It's been 7 months.
7 months since our lives got turned upside-down.
I'm just going to go ahead and preface this by saying this is an opinion post. If your views differ drastically than mine, you're entitled to that, but don't berate me. You can stop reading and carry on.
When all of this started, I rolled my eyes and here I am over a half a year later still rolling my eyes. Do you hear that? Over a HALF a YEAR later.
I had about a week or two where I felt uncertain. I thought maybe we should be taking this seriously and quarantine. I tried to talk my parents out of flying to Tennessee in March because everything was so unknown and was not happy when they chose to go anyway.
I couldn't handle the quarantine. I had to get out of the house each day. As it was, I was in a situation where I wasn't happy and I was feeling trapped and suffocated. Many days I'd spend my afternoon driving aimlessly just to seek freedom. The phrase, "Stay at home order" about paralyzed me. I felt so alone.
I think I may have felt differently about this entire situation if our world leaders could have agreed on what should be done from the start. Yes, I get that this virus was an unknown and still is. Everywhere you turn there is misinformation.
Wear a mask.
Don't wear a mask.
Oh wait. Just kidding. You need to wear a mask. But make sure it's the right kind.
Masks are unsafe.
Who even knows if that stats are right. Why do we even need to be given daily stats? Do they post daily flu stats every day? No. It's fear mongering. How are people getting positive results for Covid when they've never even tested?
I've had so many moments where I've been at a breaking point with all of this. I'm so tired of phrases like:
"Mask up!"
"Mask it. Or casket."
"Social distancing"
"New normal"
"We're all in this together"
Let's face it. It is NOT normal, nor should it be to walk into an establishment and wear a mask. It is not normal to have to have your temperature taken and answer an onslaught of questions just to be seen at a doctor's office. The fact that we carry masks in our cars and purses is a sad reality that we're living in.
I know full well that Covid is real, so don't get me wrong. I understand there are risks that I take that others do not. I also believe that those who do not want to expose themselves are the ones who should live in quarantine. When people tell me, "Well then you haven't been affected by a loved one having Covid", I have. My brother-in-law had it. My sister (maybe) had it. Positive test. Negative antibodies. It's anyone's guess. I know someone who has lost their loved one to Covid. I personally know 3 people with it right now all to varying degrees. (No...I haven't been anywhere near them). I wish the best for them, and I'm praying for them, but I won't live in fear.
I am living my life. I will wear a mask out of respect for a store's policy (although when no one is within 6 ft. and your store is a million degrees, I'm taking it off). I'll stand back on the little circles and x's that keep me distanced from the next person. I'll put my card in the chip reader that is wrapped in plastic while laughing to myself about how stupid that is because they don't change the plastic so everyone is still touching everyone else's germs.
My kids go to stores. We've been to Chuck E. Cheese. We play on the playgrounds at parks. I let them play with other kids. I've gotten together with friends. I've hugged friends. (I also respect those who aren't comfortable and always ask first). I go to a church where wearing a mask is optional. We've been to ALL the pumpkin patches!
The stats are SO low for children. They need to get to have a life. They should get to trick or treat. They should be in school 5 days a week. They need interaction with other kids and other adults!
Let me just put it this way. If I get Covid and I happen to be one of the ones who gets really sick or dies from it (not trying to be morbid, and I hope it doesn't happen), I want to be able to know that I lived my life to the fullest. God has known from the moment he created me, exactly when and how I will die. He knows when each one of us will die. I'm not going to sit around and try to hide from the Covid boogeyman. I'm also not going to go hang out in a crowd with hundreds of people. Let's face it, I don't even like hanging out with more than a few people most of the time! It's called using common sense...which I'm realizing not everyone has.
I just want to put this all behind us. I want NORMAL back. Not a new normal. The old crappy normal we didn't even know we loved. Don't tell me to accept this. I'm just not going to. I'll fight to the death to live in a mask free world.
