It has been a year

oftenreading said:

OnWis97 said:

This is the one-year anniversary of my last day in the office.  Still employed; all work from home. Thursday, March 12.  I remember leaving and thinking I'd be back in several weeks. I made the decision that this was the time (i.e., not to even go in on Friday, which I think is probably the last office day for many of my co-workers). I went into the office in the fall to pick up my sports coats (on the day of the one hair cut I've had in the last year), which I figured were getting dusty and my cube had some food (non-perishable) and Bubly waters, etc., along with some disinfecting wipes I'd purchased the week before. I clearly under-estimated the length of time.

One thing that stands out to me is that I was at a conference the week before and it was just a bit eerie. I kinda new that if it had been the following week, it would have been cancelled. I sat down to lunch next to two strangers and we introduced ourselves, shaking hands, of course. I, being a germophobe of the old school, put my arms down at my side, touched nothing, and a minute later went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Barring a loved one or myself getting very sick (knock on wood), March through about May is definitely the most memorable time. There was actual (as opposed to the current almost exclusively willful) ignorance about how distancing and masks work. People were walking around stores like zombies, afraid of each other (except those who were oblivious, who were far worse). I do have one memory of that aforementioned hair-cut, though. Guy comes in and asks my barber when he can get in. He's got his mask on but he pulls it down to talk. Why are these things so difficult to understand?

When Minnesota allowed some in-restaurant eating (which we still do not partake in) I went to a moderate/high-priced Italian place to pick up some food. The place had a dark ambiance and a basket full of reading glasses for the guests. I waited about five minutes and saw a guest drop a pair into the basket. The host grabbed it and wiped it down. Next time someone dropped a pair into that basket, the host wasn't there...Come on. Either let people use their cell phones or turn the lights up.  Community glasses? I haven't been back out of principle (and the lobster ravioli was quite good).

I think one of the worst things that's come out of this is that unlike, say 9/11, this has not brought out our unity. It's made it worse. The ability to politicize this and to be willfully ignorant out of spite has been something to marvel at. The unwillingness to look out for one another has really been brought to the forefront. Whatever value there is in our "rugged individualism," there's certainly an ugly side.

What a strange time that first several weeks was going to the store to try to get certain products that were hard to find and looking at everyone with distrust because surely they could infect me. Getting to the check-out counter and feeling like I should just open my wallet and turn it upside for a TIP for the terrible position the employees are in.  And by now, it all seems just normal.  The grocery store isn't the harrowing experience it was last spring (in part because, as I mentioned in another thread, mine has great compliance). Now it's almost at the point where "normal" might feel strange.

Now it's almost at the point where "normal" might feel strange.

This one stands out for me. If I watch a movie that shows people in a crowd, laughing and talking, all squished in together, I now have a gut reaction of "that's not right!" or "how can they not be wearing masks?". I feel a little vicarious anxiety just watching it. I don't know how long it will be before I would even want to be out in a crowded place without a mask. In fact, I know that I plan to continue wearing masks on airplanes and other public transit, and probably in other crowds too.

Also, okra really is that bad. 

Agree w all of this Often.

Fried okra is rather tasty.

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

The only highpoint? Of this past year, for me?

Finding out my wife, a 4 year degree in psychology, who at the age of 50 went back to school to become a Registered Nurse?

Finding out that she could take the $35 hair clippers I was forced to purchase, with all the silly attachments, and actually give me a pretty decent haircut. Im still kind of shocked. She has now cut my hair 10 times?

So the highpoint is, that if she ever wants to change careers, we can turn our living room into "Kathy's Hair Emporium"

Hahahahahahaha

Ha! I can relate---my wife has been cutting my hair for the last year as well. She does a great job, too!

Some thoughts/ramblings/etc.

-I left the the office on 3/11/20 to work from home. I worked from home for about 4 months and I've been back at the office ever since. They've done an awesome job keeping us separated and everyone is very respectful of each other's space and wear masks at all time when not at their desks. Yesterday, which was exactly one year later...I received my first shot of the Moderna vaccine. I had tears running down my face as I was injected. Yes, that sounds dramatic...but that's because it was to me. For the first time in a long time, I truly felt a sense of hope and it overwhelmed me and I welcomed it fully.

