While we still face uncertainty, we have hope that all will be better in the coming months.
My word this year is Adapt.
I must adapt to many changes in my life and in the country. I am not good with changes, especially those that affect my daily life. It seems everything is changing from what we knew a year ago.
Even with the vaccine available now, we will not want to gather in large groups or in any groups with people who are not part of our Pod or bubble. I have self-isolated for all these months and hoped to get out with friends and go to restaurants again. But that will not be happening here in the United States - not in my world. Certainly not soon.
Some ignorant people who do not care about protecting others will continue to act like the pandemic ended with 2020, but I don't have that luxury. I don't think anyone should ignore the CDC guidelines that will help end this virus that has disrupted our lives in every way.
In a great news magazine, The Week, I read this:
In a salon in Missouri, two hairstylists, unknowingly worked a week with COVID, but wore masks as did their 139 clients. No clients developed signs of the virus. All 69 of the clients who volunteered to be tested received negative results.
Kansas counties that mandated wearing masks, saw the cases of COVID drop six percent in six weeks. Counties that did not mandate wearing a mask saw their cases double.
One day this past week, my sister and I decided to go to a restaurant at 2:30 PM for a quick lunch. We were out running errands and felt that it was safe to go in. The restaurant was large and few people were there. The staff wore masks and the tables were distanced so we would not have to sit near anyone.
I was disappointed when we lined up to order. Three middle-aged men were ahead of us. They wore no masks. We waited until they had completed their orders and moved away. I did not feel really safe since they had polluted the air where we had to stand to order. I was really angry when one of the men came back, stepped in front of us, and talked with the server behind the counter, still with no face covering.
The cloth masks I wear do not protect me from those who don't wear a mask.
I only feel safe when in the company of caring people who wear a face covering. I wanted to tell the intruding man to get away from me because he might be spewing virus into space where I stood.
My doctor said I should assume everyone I meet has COVID.
We found a table far removed from others and enjoyed our lunch, but I can't understand anyone who will not wear a face covering when out in public. As we left the restaurant, we passed several young women who did not wear masks. It seems there is an age group that refuses to try to protect others. At Office Max I stopped in to quickly make a copy. The woman who came in behind me wore a mask, but took it off once she was in the store. In Georgia, no one is told to wear face coverings. The government says for people to use their own good judgment! When has that ever worked?
I so appreciate the people I see wearing masks. I think those people are also following other methods to protect anyone they meet.
Hopefully we will be more caring and want to protect others. If we all followed that guideline, we could beat this virus much sooner. Don't we all want that?
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| People in my Pod, Gay and Stu wear masks when they go out even to an outdoor restaurant |
