People over 70 are the most vulnerable to COVID-19. About to turn 75, I reached out to 18 elders of my acquaintance, living throughout the Northeast, who told me in the past two days what’s on their mind and showed they can reflect calmly even as bad news cascades upon them by the hour.

An 81-year-old Vermonter captures the mood in a poem that begins, “Literature offers famous disasters for us to enjoy at a distance; volcanic ash in Pompei buries ordinary people baking bread, Brueghel painted black-robed Death’s victims falling backwards into piles of hay. We no longer need galleries or libraries for these accounts; suddenly it’s our turn to write them.”

They reflect on what they have learned about themselves in the past few weeks. Several noted a hard time making choices. But one person noticed (and appreciated) “a faster processing time between my wife and I” as they make joint decisions.

An 84-year-old man wrote, “I learned that, even though I have lived a good life, I didn’t want to go out thanks to this virus. I have been more concerned and more disciplined in my response than I would have expected.”

Another elder reminisced that, while outwardly calm, “I recognize higher anxiety about this than any other series of events in my lifetime — including the Cuban missile crisis, 9/11 and the recent Great Recession. I recognize that this thing can kill me and those I love. Despite my concern, I remain involved in volunteer work that engages me for hours at a time on my computer.”

I asked what most influenced their assessment of their risk. They cited federal scientists, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (“a reliably serious person”), favorite internet media sites, and the BBC. Another cited the dramatic increase in mortality in Spain and Italy. One man stood apart, saying, “This runs counter to the experts, but of all the threats over the last couple of decades, including swine flu, I have never known anyone to contract any of them. Not one person.”

I challenged them to script a TED Talk about the how people have responded. One said, “First response: no danger. Second response: Perhaps a danger, but I’m safe. Next response: Do I really have to take these precautions? Next response: Well, I’ll sort of abide by the guidelines set forth by the authorities. Next response: This is so inconvenient, but I’ll do my best. Last response: This seems dangerous, and even though most Americans are libertarians, perhaps we should be more compliant.”

Another wrote that “people react strongly to what they observe others doing, and this ‘groupthink’ does not always make for sound decisions. Technology and social media contribute greatly to this. Information moves more rapidly, and bad information travels at even faster speeds.” Several noted the experience of being over-saturated with news and opinion. And several said that we are getting a crash course in just how globalized the world is. A New Yorker wrote, “I would say that this is the first time in all of history that the entire (“civilized”) planet and all people are faced with the same challenge at the same time and know it.”

Finally, I asked what has, for better or worse, impressed them most about the country’s response. Fellow citizens are praised. Politicians are sometimes scorned — “egomaniacs,” in the opinion of one. Churches, scientists and health care professionals are lauded. One wrote that he was impressed by the speed with which his church took action, including using video to connect with parishioners.

A good number remarked about a sense of coming together. One wrote she was struck by “how we’re sharing and caring about each other.” Another told me, “It’s an amazing spiritual opportunity to touch … our shared humanity.”

Several pointed to the behavior of their adult children. For instance: “My son’s clear logic as an administrator in a large preschool program has inspired me. In Seattle, he is on the ground in an epicenter of this pandemic making decisions for his students and staff with clear mind and positive forward motion.”

I found it remarkable that among this group of mostly political liberals, only two criticized President Donald Trump. One wrote that he was impressed “by government health officials who continued to voice caution even as the president and his assorted media people insisted that the virus was really nothing to worry about.”

This generation, though knowing they are at great risk, show a remarkable capacity for measured reflection.

Peter Rousmaniere, of Montpelier, writes about immigration at workingimmigrants.com. Email him at pfr@rousmaniere.com.