunities. I can’t help but be an optimist, is in my nature, and I believe the future is bright, technology will allow us to focus more on the creative side of the business, which is the most difficult part.
So I’m hoping by the summertime we’ll get together at a lovely terrace, right before sunset, when the temperature is just right to wear a short sleeve. Sit down and have some tapas, perhaps a beer or a glass of wine, and talk about things passed, and thinks to come. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.
Love.
Diego