My guess is you are, as well! Friday night brought with it the wonderful news that the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States is here. The first coronavirus vaccine shipments are set to arrive here on Monday, December 14, 2020, and will be in arms soon thereafter. No doubt, there will be many logistical nightmares and stories will abound, but at least we are at the starting gate! Hospitals all across the country have spent months preparing for this, as close to 300,000 have died. This statistic, unto itself, is incomprehensible, and yet, we are still in the throes of dealing with this unseen foe. I, like all of you, am ready, but in the meantime, we are to continue to wear our masks, wash our hands, and social distance…not difficult to do, but somehow, made into a statement of “my rights” versus “your rights.”
All one has to do is look at the gruesome way one dies of Covid-19 and my supposition is they would rather wear their mask, wash their hands, and social distance. However, sadly, we always seem to have to be reminded that we do not exist in our own vacuum, and what we do has an impact on the lives and in this case, perhaps the deaths of others. Many have compared it to wearing a seat belt, not driving drunk, not crossing against the light. So why does wearing a mask rankle some? I suppose it is because it is so visibly apparent that those of us wearing our masks are “obeying some sort of law” that others do not want to obey.
The strange thing is that for most of us, during the pandemic, we would not socialize or even talk with someone not wearing a mask, nor would we allow our dentist or doctor to treat us without a mask at any time. We want our health protected. Yet, ask someone who feels their right is to do what they want, to please be considerate of others, and they become angry.
Any day in the near future, we will hear from the CDC the order in which we will be offered our vaccinations, and as soon as my category is called, I will roll up my sleeve. We have been told we may become feverish and fluish for a day or two, so plan on staying home and have enough fluids available. I can do that! The knowledge that what will make me feel ill is temporary is far more acceptable than the fear every time I sneeze or awaken with stuffiness. Watching the numbers rise each and every day is enough for me to want to protect not only myself but everyone in my world. I want to hug and love my family and friends; I want to facilitate my Ostomy Support Groups in person, and watch the faces of new Ostomates in order to gauge their adjustment to their new normal; I want to go to the Assisted Living facility and take my darling Mom in law to dinner and listen to her enjoy a plateful of pasta with her incredible gusto, and have her tell me she has a “hearty appetite.” I want to walk into a store and have the merchant see me smile from ear to ear because their business has survived all of this, and I want to go to my fave restaurants and indulge my own “hearty appetite” with the knowledge they will be able to continue to be in open their doors.
We have seen so much devastation, and it is time to return to days of simply being, simply going, simply doing. And if we need to continue to wear our masks, wash our hands, and socially distant until the coronavirus is dead, then so be it…I am ready!