Except that I have been home for 9 months.
I just assume everyone I come in contact with has COVID-19 and that I might have it. I don't mean for that sentence to sound alarming or anything, it just works for me when going about my day-to-day.
I don't like wearing a mask. Who does? I will wear one however, until medical professionals tell me otherwise.
I miss hanging out with my friends and family. I don't like working from home (though it is only part-time, I am on campus working part-time), not going to restaurants, going and seeing live music/performances, and traveling. We see people masked/outside/etc occasionally and even though a few weeks ago dining went indoors (with the surge now, California is almost all purple tier) we are still not eating out. I could write an entire blog post about live music. For now, I will just use this- ☹️ .
It is heartbreaking to see the numbers of people hospitalized and who are dying because, y'know pandemic. There is some hope with the vaccines that will be coming available and though there are worries about long term side effects and the actual effectiveness things are going in the right direction.
There have been people calling out elected officials and such for breaking COVID restriction rules. I have to say I get it. Pandemic fatigue is a real thing. I would love to go for a run without a mask or hug my mom. So as long as they own it (unlike our current president and co) and promote best practices then let's move on. Also, I think people should be cooler about the comfort level of everyone.
Some people don't feel comfortable shopping in person, I am fine with it.
Eating at a restaurant outdoors. Nope, not yet.
Taking public transportation. I will do it if I have to and have done it once since March 14th.
You get the picture.
The surge is among us and I understand that there is a good chance that Gav will shelter us in place again. My worry is that people will be like "nah, bro" and there will be a lot of defiance to the order. I also get it. Being isolated like this for many fucking sucks. Yes, I don't ususally curse in my blog post, but this whole thing fucking sucks.
In the past I have had a complicated relationship with Christmas and this holiday season marks the one year anniversary of the death of my platonic soulmate. Throw in a pandemic and see how that fruit cake tastes, I guess.
There will be efforts made to enjoy stuff that can still happen, cozy Christmas movie watching with my kid, driving around looking at lights, and tuna snowman (family tradition, not as weird as it sounds).
Unlike Thanksgiving, or Friendsgiving which went from "the crew" plus ++ whoever has nowhere to go hanging out gorging ourselves with food and (many) drinks to our bubble calling it quits at 7:30pm. Christmas is not as big.
The yuletide for us has less of the wasailing vibe than the November holiday. Since my parents moved closer to us, we go to their place, spend the night, dinner, presents and come back to our place. There are no big X-mas get togethers to cancel this year and I hope that we can manuever just the 5 of us.
And then there is New Year's. Never cared for the holiday, but it will be nice to have 2020 in the rearview mirror.
The holidays can be lonely without a pandemic, so remember to reach out, check in with folks. The past couple of years I have curbed my holiday card distro, but this year I will be sending out more cards than I have in the past couple of years. At least I intend to...
I hope everyone remains safe, healthy and sane.
