I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and my parents live 500 miles away in San Diego. I haven't seen them since last February. Next weekend we are going to Southern California for spring break and I am so eager to see them! The CDC says that it's safe for us to be together in the same household, and even though travel isn't recommended, we are driving and only plan to stop to use the restroom and get gas so it feels pretty safe. I've started collecting the things I want to take with me, and pulled out our zoo membership cards earlier today to book appointments for our visit. It's one of my favorite places and imagining myself walking the beautiful grounds and visiting the elephants made me teary. I can't believe that some "before" things are coming soon.
March 28, 2021
What has changed the most about the world since the coronavirus began is how we greet each other. Usually when you meet someone new you shake their hand, but now that personal connection when you first meet someone is gone. The CDC originally suggested elbow bumps instead of handshakes, but now greetings all together are not acceptable. Adding in an additional six feet of distance between you and another person into the mix also makes sure that no greetings are taking place. Social distancing and mask wearing makes it hard to read expressions on someone's face, which is a crucial part of interacting with someone new. Also, masks prevent people from being able to read lips, which makes it difficult for those who are hard of hearing to follow a conversation and contribute their own thoughts to one. Social interaction is also crucial to babies who were just born. Children born during the pandemic are missing out on these important first developmental steps. As we must continue with these protocols to ensure the safety of our community and slow the spread of the coronavirus, it is crazy to see just how many groups of people are affected in different ways and how these changes are quite significant. These new social measures will have a lasting impact on society, as it will be a slow transition back to large gatherings, handshakes, and mask free events. It will be interesting to see if people will ever feel comfortable standing within a close proximity to strangers and if mask-wearing when you are sick will become normalized. Although many aspects of the world has changed since the pandemic first started, I believe the social aspect of our world will be the most impacted.
October 5, 2020