-I have spent the last year in constant worry over the health of my mom, wife, siblings, friends, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles...everyone. We had some close calls with friends and relatives, but we are all still here. For that, I am beyond thankful.

-I have been thoroughly amazed and saddened by the state of humanity's priorities. Amazed by our selfless front line and essential workers like Speedy....thankful for all that you all do and I hope this note of thanks finds you all well. Saddened by the selfishness that I've seen---the hoarding of supplies or refusing to wear a fucking mask. NEWS FLASH: NO ONE LIKES WEARING THEM, BUT YOU SHOULD DO IT ANYWAY, YOU IDIOTS! WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, WEAR IT PROPERLY! (sorry....really pisses me off)

-I am a people person...and I miss people. period. I miss hugs, high fives, bbq's, ball games, concerts, ALL OF IT. 

some positive stuff before I start rambling....

-I am beyond thankful for my amazing wife and the extra time we've had together while going through many things over the last year. I do my best to show her every single day.
-I cannot wait to hug my Mom, siblings, in-laws and friends. 
-I've learned a lot about about myself in the last year. I've made some changes and I am proud of those changes. 
-I built a damn guitar! That was a lot of fun and I look forward to building another one! 
-I built a fence and fixed up the deck and will start working on the kitchen remodel on Monday.
-I've been writing and recording a ton over the last year. Music has helped me get through this much more than I realized.
-I am grateful to be alive right now and I am grateful that you are all alive as well.

Be well....stay safe...and WEAR A DAMN MASK!

ps---sorry for the meandering nature of this post. Cheers to you all.

Almost cut my hair....

mfc2006 said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

The only highpoint? Of this past year, for me?

Finding out my wife, a 4 year degree in psychology, who at the age of 50 went back to school to become a Registered Nurse?

Finding out that she could take the $35 hair clippers I was forced to purchase, with all the silly attachments, and actually give me a pretty decent haircut. Im still kind of shocked. She has now cut my hair 10 times?

So the highpoint is, that if she ever wants to change careers, we can turn our living room into "Kathy's Hair Emporium"

Hahahahahahaha

Ha! I can relate---my wife has been cutting my hair for the last year as well. She does a great job, too!

Some thoughts/ramblings/etc.

-I left the the office on 3/11/20 to work from home. I worked from home for about 4 months and I've been back at the office ever since. They've done an awesome job keeping us separated and everyone is very respectful of each other's space and wear masks at all time when not at their desks. Yesterday, which was exactly one year later...I received my first shot of the Moderna vaccine. I had tears running down my face as I was injected. Yes, that sounds dramatic...but that's because it was to me. For the first time in a long time, I truly felt a sense of hope and it overwhelmed me and I welcomed it fully.

-I have spent the last year in constant worry over the health of my mom, wife, siblings, friends, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles...everyone. We had some close calls with friends and relatives, but we are all still here. For that, I am beyond thankful.

-I have been thoroughly amazed and saddened by the state of humanity's priorities. Amazed by our selfless front line and essential workers like Speedy....thankful for all that you all do and I hope this note of thanks finds you all well. Saddened by the selfishness that I've seen---the hoarding of supplies or refusing to wear a fucking mask. NEWS FLASH: NO ONE LIKES WEARING THEM, BUT YOU SHOULD DO IT ANYWAY, YOU IDIOTS! WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, WEAR IT PROPERLY! (sorry....really pisses me off)

-I am a people person...and I miss people. period. I miss hugs, high fives, bbq's, ball games, concerts, ALL OF IT. 

some positive stuff before I start rambling....

-I am beyond thankful for my amazing wife and the extra time we've had together while going through many things over the last year. I do my best to show her every single day.
-I cannot wait to hug my Mom, siblings, in-laws and friends. 
-I've learned a lot about about myself in the last year. I've made some changes and I am proud of those changes. 
-I built a damn guitar! That was a lot of fun and I look forward to building another one! 
-I built a fence and fixed up the deck and will start working on the kitchen remodel on Monday.
-I've been writing and recording a ton over the last year. Music has helped me get through this much more than I realized.
-I am grateful to be alive right now and I am grateful that you are all alive as well.

