We are approaching one year since our world was turned upside down. We were hit with news of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic. Most of us knew something about it but I doubt any of us had a clue what an impact it would have on our lives.
In Iowa, St Patrick’s Day 2020, started as most with bars opening early as those seeking green beer and a day of celebration were hitting the streets. As most of us know “you can’t drink all day if your don’t start in the morning.” By mid morning our governor (soon to be known as COVID/Kim) held a press conference that shut the day down. None of us could image what was coming. Businesses across the state were closed, schools were closed and we were told to quarantine in our homes.
BOOM St Patrick’s Day ended at noon as did our lives as we knew it.
The past year has been filled with hope for a new normal but mostly filled with the loss of family and friends to this horrible disease. Some of our favorite places of business closed and never reopened and for the first time in my life a national emergency became a political football with leaders from each side blaming the other for too much control or not enough. National leadership in many cases was non existent and the science and medical community was also blamed for being political. In addition. we learned the famous three steps to take the help keep us safe…. “Social Distance, Wear a Mask and Wash Your Hands.” Even that has become political. Masks/No Masks, Social Distancing or Not. I guess few have a problem with washing your hands.
States and governors have been all over on the policies enacted and commitment to the ideas of how to lower the risk of getting the virus. For every idea/policy offered the people impacted have an idea on how it will impact them. Again politics has entered the conversation. Discussion of civil/constitutional rights being violated. Sacrifice doesn’t come easy and many have chosen not to get involved. So how did our parents and grandparents survive the Great Depressions?
We’ve experienced shortages in almost everything we buy at the grocery store. Who ever imagined a shortage of toilet paper, paper towels or hand sanitizer? Hell, how many people used hand sanitizer before the pandemic? Grocery stores had to limit purchases of key items. Rationing for the first time since World War II. All the while beer and alcoholic beverage sales skyrocketed.
Fortunately the science and medical community kept moving forward while ignoring the claims of certain drugs and products being the quick cure for the virus. The president even suggested drinking bleach and inserting a light up your butt. Science was replaced with off the wall ideas. The medical community moved forward in-spite of misinformation and politics.
We now have hope that the three vaccines will bring this nightmare to an end but the process will be slow. From approvals, to production, to distribution, vaccinating over 325 million people will not be easy. Unfortunately misinformation and blame continues in spite of the progress being made.
I’m one of the fortunate ones - I’ve gotten both shots with very little reaction. Only pain at the injection site and a little tired (but tired could be any day).
What I would like to offer is my appreciation for the pharmacy staff of Hy-Vee Windsor Heights and the pharmacy students at Drake University. The two groups combined to provide another option for receiving the vaccination. Both visits were so easy, from the appointment to the follow up. The team was highly efficient, friendly and I appreciate their work.
As I finished my reaction time wait (15 minutes after the shot) I was given a Post-It Note to share what I was looking forward to doing after my immunity was secure. Seems the staff was posting them on a bulletin board so others could see what their neighbors were happy to get back to. I wrote….
To spend time with my Grandkids and Family
I ended with…. Thank You to the Staff at The Harkin Center!
Simple I know but after a year like we’ve all experienced we’ve had time to understand the important things in life.
With luck everyone will get their shots in the next few months and we will be able to move toward a new normal.
Godspeed!
03/03/2021
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