LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
But is it really over? Is it safe to get back in the water ? As incredible as it seems, getting the COVID-19 vaccine has become as political as wearing a mask... Getting the shot (or not) seems to imply you’re picking a side. Roughly 50% of the U.S. population has been vaccinated thus far, and seemingly any adult who wants it can get it. I received the vaccine a few months ago at a mass vaccination site, thousands of us herded through roped-off lanes comparable to the ride lines at Disney. I’ve since ditched my mask at the grocery store, but I find many are still wearing them... which is fine – you do you and I’ll do me . In April, after 388 days of being home, my kids’ school finally opened for in-person teaching. Those 13 months were a struggle – two parents juggling remote work with two kids being schooled at home, our Internet straining to keep up with all the laptops and streaming. I mourned the loss of their social interactions and sports seasons. But my one son, who often got distracted at school, found online learning easier to follow, and blossomed academically this past school year. Indeed, as I wrote in this Silver Linings piece last May, there was some good to be found in the world slowing down... Lockdowns allowed my family more together time and a breather from our usual chaos. However, I understand our situation was “easy” compared with many – we kept our jobs and no one got sick.
It’s truly difficult to wrap my head around the millions dead worldwide from this virus. And many of us, myself included, were hoping for a line in the sand... a moment the world could rejoice that “the pandemic was over.” But the conflicting CDC guidance, varying mask mandates and school policies, and new virus strains have made that tricky. We were being told that vaccinated people should keep wearing masks. Then we were told, the very next day – “It’s over, take them off!” No wonder folks were a bit suspicious about trusting the ever-evolving guidance. In the meantime, planes are packed and airports are bustling... Cruise lines are running again... Restaurants and bars are back to full capacity. In my house, school just wrapped for summer vacation. We’ve got camps lined up and vacations scheduled. I even just bought July concert tickets. I’m embracing the world reopening. My toes are already dipped in the water... And I’m ready for that cannonball jump. As incredible as it seems, getting the COVID-19 vaccine has become as political as wearing a mask... Getting the shot (or not) seems to imply you’re picking a side.
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June 2021
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