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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
A few nights ago, my husband and I went to a light show in a nearby park. I think we were the only ones walking around without little kids in tow! But still it was nice to do a "normal" activity that hasn't been changed or modified due to the pandemic. Yes, many people, including all the young children, wore masks (we live in a highly compliant region) but other that it was simply laughter and smiles and enjoyment. Once again, peoples' plans are being turned upside down by nervousness and anxiety around covid. Everyone and I mean everyone has one or more friends, family member, colleague or neighbor with a break through case of covid. And we are all triple vaxxed, mask-wearing folks! Fortunately, I have not heard of anyone with a serious illness... cases range from barely symptomatic to flu-like and in bed for a few days. But no hospitalizations. So far my immediate family has escaped...but it is beginning to feel like it is a matter of "when" one of us will contract covid, not "if." I just have to hope it will be mild as so many of these cases are now. I've actually been enjoying this very quiet week, catching up on things around the house. We don't celebrate Christmas and we got to celebrate Hanukah with extended family several weeks ago before Omicron arrived in full force bringing a halt to so many plans. I'm grateful that both my kids are away from their NYC homes this week and enjoying warmer weather and outdoor activities in Florida. Given how loose FL is about masks, I'm surprised to find myself saying this... but they can enjoy themselves more there now than in NYC. My 88 year old father is a bit down in the dumps about Omicron's spread. He has cancelled several "social" plans and that is hard for him. He doesn't ask my advice and I don't give it... he is a cautious person by nature and a worrier. We both know that although he is good health overall, his age alone makes him more likely to get a severe case, should he catch it. So, he prefers to be cautious and not go to a New Year's Eve party. I may be mistaken but I am hopeful that in a few weeks, the worse of this Omicron variant will be behind us. That is what the news from South Africa seems to indicate. It is a fast moving variant. And hopefully, nothing worse will take its place. Maybe, just maybe, 2022 will be the start to the end of this pandemic. And that gives me hope as we ring in the New Year!
January 4, 2022
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Imagine you’re talking to a couple of high school students in 2050. They ask, “How did the pandemic change the world as you knew it?” How do you think you would answer?
In 2020, during a pandemic, we learned: 1. Social inequality is rampant even though ignored for decades by many whites 2. White supremacy came out for under the rocks and began mobilizing and threatening violence 3. The people who make our economy work are front line employees like bus drivers, grocery clerks, nurses, delivery people, ..who are paid the most poorly despite their critical role in keeping the county going 4. Presidential power is unchecked , and we had a president who lied and cheated and used the office for his personal gain When he lost the election in 2020, he refused to concede precipitating a constitutional crisis 5. People began growing their own food, as food insecurity was a constant threat. Food banks doubled their efforts to help poor and unemployed people meet their nutrientional:needs. 6. Schools opened and closed and opened and closed depending on the COVID count. 7. The highest concentration of cases and deaths were in nursing homes and prisons , where people were in close contact. 8. Medical personal were faced with sick people filling up ERs and beds . After months of taking care of hundreds and thousands of patients, they began to burn out and get sick themselves. 9 The country was divided between those who thought that pandemic was a hoax and refused to wear masks and those who wore masks and tried to obey government recommendations in regard to hand washing, social distancing, gathering outdoors in small groups and not indoors, etc. 10. The USA had the worst record when it came to containing the virus and the worse record in number of COVID deaths
November 20, 2020