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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
The pandemic is hitting records in Israel, but the vaccination rates too. Not far from our apartment, in Rabin square, there is a huge vaccination tent, one of many vaccination centers across Tel Aviv. All of our relatives and friends that are over 60, including all of our 6 (yes!) grandparents, received the vaccine shots, as well as some of our younger friends (doctors, social workers, teachers). But the vaccination festival will slow down in the next few weeks, since new supply is delaying. Actually the big tent in the square is no longer operating (the picture was taken yesterday) since they ran out of vaccines. As long as the vaccination operation went on, we were hoping to race our way out of this nightmare with an amok run. Now we are back to the gloomy days of the long passive wait: schools will close as of Friday, and younger people (younger than 60) will be vaccinated only in February. The passivity of the lockdown is in my eyes one of its most difficult aspects, the fact that the best fight is to avoid doing. To pause. The vaccines were such a success in Israel not only because it was what it was, but also because people could finally DO SOMETHING in order to get themselves and others out of it.
February 20, 2021
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Something surprisingly positive came out of un unpleasant situation. I had an allergic reaction to an infusion I received so had to visit the pharmacy by bus. Wore my mask as required and was grateful the bus wasn't crowded. (So many people here seem to think the pandemic is over and refuse to comply with the transit masking rules.) But the bus was quite late so my patience and mood were tested. The pharmacy was inside a busy grocery store and almost nobody was wearing a mask. So I picked up the meds and high tailed it to the light rail station where the bus pool is stationed. As I walked past the first bus station I noticed a man sitting there. Our eyes met and we both recognized each other from riding the light rail on Tuesday evenings before covid. He was always on his way to work as I was returning home after drawing musicians at an open mic. We had many lovely conversations on those night rides but hadn't seen each other for almost 2 years. So we talked until his bus arrived (mine was late, of course!); and, before he got on, he gave me a hug. A real bear hug, my first real hug since before the pandemic. I haven't really touched anyone or been touched since before covid. It felt strange but beautiful. The pleasure of it has stayed with me.
July 14, 2021