Waiting is the Hardest Part
The Lightning won the Stanley Cup this year and ordinarily that in itself would be the most exciting thing to happen this year. Except that they did it in an empty arena. In another country. Isolated from their families and the rest of the world for 68 days. They may lie to you, but I think that the players might have been more happy that they were finally able to go home.
We should have been there. I gladly would have taken my family to the Amalie Arena and planted ourselves on the plaza to watch the games on the parking garage wall just to be a part of the festivities and celebrations. It didn’t happen. It couldn’t happen.
I am so tired of trying to pretend this new normal is fine. It’s not. It’s pretty far from it.
Damn you, Covid.
I am so tired of thinking about whether or not we can go do something and if we do, having to collect masks and hand sanitizer to take with us. I understand completely why we are doing this and I’m 100% behind the effort to limit the spread of this, but I’m just so tired of it. I know I’m not the only one suffering from pandemic fatigue, but I’m so over this.
I wish it would go away like a miracle, but wishes don’t make vaccines, so here we sit, waiting for the scientists and doctors to find a safe one that can be turned around and easily distributed worldwide, hoiping there’s no long lasting negative effects coupled with it. When I think about those people and their level of stress, it makes my problems seem less so. When we respond to a 911 call, we are usually dealing with one life at a time. Those folks could end up hurting or killing millions if they are not exactly right.
Viruses mutate and adapt, that’s how they stay alive and that’s why Covid-19 will never be gone. It’s a part of our world now, whether we like it or not. The Polio virus still exists, but the U.S. is free of it due to widespread vaccinations. There’s plenty of diseases running free throughout the world and there will always be a need for science to stay on top of them. We all just need to take a collective breath, hold it in, and let it out slowly while saying “mmmmmmmm” behind our masks. If that’s not enough to help you through, call a friend or reach out to a mental health professional. Hell, do both, it will do no harm to have extra people on your side. I’m glad that I’ve been seeing a counselor since before the pandemic because it helps me tremendously but buddy, she earnin’ it now.
No, nothing is normal and everything’s not fine. Things eventually will get better, over time. That’s not much comfort in this moment, but it’s all we got. At least it’s not a zombie virus or something that causes certain death in every person. We will get through this and I pray that those with the responsibility of helping the human race survive this are doing their due diligence and getting all the support that they need to bring this global event to a definite end. It doesn’t matter how quick it happens, it matters that it is 100% right.
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