Be well....stay safe...and WEAR A DAMN MASK!

ps---sorry for the meandering nature of this post. Cheers to you all.

I like this

I just can’t get past the daily amount of panic, disruption, lies, etc. and how the whole issue was handled.  How it became the final year of the mass confusion we lived with for those first three years.  How calm things became after January 20th even though we still had/have a long way to go. I wonder how much worse this would be if it wasn’t for those 8 million who put us back on the right path.  I still have breathing issues since my 6 week battle with the virus but if that’s my only long term damage I’ll take it and consider myself fortunate.  After 4 years I’m just happy life feels like it’s getting back to normal.  That whole 4 year debacle feels like a bad nightmare now. Don’t mean to make it political but it was...

You need to be super extra cautious with this virus if you’ve had bronchitis.  It may be an underlying reason like immune disorders or hope you’ve gotten or will receive the vaccine and continue with follow-up boosters, yearly shots. No sympathy for me...what I get for smoking until 4 years ago. If I wouldn’t have quit I’d be dead...no doubt in my mind but like I said I’m fortunate, so I’m not complaining especially since I did this to myself. 

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Since covid was officially declared a pandemic. Good lord! Looking back at the last year is just pure insanity. There was a time when every time I got out of my truck I would spray myself with Lysol. There was a time when I went thru 10-20 disposable gloves a day. How about the insanity at the grocery stores? My wife and I taking turns hitting every store we can get to, looking for wipes, sanitizer, bleach, etc. Because it truly felt like a life and death situation. And sadly for way too many, covid was a life and death situation.

I was discussing the last year with a dear friend of mine last night. We sat in his garage, put on the Blackhawks game, and shared some adult beverages. It was great. Because as we all remember, it wasn't too long ago where none of us were allowed to do just that. We talked about everyone in the country, and how some handled this pandemic. Who can forget the absolute lunatics who lost their fucking minds, because they were asked to wear a mask? All the videos that showed up on the news of folks in a Walmart, Target, gas station etc. who literally turned in to 3 year olds because they were asked to wear a mask. And in the whole scheme of things, is wearing a mask all that much to ask?

How about the food stores? Holy fuck! The meat section just being empty? There was a day when I went shopping that the ENTIRE frozen vegetable section was COMPLETELY EMPTY. Other than frozen okra. I guess people are not a fan of okra.

We discussed friends and family who lost jobs. We discussed how our nation handled this pandemic, and all the mistakes(in our eyes)that were made. Could we have shut down the nation for 2 months? As in a complete shutdown? Could we have just froze everything? Would it have changed or slowed down how the virus spread through our nation?

We discussed the nightmare that was New York City, in the early stages of covid. We discussed that military hospital ship that was parked there. How about the turning Central Park in to a field hospital? So many deaths. So damn sad.

Its been quite a fucking year, that's for sure.

Anyway.

Share some thoughts about the last year. Looking back, what are some of the things that will always stand out to you? The hoarding at the stores? The terror of not finding wipes or disinfectant? The fear of just walking out your front door? and obviously the fear of getting sick.

Lockdowns didn't work
You didn't mention one thing about being healthy nor do I blame you because the media never mentioned taking vitamin C,D and zinc helped with covid. 
They closed down parks and activities outside and said Netflix and chill for a couple of months when people should have been outside walking, exercising and getting sunlight.
Plexi glass is theatre because a virus can swoop around plexi glass
Never in history has a vaccine been produced this fast pushed this hard. Doesn't anyone find it odd the food, marijuana, money etc...etc.. they are giving away to get a shot for a vaccine?
We should just sheltered the elderly and vulnerable. 
Covid is spread through the air not surfaces
And you are talking about shutting down the country for two months GTFOH...
Also what current pharmaceuticals do we have that can help fight it.
The rich got Richer and the poor got poorer. Not to mention how far behind inner city kids are now because remote learning was everything but learning.  
And if my favorite band mandates a vaccine to see them live they are not the band that stands up for the people anymore.