Groundhog Day

Is today Groundhog Day? Like in the movie, you wake up and it’s all the same? Do you feel like you have been here before?

This morning I sit here and think about what my weekend will be. I am back to living how I was over a year ago. Staying at home as much as possible. Working on projects here. Reading. Gardening. I’m putting together quilt squares on my dining room table for the church quilt group – working on it alone. I’m back to wondering if it’s safe to be out among people. Should I attend worship on Sunday morning? Am I safe In stores? At restaurants?

The truth is I do feel pretty safe for myself. I am fully vaccinated and I have been since I was allowed to go get the shots back in March. I never doubted their worth in bringing down the pandemic numbers. I wanted to protect myself AND I wanted to protect people I may come in contact with in my community.

So – I want those who have chosen to be unvaccinated (not those who can not get the shots due to health issues) to understand what it feels like to be me right now.

I trust scientists and the medical experts. I believe in goodness over underlying motives. I do not think our government or the pharmaceutical companies are in on some grand scheme to put chips in us, or to make massive amounts of money off of us. The vaccines are offered to every single American for free.

I have followed the CDC recommendations all along. I hibernated in the beginning of the epidemic because it was so new and we were still figuring out how it spread, how bad it really was, and who was most effected. I immediately started wearing a mask if I did have to go out anywhere. I consciencely kept my distance from others in stores. I used more hand sanitizer than I ever had before.

I protected myself and others the best that I could. I worried about myself of course, but I did not want to be a spreader either. I did not want to live with knowing I could have caused someone else to get sick. I did not want to be negligent and then be responsible for sending people to hospitals, and to putting such a heavy load on all the medical workers on the front lines. I did not want to be part of the problem.

In the first months of Co-Vid and the change in my life, and everyone’s, I took on a positive attitude. I used the time to walk more, to read more, to garden. Hubby and I had a kitchen remodel happen during those early months and items were delayed, the work took much longer, but I went with it… because we were going through the first pandemic in my lifetime.

When vaccines became available, as I said before, I gladly got in line (spaced properly) and waited and got my Moderna shots. I felt a sigh of relief afterwards. I had a sore arm and was a bit tired the next day but it was nothing compared to what could happen if I remained unvaccinated.

Finally this past summer arrived and life returned back to a new normal. Businesses changed some, and entertainment venues, etc, all started to re-open. I was thrilled to go to an outdoor country music festival. Unmasked. Standing close together.

But, too many did not get vaccinated. The virus lived on and as we have learned, it has mutated and is easier to spread and is effecting younger people. Hospitals are filling up again and doctors and staff are overworked and tired again. They are seeing very sick people. City and state officials are back to mandating masks and social distancing like before. Schools are starting up again with restrictions and masking In place, and there are worries about the children, especially under 12 years old. I fear for my three young grandchildren.

I admit it makes me angry. I did everything I could do to protect myself – and to not be a person who might transmit it to others. I hibernated, and I got vaccinated, I masked, I used more hand sanitizer than I ever had before. I’m frustrated that others didn’t do the same. I’m scared about how bad it might get this Fall. I wonder if we will ever come together enough to beat Co-Vid.

I know that politics has played too big a part in the decisions of the unvaccinated.

I am disappointed in the anti-vaxxers. I feel they are selfish, or have been told false information, or are either lazy or hard-headed.

So, this morning I watched the news and I felt like I had seen it all before. I’m waking up again to life in a pandemic. The same one we had last year. Another day with CoVid effecting us all. I’m concerned about what tomorrow will be like. Will it be the same?

Another Groundhog Day. .