Okay, I do not mean to confuse you, but Covid is certainly responsible for making us feel as if it is Groundhog Day…Bill Murray’s character, weatherman Phil Connors has nothing on us. In the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day, he experienced, well, Groundhog Day in the sleepy town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He becomes trapped in a time loop, and over and over again he experiences February 2nd, making mistakes, acting angry and disagreeable, until eventually, he gets it just right! The movie is credited as one of the greatest comedy movies ever, and the term Groundhog Day has become part of the English lexicon for monotonous, boring, unpleasant and repetitive activities. So here we are…

In a recent conversation with one of my physicians, we talked about the awareness we have about the predictability of our daily activities. Every day begins and ends similarly, as long as we and our family are healthy, of course. The internet joke…”what is 9:00 a.m.? The time I take off my pajamas and put on my work sweatsuit. What is 5:00 p.m.? The time I take off my work sweatsuit and put on my pajamas!” As absurd as this sounded in March, last year, it is now reality for most of us. The monotony of repetition, with seemingly no end in sight.

Where this went, however, which is so important for those of us with a chronic medical challenge, is the awareness that in so many ways, life is a constant paying attention to the need for repetition. The constant vigil can take its toll. Dietary needs, medicines, exercise, therapy, rest, planning, all the while hoping to stay ahead of the next challenge or even crisis. This is not very different for the caregivers who have the same responsibility for those in their care.

Covid has added to this by presenting another layer…we cannot bring our caregiver with us for another set of ears, or to help with physical needs; surgeries and procedures are endured alone with no advocates; worry over getting therapies, not getting the frightening disease (which may have a more deleterious effect due to our chronic issues) all can keep us awake at night.

I feel we are getting close, however, to a more positive place, analogous to the place that Phil Connors has within his grasp to take action to have the life he wants. It is waiting there, whether it is in the form of herd immunity or simply having more in our community vaccinated. There is the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. I see it, I feel it, and I believe those around me are seeing it and feeling it, as well. We have come this far, and although the alarm clock, like in Phil Conner’s room still says 6:00 a.m. for a little while longer, I am optimistic that a new day will begin.

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