A creature of new habits!

Hello All,

What a difference a year makes! I am so grateful that we appear to have turned the corner on this pandemic. I know we will still have ups and downs – new variants will continue to appear (it is just the nature of bugs, they mutate to stay alive – so now the delta variant has entered the scene) – we still have to take care of our younger citizens with their vaccines. But some sense of normalcy has returned.

Well, except that I still I am a creature of the new habits I developed this year! I still am having trouble giving up my mask. If it is not on my face, it is my newest bracelet…..in case I need it in a hurry! I find that if there are a lot of people in the grocery store or in small stores, I put it on. I have begun to wonder if everyone who doesn’t have a mask on really has been vaccinated. (Yes – I am a little cynical about that.) I am truly thinking that when the flu season raises its head, I am going back to wearing my mask. It certainly worked to keep the flu at bay this past year!

I still obey all of the six foot distance signs that are still on the floors in multiple places. (And at the grocery store this past weekend, I noticed that I am not the only one!) I don’t stand close to people I don’t know. I haven’t been to a restaurant yet that has packed the tables together like in pre-COVID days. I think it will take me a while to get used to that again.

I haven’t been shaking a lot of hands. And when I do and within a reasonable timeframe, I am looking for the hand sanitizer or the nearest sink. Elbow and fist bumps are good!

I have been thrilled about the return of the hug! You all know me – hugging is my jam – my method of connecting, showing support, giving comfort, sharing love. This piece of normalcy is so important to me. I find my hugs are a little longer and a little tighter. They are definitely something I will never take for granted again.

The cost of this pandemic has been huge. The loss of so many lives from COVID is overwhelming, and the impact to their families, friends, coworkers and others will be long lasting. And those losses extend to those who didn’t seek care during the pandemic because of fear and limitations in services. We still have much work to do as a society and country with food insecurity, racial inequities, affordable and stable housing, and living wages. I think now that we are all actively talking about these important issues, we will make progress.

My new habits will hang around for a while. I am okay with that. I am looking forward to giving you hugs!

Phyl

P.S. The letter to Nabisco should arrive today! (Well, maybe. The mail has been a little bit sluggish.) Will let you know if we hear back about our suggestions for special edition Oreos!