You can’t rattle The ROMEOS.
The self-proclaimed Retired Old Men Eating Out Somewhere met Wednesday for their weekly lunch despite the spread of the novel coronavirus that has many of their Tri-City neighbours stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and avoiding crowds.
In fact, when asked what they were doing to protect themselves from COVID-19, former Coquitlam fire chief Doug Johnson jokingly put his “protective” cotton balls in his ears so as not to hear the word.
The retired smoke-eater is hoping a little humour, along with a big dose of common sense, should be able to get most people through the WHO-declared pandemic safely.
Wednesday, shrimp sandwiches and soup were the most popular item to order at Samz Neighbourhood Pub in Port Coquitlam as Johnson, Gordon Wrightman, Don Cunnings, Tom Cox, Gordon Clay and Lyall Inglis enjoyed their weekly lunch, as they have for the past 26 years.
All have seen and done a lot in their years working in the Tri-Cities.
For instance Cunnings was Coquitlam’s first director of parks and recreation (and has a field named after him at Town Centre Park). Wrightman and Inglis are both retired pharmacists. Clay is a retired teacher.
Cunnings, 89, and his wife of the same age are taking their cues for how to deal with the disease by following Dr. Peter Lin, who breaks down the facts on coronavirus on a CBC video available on YouTube.
Cunnings has always been fit and active, is continuing his walking and exercise regime, and besides washing his hands more frequently, he and his wife decided not to attend church on Sunday out of a sense of caution as most of the congregants are seniors and people sit “cheek by jowl.”
“I’m very aware of the need for personal sanitation,” he said, noting he is making an effort not to touch his face, which is how the coronavirus can get into the body to attack the lungs.
Some of The ROMEOS are also thinking twice about travel, Inglis got all the way to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. last week only to be told his Regal Princess cruise to the Caribbean was cancelled.
It was a short trip, he joked. “Just 21 hours.”
For the most part, The ROMEOS seem to be aware but not panicky about the disease.
However, they are paying attention to travel advisories.
This week, Dr. Bonnie Henry is advising British Columbians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada, including the U.S.
People who do travel outside the country, will be required to stay away from home or work for 14 days.
