A new season: I think I'm done with COVID

But indoor crowds are still questionable

COVID case numbers are on the rise again, but it doesn’t worry me in the same way it did this time last year.

I know that many people never worried about it much at all, if at all, but I was on Team Serious. I started out with funny “rona” memes on Facebook. Those were hilarious, am I right?

Then, as an elected official at the time, reality hit and there were tough, unpopular decisions to make which had to be based on public safety and and doing the most good for the most people. It was hard, like life-changing hard.

A two-week shutdown seemed terrifying, and I didn’t doubt that we’d save each other and “flatten the curve.”

We did the things. We isolated, we masked, we limited our outings to essentials only. We didn’t travel. Part of my job in healthcare has been tracking COVID and trying to stay ahead of regulations and understand protocols.

When the 2020 holiday season started, there was nothing we wanted more than to be together with our family, including my mom, my younger local sister, and my older sister, her husband and children who live out of town.

“I’m not trying to convince anyone else of what they should or shouldn’t do, but for me, it’s time.”

We developed a plan for everyone to spend about five days as close to home as possible. At the time, I was the only one who would have to work outside of my home during that time period, and masks were mandatory at my place of employment, as were several other COVID precautions. We would also test before gathering. It seemed like the safest plan and it worked, though I worried and stressed, and for the two weeks following Thanksgiving I was hyper aware of every sniffle, sneeze and headache.

This year, thankfully, is much different. Even though cases are headed up again, mostly amongst the unvaccinated, everyone with whom we will gather above the age of 12 is fully vaccinated and many are boosted. The younger lot is on the way. New therapeutics are within our grasp. My household is healthy.

I’m not trying to convince anyone else of what they should or shouldn’t do, but for me, it’s time. I’d like to reserve the right to change my mind based on future caseloads, but as far as I can tell, my community and the schools my children attend are also well.

I have done all that I can to protect the vulnerable. I will continue to happily mask where required. I may even mask on airplanes and in doctor’s offices for the rest of my life, especially if I’m the one with a contagious bug. It seems odd to me now that it hasn’t been common practice.

I think it may be prudent for students to mask at school for a week or so after the return from the holidays this year, but I’m hopeful it will seem like overkill next year.

We’re going to gather without stress. We’ll go shopping and maybe to a movie, taking precautions if necessary. No one is going to say “when.” We’re going to have to decide for ourselves.

I’m ready.

Somewhat embarrassing admission: I found my own newsletter from myself in my spam box this morning. Do me a favor and check yours. I hope you’ll share my toil with your circle.