I started tearing up as I typed the title of this post in the title box.
Wow - there's a little bit of pressure going into writing this post. When I started writing posts weekly starting at "Week 6," I never imagined I'd be doing it for this long. It's really crazy. I feel like I need to say something really important, valuable or substantial. I'm not sure if I am up to the task. I'll just speak my truth.
52 weeks/1 year behind us now since coronavirus hit the state of GA (and the United States) full force.
It's been a tough year. There were some bright spots throughout the year for sure, but overall, it's been a tough year.
For the last month, I have unfortunately been struggling with TMJ pain/eustachian tube dysfunction (blocked ear) on my right side. I have been doing jaw strengthening and eustachian tube exercises for the last few days, and I am noticing positive results (thank goodness). But, I've been dealing with this on top of everything else going on. It's been stressful.
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This is what the former person in charge was saying a year ago...
LIAR.
Lies upon lies upon lies. Denial after denial after denial.
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As I type this post, the number of deaths are...
530,000+ deaths in the U.S. More than WWI, WWII, Vietnam and 9/11 combined. It didn't have to be this way.
When all this was first happening, I immediately believed it. I listened to the experts and the scientists, and I did what research I could from what was available at the time. I knew this virus was real and it meant business. I refused to listen to conspiracy theories. My gut told me that it could get really, really bad. And it did get really, really bad. Multitudes of people who caught the virus (and survived it) are now dealing with mild/moderate/debilitating long-term effects after the virus has left their systems. This virus can wreak havoc on a body - even if you are healthy. Young and old - it does not discriminate. And now we have dangerous variants, thanks to those who didn't want to believe this was real. I wish every person had listened. I wish every person had believed it.
For me, this predicament won't be over for my family until Doug and I get vaccinated and Briana also gets vaccinated. We didn't social distance just for me and Doug. We did it for Bri too. I know she is a healthy 14 year old teen, but even healthy kids can get quite sick and could possibly suffer long-term after effects. She's been so mentally and emotionally strong throughout this ordeal and has been so careful for so long. We aren't going to throw any of that away now. My family will continue to social distance, wear masks and be vigilant until we absolutely don't have to anymore. We haven't caught Covid so far (hope it stays that way) and we are almost to the finish line.
Briana's pediatrician's office posted this on FB a few weeks back...
Teens should get heart screened if they have recently had Covid. Just an FYI.
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Speaking of the former "gaslighter" in charge, he made my kid's life even more difficult (and all Asian Americans) with all his horrible, racist rhetoric...
I've never been so freaking happy to see someone forced out of office.
(It makes me so incredibly confused, disappointed, sad and angry that people still support him after he led an insurrection that killed people. After all the hateful things he said and did throughout his presidency. I'll never, ever, ever understand it.)
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One year ago, Monday, March 16th, 2020, Briana started virtual learning (and never went back to face to face learning)...
It was very unnerving and overwhelming at first, but she managed to find her groove with it. It was not the nightmare we imagined it could be. I am grateful that Briana is a self-motivated learner (most of the time) and very dang smart.
Do we wish this hadn't happened? Yes. Do we wish Bri had a "normal" freshman year? Yes. But we've made it work. What to do for 10th grade is up in the air right now. I am very hopeful that Bri's junior year and senior year will be "normal" again. Let's hope.
Just know though - people's experiences with this virus this past year differed greatly depending on where people lived and their view on it. I live in an area where the majority of the population did not embrace social distancing and mask use, so my family's decision-making and ability to go out/move around was greatly affected/diminished by that train of thought.
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I am feeling quite sad. After a year of this pandemic, I have some very strained relationships - with both friends and family members. I had to distance myself from some people and sever contact with others due to what I believe are toxic viewpoints (and this goes beyond politics for me). It's not been easy but necessary. I had a couple of people disconnect from me on social media when I posted articles that challenged their positions. I'm sure I've lost a few readers on this blog as well due to voicing my opinion - I can tell that my numbers are down just a bit. So, it's been a struggle.
I am trying to remember this...
I've had to do what I've had to do. I've had to be honest. I finally spoke my piece after being silent for a long time.
It's difficult to make life changes and/or meet new people in the middle of a pandemic. So, I feel quite stagnant right now and not able to move forward. I hope I can hang on just a few more months. Hopefully then, I can figure out some of my next moves.
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You all know by now that I am more of a "half-glass empty" type of personality. It's how I am wired. Some of it is genetic I'm sure and some is due to life experience. Even though this is usually "how I roll," I cannot end this year pandemic post on a negative note.
So...
*Doug, Bri and I didn't get Covid. My parents didn't get Covid.
* Briana ended up attending school in a different way/learning in a new way and succeeded at it. She rocked the end of 8th and is doing awesome in 9th grade.
*Doug, Bri and I spent a lot of time together - just the three of us - something that would have probably never happened during normal times.
* I was able to stay home and help Briana with anything she needed virtual learning wise. I've tried to keep everything "inside our home" as normal as possible.
* The company Doug works for is doing better than ever. It grew by leaps and bounds despite the pandemic. He enjoys being a VP (even though he gets super busy at times). We are very blessed that he has such a solid job and lots of opportunities that go with it.
* We have a beautiful new basement now with an amazing home theater that we are really enjoying.
* We had a very nice trip to Hilton Head. We got to enjoy the ocean again.
* We managed to celebrate every holiday in our own way. We had fun safely passing out candy on Halloween to trick or treaters. We celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents.
* Mei had a bit of a tough year, but now she seems to have finally found peace and calm in the last month or so and her fur is growing back. She had the attention of her favorite people 24/7 and lots of spoiling. Bri and Mei are tighter than ever.
* I figured out how to safely manage my tonsil stone situation and I rarely get them anymore. No tonsil surgery needed.
* I lost a few friendships, but a few of my friendships strengthened at the same time. I am grateful for that.
* My eyes were opened to bigoted and harmful belief systems of a number of people I cared about. Belief systems that were never truly revealed before "the world went crazy" but now have come to light (in different ways). I'm trying to look at this as a positive. It's really better that I know - even though it's been difficult to accept. The truth does set you free.
* We elected a new president (and two new GA senators) - a president who tells the truth to the American public, has actual empathy and acts like a grown up. Hallelujah.
* And finally...
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I made it through the year...
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