“The difference between a hero and a coward is one step sideways”– Gene Hackman
There is so much talk (and by talk, I mean TALK… as in very often loud, heated talk!) about masks, vaccines, lockdowns, and social distancing.
Don’t worry, I have absolutely no intention of telling you what to do or what not to do. I figure I really only need to take care of the crazy cat lady I see in the mirror and, trust me, I have my hands full with her!
All I want to do here today is share the quote above and give a little something in the way of encouragement – a reminder, if you will, for all of us.
We have become a very self-absorbed society, haven’t we? I mean, how many times do you see someone on social media announce that they’re at the beach, in the mountains, or visiting an exotic locale only to show themselves in every photo! Heck they could be catfishing all of us and be in their own backyard for all we know lmao! All they truly care about is that THEY are there and all they feel you should care about is that THEY are there.
How about the people on social media who only talk about themselves or show photos of themselves… only to one day mention their spouse, dog, or child and make you go, “Oh! I didn’t know anyone else was in their life but them!”
When the pandemic hit, this self-absorbed nonsense hit a whole new level.
“I’M not wearing a mask in the store!”
“If I get it, it won’t kill ME!”
“I’m not afraid I’LL get it. I’LL be okay”
It honestly often feels like people think they’re the only ones in the world, doesn’t it?
What about the people who can’t get vaccinated because of a pre-existing health condition? My youngest daughter falls in this category and I’m not going to lie, I have spent the past year holding my breath every time she coughs. Getting COVID would be extremely, extremely hard on her and would, undoubtedly, land her in the hospital for a week or more.
What about babies and small children who can’t get vaccinated? I have three beautiful grandbabies and the thought of them getting COVID is as much a nightmare for me as for my youngest daughter. A baby with pneumonia (which COVID can easily lead to) is a very, very scary thought.
Every individual who has died from the coronavirus and every single one who has been sick or is sick, or WILL be sick is someone’s family. They’re people someone loves very much – people they would miss around the Thanksgiving table. We should all be as mindful of them as we are our own families.
I’ll be completely honest with you and tell you what led me to this moment – sitting here, pretty much begging everyone to be as careful and considerate as you possibly can. A little over a week ago, one of my grandbabies, a precious little 21 month old named Jacoby got very sick. It ended up being the “crud” that’s going around, but when his fever reached 103, we were all frightened. When he began coughing and wheezing AND his temperature lingered, the fear hit whole new levels.
Only a few days before his fever hit, I had heard about a baby boy (only a few weeks older than Jacoby) being in the hospital, very sick with pneumonia. Naturally, that’s what I feared the most.
While Jacoby is better (thanks be to God) and didn’t have COVID, not all children or adults are as lucky.
In spite of the fact that I, personally, am vaccinated, if wearing a mask means even one child is less likely to contract COVID and even one family is spared the ultimate nightmare, I’ll wear a darn mask indefinitely. I know that chances are very high that you don’t agree with me. I’m very okay with that. Until we can wipe out this disease or have vaccines that behave more like flu shots, in that they keep us from even getting the virus, we all have to look out for one another.
That’s what people who aren’t absorbed in themselves do. I guess I’m just encouraging everyone to hang in there. Keep using common sense and keep a safe distance between yourself and strangers. If you are considering the vaccine or wondering about the different ones available, please talk to your doctor or a licensed nurse. Do not base anything that has to do with your health on a news network or people’s opinions on social media.
Thanks for listening to a “Momma” and a “MiMi” rant and rave a little bit. My family means the world to me and I would do anything to protect them. I know you feel the same way.
~ Joi