Salutations and Benedictions

During Covid – even email communications have a weird feel to them.  It’s like we all know our email messages should change…we’re just not sure how.  We need to acknowledge the asymptomatic elephant in the room - but then what?  You are having an otherwise normal, before-the-world-went-dark exchange, but then want to tell people they should definitely be taking care of themselves.  

The most common current installment seems to be signing off emails with the obligatory “Stay safe”.  That feels a little gratuitous, no?  As if the other person hadn’t thought of staying safe before you suggested it, sender of annoying email.   

Therefore, I think we need to come up with a new Covid-ready email closings.  I’ve thought of a few ideas:

Now go wash your hands! – Every minute you’re not responding to my email should be spent washing your hands.  Added bonus of creating as much peer pressure around hand washing as possible.

Freeze the Sneeze! – bipartisan encouragement to wear a mask. 

 #PandemicStrong – mmmmm, I know we’re missing a solid rallying cry in this pandemic, but this is way too close to Strong Pandemic.  

Tip your delivery people well! – I call this one “practical shaming”

Your obedient servant, dot, dot, dot – at least you are likely to hum this one to a tune from Hamilton.  That’s got to leave the reader in a good mood, right?

Virtual hugs! – definitely NOT HR-approved for work.

Hope to see you soon – what if the recipient actually believes it?  That bill could come due at the end of all this!

I think I will stick with the pandemic-agnostic classic: 
Best,

McC