I clearly remembered the day my manager informed us that we needed to leave work that morning to get provisions and shelter in place for the next few days. A local and national announcement was made that everyone needed to head home as a rising case of the Covid-19 virus had begun to climb in numbers infecting people across the country and globally.
Initial reports stated that the virus outbreak started in China in a wet market where several people were diagnosed with a flu-like symptom of Pneumonia. In the ensuing weeks, we were getting reports that the virus reached the United States. We were unable to contain the virus reaching our shores. It was a moment many of us had no idea what was really happening until, the death count began rising. Mask and social distancing became the new norm to avoid any infection and the further spread of the virus.
Fast forward to today, Wednesday, September 1st, and I'm reflecting on how far we've come in trying to be safe and contain this virus. Our lifestyle has changed and our interaction with each other further isolating normal human behavior to be close and social. But for the most part, we've slowly come out of it, a majority of U.S. citizens have complied with the necessary requirements masking and social distancing. Other steps that have taken has been with over 70%, as of this writing citizens have been fully vaccinated. Most started getting their vaccinations last March. A much more promising step.
I've taken time to reflect on what has happened in the last 19 months. Many had to work from home as for others who were essential workers had no choice but to "go in" the office. i.e. Nurses, EMTs, and delivery personnel just to name a few.
Overall, I think this once in a lifetime experience has forever changed the way we live moving forward. It will take some time to go back to "normal". But many have had time to reflect on what is important in their lives. Some examples this past year of people making a change in their life included relocating or moving back to their home states, or choosing to retire earlier than expected. I personally think it changed the demographics of cities and states. I'm being optimistic these changes are made for good.
We still have a long way to go but we are standing on third base and hopefully we can slide home safely to renew a new way of living and being more kind with each other as we should be. After all, we are in this together whether we like it or not. For now, we can celebrate outdoors without our masks, not for indoors, it will take time until we feel much more safe health wise.
Let's see how we finish 2021. So for now, masks off!
