Welcome to the Pandemic

 

Welcome friends, welcome. Find a seat and make yourself comfortable. You’re going to be here longer than you think and you’ll probably be more uncomfortable than you expected. But maybe we can find a way to amuse ourselves just a little bit. Let’s see….read on.

 

This is my first pandemic so if I’m doing something wrong or look a little awkward while I go about it, well… try to cut me some slack. I’m sure it gets better from here. It certainly can’t get any worse….I hope.

I say this is my first pandemic because that’s what it is and if some of the articles I’ve read are correct, this one is a late arrival. And by that I mean, according to some of the experts a pandemic was thought of more like when will it get here rather than if it will get here. In other words we were spoiling for a pandemic for a long time and it’s finally arrived. Well even if the scientific community was expecting it…..I still feel like I was bitch slapped by Covid19.

So let’s go over the sequence of events shall we? In late winter or very early spring I was enjoying a visit to New Hampshire to see the Ice Castles with my family. (A marvelous place that I highly recommend by the way) When I got back to work there was much talk about this virus and how it was getting serious. Up until this point I had heard about it but didn’t think it had much to do with me. Turned out I was wrong about that. I’d say it was less than 2 weeks later I was having a conversation with my manager and he was ‘suggesting’ I not come to work anymore for a while…due to my age and possible vulnerability to this virus. (I was not offended in the least by this conversation as I know how old I am and I assume the virus knows too.) I told him I’d think about it and went back to my desk. If I remember correctly I finished out the week and stayed home after that waiting for the company to find a way for me to work from home. (My sister had already opted to stay home before I made that choice.)That turned out to be a lot longer wait than I had expected and one that I later found out ate up all my vacation time. This did not please me and I still am not ok with it but I decided what vacation time was already approved I would still be taking…..pay me or not, I’m taking my vacation. (The dammit is implied here)

Here it is now nearly 9 months later and I’m still working from home. The company has officially moved us to a new building (this was in the works before the virus hit) but only a skeleton crew actually works there currently. (Are you picturing skeletons at desks or is that just me?) I’ve run the emotional gamut with this virus and work. I started out mildly irritated which moved quickly to mild concern. That blossomed in no time to great concern and much research on how to actually best protect myself from the virus. I’ve learned a set of rules that I follow like a religion (those that know me know that is huge as I don’t follow a religion at all) in all instances when I’ve had to leave the house. There is a homemade sanitizing spray (with a great deal of alcohol in it) that travels in my car with me; spare masks for myself and anyone else that may need one; a protocol that is embedded in my head for grocery shopping and any other stops that require going into a building where other people are. It has become a way of life but it is still not comfortable. I still catch myself forgetting my mask sometimes and I still feel like I can’t breathe when I’m wearing it. But I wear it and I put up with the lower half of my face sweating and breaking out (mask acne I think they call that).

In the midst of all this chaos and worry they have started re-opening businesses and schools. Some states (I refer to them ungraciously as The Moron States) have not taken the recommended precautions suggested by the Center for Disease Control….they are paying the price. There have been huge surges of the virus in these states and most if not all have had to shut down again or severely cut back the reopening they were doing. One state that just persists in being ‘moronic’ is Florida. At one point it had the highest rate of infection; they didn’t shut down the beaches during spring break so we all know how that played out; and they are currently in the process of re-opening with no safe guards in place. It’s like they are being purposely stupid!

Now I understand that we must get back to work; we must try to reclaim as normal a life as we can; we must get the economy back functioning as soon as possible and we must at least try to get our schools up and running as well. But to do that we also must pay attention to the CDC and it’s instructions; the lessons learned by trial and error and most of all common sense, which I want to believe most people have but I know there are many that simply don’t. So there are many ignorant people out there that suddenly have a voice because they have become ‘news worthy’. They are rebelling against wearing masks; they attack innocent workers that try to enforce their companies rule of no mask no entry; they have mass demonstrations against mask wearing……and inevitably some get sick and then have to be taken care of in the already over run hospitals, by overworked and severely stressed hospital personnel. This is a cycle of ignorance at a level that is simply shocking and deeply disturbing to me.

Prior to this pandemic I truly felt that most people I met were ‘like me’ or at the very least that we could always find a common ground. I no longer feel that way at all. Now I find myself emotionally suiting up for possible battle every time I have to venture out into the world. I’m wearing my mask; I’ve got my ‘to do’ list in hand and my mind is alert and watching for anyone that may look like potential trouble in any form. Am I over reacting? Maybe. But now that I see clearly that there are many truly ignorant and violent people out there I am no longer willing to give everyone the friendly benefit of the doubt. I hold myself ready or as ready as I can be for any possible signs of trouble….to avoid it; to run from it; and if need be to  involve myself to protect myself or someone else. I am not brave. I am not tough. I am not Wonder Woman. Only my grand-kids think I’m cool. But I’m trying to be at the ready.

We are currently reaching the end of the year 2020. And at the same time we are in the midst of the second surge of the Corona Virus…..as predicted by the CDC in the early spring when this all started getting out of control. There are two new vaccines that have been developed to fight the virus. They are currently in the beginning stages of giving it to people in key positions in society. Some people don’t agree with any politician being among the first to get the vaccine (which is happening); I have no problem with that. First of all they are essential for decision making for the rest of us (be that good or bad decisions they are making) and second of all they are for the most part being guinea pigged like the rest of us…..I find that idea very appealing. Let them go first and I’ll stand by watching to see how it goes. I get a certain piece of mind for NOT being one of the first to get the vaccine. At the first sign of anyone growing a third eye I’m stepping out of line; thanks but no thanks.

Both vaccines being offered do come with the possibility of some side effects. I’ve read and officials are now stating, that the required second shot is when you would get the side effects if any are to be felt. I am ok with that too…..better to get a much watered down version (my description…not official in any way) of the virus than to get the actual virus I think. Besides, what choices do we really have here? Of course there are anti-vaccine people out there that are refusing to even consider taking the shots. I’m not sure what will be done about them if anything. (Although I’ve read somewhere that the vaccine can be forced on people by state decision and it has been done in the past.)  In fact for some time long ago I was one of them. I am no longer in that camp. I believe vaccines are necessary for the life we live now and we’re lucky to have them. However, I will admit to some trepidation with these vaccines only because they were developed and issued so quickly…..one hopes that no corners were cut in the process. On the other hand, I feel it’s worth the risk for most of us. The last number of deaths from Corona virus in the US that I’ve seen is at 332,246 and the number of cases is at 19,055,869. In the last seven days (at the time of this writing) there have been 9,961 new cases and 162 deaths reported in CT alone.

In comparison the Moron State (if you remember that’s Florida) has had 68,726 reported new cases in the last seven days and 98 deaths. This information is on the CDC website and is updated daily. It appears that every state has been effected by this virus with varying results depending on how the citizens have responded to protect themselves; how quickly officials have set up protocols and how well they have been enforced. The state with the least amount of cases daily and overall appears to be Hawaii. I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii…..maybe when this is all behind us.