The More Things Change, the More Things Change

This time last year the country was not bracing itself for what was about to occur. Part of that behavior stems from the innate reactive characteristic most Americans possess. Why prepare when you can panic. Or the other characteristic of scoffing. Many Americans are scoffers. They scoff at scientific data. They scoff at other countries and their inhabitants. They scoff at possibilities. Odd, when these same Americans claim the United States is where possibilities are endless unless they don’t see themselves accomplishing what the masses think is impossible. This mindset has been reinforced the past year by how media presents news, and how politicians gauge how ignorant and uninformed their constituents are. If politicians scoffed, their voter base did as well. This collective scoffing was ill-advised when confronted with a serious pandemic that has brought many Americans to their knees financially, emotionally, and educationally. Choruses of “I can’t wait to get back to normal” have been building to a crescendo for some time now. Little do people realize things are well on their way to a new normal, which won’t be perceived as normal for quite some time.

I scoffed last year at this time. With the mixed messages I received via various forms of media, and what came out of Washington, I decided that all information up to March 2, 2020, was a load of shit. It was either we’re all going to die, or there was absolutely nothing to worry about if we didn’t take what was being said seriously. I scoffed at both until I did research.

I based my stance on historical reference points. I lived through Avian Flu, Swine Flu, MRSA, SARS, H1N1, Ebola, Legionnaire’s Disease, etc. So death was not as imminent as some claimed. I know what havoc the Spanish Flu caused prior to 1920. Ironically, the Spanish Flu receded, but then reemerged as H1N1, joining the other flu strains that take about 35,000 lives (and climbing) each year. In most cases, as with the current pandemic, many who have lost their lives suffered from other infirmities that contributed to their untimely demise. I equated this to someone suffering from Alzheimer’s for 10 years, but the cause of death is stated as pneumonia. Which is contracted often by those who have become bedridden.

I scoffed at my pro-active friends. I scoffed at the Chicken Littles claiming the sky was indeed falling. I scoffed at those who believed an entire country could be shut down by something no worse than “the flu.” However, in the back of my mind was Christina Todd Whitman, the former governor of New Jersey, claiming that it was safe from an environmental standpoint, for first responders and other necessary personnel to continue their efforts at Ground Zero after 9-11. We all see how that worked out.

I couldn’t imagine a March without Madness, the largest revenue producer for the NCAA. I couldn’t imagine a baseball season without Opening Day. I couldn’t imagine university campuses closing, never mind concluding that online education was equal to a brick-and-mortar one. I couldn’t imagine my government telling me where I could and couldn’t go, much less being criminally charged for doing so. I was livid. At one point, I was willing to risk jail rather than people I considered not terribly bright telling me their best practices that were instituted.

So I did my research. I understood the gravity of the situation. I adhered to directives. Friends got sick. My son and his wife got infected. I was unable to attend groups that were so important to me. I wanted to be part of the solution. And yet, here we are, a year later, with everything virtually the same unless you are willing to take certain risks. I became unwilling to possibly contribute to someone falling ill when I could have prevented it.

I am sad when I see images from New York showing such a lack of activity. I am sad that there will be no true Opening Day for the second year in a row. I am sad that I lost a dream job due to the pandemic. However, I am happy there will be a new normal. Each day is one with the right mindset. What can I do differently? What ruts can I avoid? What routines can I discard so as to sample something new? Well, there’s this.

I fell in love during the pandemic. I remained employed when others didn’t. I still live paycheck to paycheck without savings, but all my bills are paid. All but one have been on time this past year. I am no longer concerned with the dream job. If it happens it happens. My friend launched my own website. Since it will focus on public speaking engagements, I will wait patiently for the pandemic to subside to share my story. I am excited about the prospect.

I will get married soon. I am happy. Happier than most from what I see. I don’t really care where I see myself this time next year. I am enjoying each day, the weeks and months will take care of themselves. If you feel my behavior or thinking is unrealistic, you’re welcome to scoff.