If we went back in time and described the first few months of 2020 to younger ourselves, it’s likely that we wouldn’t enjoy our message from the future. Coronavirus is currently spreading across the globe – now an official pandemic – with older people being warned that they are most at risk of developing complications from it, but many more also in danger should they not ultimately be able to subdue its symptoms.
Online, in amongst the varying moods of sheer, unadulterated panic, gallows humor and helplessness, a few people are trying to spread a little earnest levity as we await the full impact of COVID-19 in the west, and a typically upbeat Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the latest to encourage people to follow advice to stay at home and avoid public gatherings and get-togethers.
In a video posted to Twitter, the former governor of California decided to let people know that as a 72-year-old man, he was taking it all very seriously. Well, as seriously as Arnie can take things, which is clearly taking the time out to chat about his complete lack of outdoor plans while donning a Terminator: Dark Fate t-shirt and clutching Whiskey and Lulu – his miniature pony and donkey who are allowed in the house for reasons best known to the Schwarzenegger family at this time – lovingly to his chest…
“The important thing is that you stay at home because there’s a curfew now. No one is allowed out, especially someone who is 72 years old. After 65 you’re not allowed out your house anymore in California, so you gotta stay home.
“That’s what we do. We don’t go to restaurants, we don’t go to anything like that anymore here. We just eat with Whiskey and with Lulu and have a good time and get entertained. Look at that beautiful smile she has.
“No more restaurants, forget all that. Gatherings, restaurants, gymnasiums are out the window. You stay home.”
Arnold then goes on to chastise the pony for biting, saying that they have all got to get along as they are in “very small quarters” in “a very small house” which is pretty funny as he appears to be living in a lovingly-decorated pad the size of a cathedral.
