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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
This last Saturday was a gorgeous day. Last minute, i said to my husband, "Why don't we ride our bikes to DC?" (We live in Maryland, just over the district line). So we loaded up with water and food and my phone with a map, and rode our bikes all the way downtown on bike paths! No cars anywhere. We rode the (Somewhat) new Anacostia River Walk trail--8 miles through Southeast DC and it was lovely. 18 miles in total for the ride. It was so great to be outside and seeing sights!. Lots of people were outside riding too, most without masks and it felt okay since it now appears it's impossible to get the virus if you're vaccinated (Which we are) and you just pass someone on the street.. Everyone was in a good mood. We stopped at a small park in DC on Capitol Hill to rest and there were lots of small groups of people congregating in the park, mostly unmasked too. It was so nice to see people gathering and feel like it was okay, not scary. It really felt like things were slowly returning to normal.. Then we rode our bikes to Union station to get the Metro home--here's the photo. Everything closed! I couldn't believe it. Usually Union Station is hopping at 3PM on a Saturday. But all the restaurants and stores were closed, even the lights were off. A lot of the shops looked like they'd gone out of business too. I guess some parts of DC haven't opened yet! I suspect in many places the "return" to normal is going to be rough. It's not just about taking our masks off and being able to go out, but making sure that people have jobs and places to live. I think it's going to be a long haul. I don't think we're out of the woods at all. But for a few hours, last Saturday, it felt like we were--and that was a great relief.
May 19, 2021
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Talk about what you think the world will be like after the pandemic is over.
I think the world changes regardless, how can it not with almost 8 billion humans in this planet. Do I think a spotlight has been cast upon areas of life that make us uncomfortable, more than in any time in modern history, probably. But do I think there will be long term changes that will stem from this spotlight. Unfortunately no. Not in my lifetime, maybe … but for my kids kids, my future grandkids, there is hope. Systemic problems need to be corrected starting with a generation of people - my girls are 15 and 16 - and have watched our societal “norms”, or inequalities be showcased this year. They have witnessed the baffling craziness of the lengths to which someone will go to retain power, and not in a good way. This is the generation no one is paying attention to right now, but for the next election cycle, they will be front and center. These kids are old enough to make informed decisions, and could follow the election, but we’re not old enough to vote. By the next election cycle they will be old enough to vote and that could change everything for generations to come. At least a generation that might give a hoot about racial and gender equality and therefore make an impact for their own lives and future generations. Should be interesting to see that unfold.
August 1, 2021