By Bruce A. Smith

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone. Erin Go Bragh, as we used to say in New York – or at least that’s what the banners would say in pubs and workplaces. It translates to “Ireland Forever.” However, the full Gaelic phrase is Éire go Brách, and that means “Ireland until the End of Time.”

The latter feels prophetic in some way. After all, this is the world’s first holiday in quarantine, and without any Guinness the best I can do is hoist my cup o’ tea and wish the best to the Green Isle.

I also toast a Salut to all those in Italy and Iran who are burying hundreds of Covid victims daily. Officials here in the States – not Donald Trump, of course – but all those who really matter are saying the same could happen to us. Specifically, governors like Andrew Cuomo of New York say we’re a week or two behind Italy in the Covid onslaught.

Yet, our young people are resisting the push to isolate and protect themselves and others. Beaches and bars are teeming with Spring Breakers in Fort Lauderdale, and “End of the World” parties are packed to the gills by twenty-somethings, according to the New York Times today.

Yes, initial statistical reports indicate that infections rates are lower for young people, with less severe symptoms and mortality rates a tenth of what a 70 year-old guy like me is facing. With a heart attack history and lots of lung ailments, I’m at an 8% mortality risk. At the extremes, my mom, at 95, is about 20%, while her grandkids and their generation are less than 1%.

Yeah, it’s tough to be young and cooped up, unable to mingle and be single in all the messy and lovely ways that beholds. I get it. But I want to talk tuchas to the young folks:

Self-quarantining is more than doing something to keep you grandmothers alive, even if you think your uncles are jerks and aunties next-to-useless. Many young folks consider Covid to be a welcomed “Boomer Remover,” as revealed today in the New York Times.

But in fact, the young generation has a vested interest in keeping us Boomers around. Consider: how many 25-year-olds have Ph.Ds.? A handful. How many 70-year-olds have a Ph.D.? A hundred-thousand, at least.

How many neurosurgeons are 25? Three, maybe?

How many neurosurgeons are 70? Tens of thousands.

How many 25 and 30-year-olds have experience running major corporations or large governmental agencies? Almost none. How many 70-year-olds? Almost all of this current leadership is 70 or close to it.

So, Gen X and Gen Z, do you want to lose 10-20% of that talent pool? Yeah, I know you want our jobs, but are you ready? I think not. Therefore, take shelter and protect your future – and mine.

On a more personal level, I went for a walk today. Met a new neighbor down the street who was playing with his dog. Some things haven’t changed much since I last walked my streets regularly before I got a car two years ago. One neighbor’s trash pile is still a mess. Another still hasn’t completed their half-finished remodel. Beer cans still littered the shoulders of the roads, and I picked-up three for recycling. Nobody’s garden is further along than mine, though. Spring is still young, even if it was 60 degrees and sunny today. Next week for potato plantings, maybe.