One thing we've done better than in the past is that the names for this disease and the subsequent variants have been memorable but not accusatory Unlike, say, "Spanish Flu", "Zika", or "Ebola" we've resisted the urge to brand it with the locations or the peoples where this disease was first identified It helps to have a name like SARS-CoV-2 that doesn't have immediate associations with sectors of the planet I do see the irony of the latest variant being called Omicron "Om" used to be a way of channeling a transcendental state Now it's more like, "OMG"
January 11, 2022
I made this angel over 20 years ago. It tops our tree every year, even though we have a much less horrifying angel and a star. My mom always insisted we put it up, because she thinks it's cute since I made it. I think it's high-key terrifying. Her eyes follow you. I always fought my mom over putting her up, except this year. I used to decorate the house, but this year I was asked not to come home until Christmas (and to wait to see if coming home for Christmas is something my family is comfortable with). So my mom decorated. And when she sent me a picture of the scary angel, for the first time I thought it was sweet. All our ornaments are stuff we made as kids, or momentos-- things like that-- but the angel feels different. It feels like I didn't miss as much, like I'm there somehow. I'm hoping my parents will let me make the 45 minute journey to their home for Christmas this year, but I understand if they don't. I've gotten two covid tests so far and I'm planning on two more, but tests aren't perfect and I can't control their comfort level, and I don't want to jeopardize their health. Christmas means a lot to me, but health and life mean more.
December 18, 2020