We went on a four-day road trip to visit my granddaughter and her partner in Northern California. We hadn’t seen them since November of 2019. With all four of us vaccinated and boosted (and with the two of them recovered from recent breakthrough cases of Covid) it felt pretty safe, and we had a.delightful weekend together. This sign at the entrance to a shop in Arcata served as a reminder that the pandemic is sti with us, and despite the easing of mask mandates, many businesses are prudently continuing to require them.
March 13, 2022
In recent times, we have been cut off from most of our physical interactions and face to face conversations with people. Luckily with social media and the internet, we can connect virtually with many of these people and talk to people worldwide. This past week I have interacted with friends from across the world in a group chat, a person from Norway, Australia, Germany, South America, and across the United States. We all had completely different experiences from each other, but we connect back during a pandemic to offer our support and show interest in each other's lives. What was most striking when talking with these different people was that I saw completely different views on the pandemic and how it was directly related to one's culture. In Australia, a friend told me that they don't even wear masks anymore, as Australia's cases have been extremely low for a long time. Good responses from the government and the citizens have led to more comfort and less anxious life than in many places across the world. We were surprised when she said that they do not wear masking; it was almost unfathomable, unheard of; but when she described that it wasn't necessary, we understood. Listen to people's stories about COVID can bring us closer to people, but at the same time draw us apart, knowing we are living two completely different lives and worlds.
November 3, 2020