Everyone Is Entitled To My Opinion-On Coming Out Of The Pandemic

Dear Friends,

     We are fast approaching two years since our country, our world shut down over Corona/COVID19. Wear a mask, stay socially distanced, wash your hands – often – and for twenty seconds, use hand sanitizer, work from home if possible, home school, have your groceries and meals delivered (if you eat out, dine outside. So many restrictions, suddenly the roads were empty, cars stayed in the driveway, malls were empty, many small businesses were closed, restaurants and diners closed. Playgrounds and outdoor basketball courts were empty, theaters (movie and stage) were closed, and even Broadway went dark. People stayed home, gathering and socializing were put on hold. Families getting together on holidays were now limited Thanksgiving and Christmas suddenly were spent alone or possibly a Zoom meeting with food, no Bar B Q’s or picnics. Summer camps, T-Ball, and swim clubs were put on hold. As the time went by these changes began to manifest the affects of lost socialization, depression, loneliness, even feelings of helplessness emerged.

      How did you deal with these changes as you fought to figure everything out? Did you binge watch old TV shows? Maybe you had the radio on more or played your music collection (CD’s, tapes, vinyl)? Perhaps you finally found time to read those books on your shelf, you may have e-mailed or texted friends or perhaps called friends and family. Suddenly, as 2022 arrived, we found we could get out more, but we also found that our world was different, come out and eat but follow the restrictions and be prepared to wait as restaurants found themselves unable to hire cooks and servers, go food shopping or finally shop for the things you have put off buying, but wear a mask, the “follow the footprints through the stores and the stand on the lines” were gone. Checkout lines were long and sales help was scarce as there was a shortage of help here too. What affect has this had on you? I reached out to as many as I could in cards and letters, on social media, and on radio and with my weekly “Bear Cave visits.” I began noticing more road rage, less than friendly demeanors, tempers were short, and I began to feel sad. It was then I decided to not allow this pandemic to take hold and change me. I hold doors for strangers, rise when a woman enters the room and offer her a seat, I say “hello” and “good morning” to strangers, I still make silly faces at children in the checkout line, smile as people go by, and I still enjoy chatting with total strangers. The situations may have changed but I will show patience, kindness, understanding, and less judgment of others. I can’t change the weather but I can change my attitude, and if enough of us change our attitude we just may be able to change the horrible things we see on the news every day.