Around the corner is the third wave of Covid-19. People, especially those with weaker immune system should be afraid of it. And, I am too. I do not want to go out. I hate crowd at least now. 

The other day, I again video-called Daisuke Yamanoi (a doctor and friend of mine from the preparatory school days) and talked about Covid-19. Over the screen having his face on it, he taught me the word "social context" about illnesses that people are engaged in whether they like it or not. I had brain tumors (glioblastoma) and still have lung cancers. During my life time, I have needed, will need, to take care of house chores, meeting friends & business partners, and things around myself in view of such of my medical conditions. So, Daisuke's point is, I would apply his word in my context. 

Admitted to Narita hospital for two months. After receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy there, my next daily practice is to visit my doctor in Mita Hospital from home, once every two weeks. When I go, I receive an IV drip of Avastin for about 45 minutes, and once a month I got hand-delivered chemotherapy drugs (taking Temodar) over the counter for five days for one term. It's a simple process by itself to receive them at OTC, but the dose I now swallow at a time is twice as much as when I was in Narita, and it's quite tough. The second term actually ended on November 9th, and it was quite tough. Every time I get uncomfortable and feel bad, I recall my wife's words, "you live long for your family, right?" and with it I overcame each time. 

Not having radio, my body's immunity is down due to the two chemos, which I recognize out of blood test. It should be noted that immunity "power" (免疫力) is not a medical term, but it seems that immunity decay is attributed to particular components in blood going beyond or under a certain band of the percentages, so as to make human body weaker to foreign enemies such as viruses. In my case, my platelet count is 130,000 (as of November 4th). It was even below the lower limit and fell below the count value of 156,000 on October 21st. By the way, a bar for chemo is set at 100,000 for platelet. Eosinophils 5.9% was within the normal range, but on October 21 it reached 13.6%, exceeding the upper limit of 6%. Now that Covid-19 is being prevalent, my body system tends to get critical once it is taken inside. Even if I received an injection of BCG in my childhood and have blood type O (RH+), which caused only a mild symptom, both of them are just used for excuse for lighter Covid-19. 

Every day, yes every day, when the children return from school, I feel uncomfortable (terribly sorry for my kids). My daughter studies under so-called "hybrid system", in which she goes to school two days in straight, and two days online home. When she comes back from school, however, she just washed her hands with water, and without sterilized soap. "Hi, XX, can you please wash your hand with the soap?" "No! I am fine!!" Puberty girl. I get rage inside. My younger son is rather serious to my condition, but anyway, both of them are teenagers, so even if they get infected, it will be mild probably. Speaking of Koko, she is originally resistant to colds and viruses. 

But, I am not. I catch a cold every winter, and am not resistant to viruses. I wish I could visualize the Covid-19 viruses with blue, or red, or whatever color. 

Upon a news of my friends coming to the nearest station, I am really excited to see him/her/them to welcome. There is no doubt that such supports will cheer me up. I am also meeting tax accountants and scriveners through video-call or on-site, in hope to (re)establish a company in Japan, like as I did in Singapore. However, unless you had a person that were highly reliable and trustful, you would not pull the mask out of your mouth, and would avoid using public transportation, except when you are needed to do so. 

Actually, this trust is quite tricky. I would decide inside myself, like, "I can't help getting a virus from this person", then I would cross the hurdle and meet him/her. 

("Trust" reminded me of another word "safety." Both words have "I" as their subjects. "I trust you", or "I feel safe(ty)." Since the September 11, 2001,the day of terrorist attacks on the United States, however, the word "security and safety" has been around the world, or in Japan at least. "Safety" is a (somewhat) logical judgment on the part of device or system provider, while "safety" is a matter of feeling(s) on the part of the recipient of them. The provider gives "security" to the counter part, who then nurtures the feeling of safety. At least at that time of the terror attacks in 2001, I thought that way. I'm still not convinced by service providers who, both companies and individuals alike, use "security and safety", which is a combination of words having respective and different meanings.)

Reconstructing many dots and contacts between viruses or illnesses and one's own social activities is, at least according to Daisuke's logic, the social context of the illnesses. Over the video-call, he gave a famous European philosopher' name, such as "XXX, a philosopher, said it in his book titled YYY". But I only hear the name in a class of social study of my high school. 

Perhaps Koko and children have their own social contexts, even friends and medical staff, too. The social context is different for each person. In this sense, hats off to Daisuke. 

(The photo was taken on May 9, 2016, when the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force escort ship "Ise" stopped by at the port of Changi, Singapore for joint operation among Japan, Singapore and US. We were invited by an acquaintance in JMSDF. Joined were we the family and another ones of four, the husband of whom used to work together in Tokyo. He is not stationed in Singapore still. The parent and child straddled the military helicopter stored under the deck. The left is my son (6 years old at the time. To be continued.)