"Post"-COVID Firsts

Thirteen and a half months into the pandemic, I daresay we are starting to see signs of a post-COVID world. Each week is bringing new "firsts" to our lives.

First visit to a nursing home: CHECK!

Last weekend we drove to Boston to see Don's 104-year old Aunt Elva. Aunt Elva's nursing home was wisely closed to outsiders since March 2020. In late-April 2021 they lifted the restrictions to allow visitors who are fully vaccinated, who request a visit in advance, who then wear an approved mask, have their temperature checked, and fill out a health questionnaire. Once all that happened, we were cleared to go upstairs for a visit.

First hug to a non-person in my bubble: CHECK!

On the way up to see Aunt Elva, we stopped off in Sturbridge, MA to see my not-cousin, Barbara. Okay, "not-cousin" is not the exact correct term, but she started out as New Cousin Barbara (NCB), so that is not exact, either. Her grandmother (Elizabeth) was adopted by the former wife (Dora) of my great-great grandfather (FW) after she remarried the love of her life. I am descended from one of Dora and FW's children (John FW), but NCB is related by blood to Elizabeth and her family. 

I digress. When I saw NCB for the first time in nearly two years, I asked her if she was vaccinated. She said yes, so I reached in for a hug. She exclaimed this was her first hug since the pandemic, so we asked Don to take a picture. Come to think of it, it was mine, too!

We had a great four-hour visit with NCB, Mark, and Brett. That's another one -- first non-masked outdoor visit.

First in-person WINK service: CHECK!

Technically we had our first in-person WINK service in the fall, then during Advent Don and I were in person while the rest of the service was being live-streamed, but two weeks ago when we met in person in the church parking lot, it felt like a first, especially since a week later it was repeated. (WINK=Worship in a New Key -- our usual worship service)

First friend over for a meal: CHECK!

I have had a few friends over for fire pit chats, but last night we had a meal with a friend in our back yard. It was odd -- we had to clean the house, pull weeds, plan a meal around someone else. It was also wonderful. We caught up with Tracey, a friend of Don's from college. This led to our second hug.

First funeral: CHECK!

This one is a lot sadder. Today we went to the funeral for a friend's son who was killed by a drunk driver. It is of note because it was the largest group of people we have been with in over a year. I counted 22 tables of 10, plus at least a hundred people around the perimeter of the room, plus more on the balcony. All masked, all respectful. It was still jarring to see that many people in one giant room. This led to more hugs, making me realize we are moving towards human interaction again.

The list would be longer, except that as soon as government restrictions have lifted, I started to do things again. I've been getting my hair cut and colored since last summer. We've been dining indoors since last fall. I have been dining out with select friends. We've been back to live theater. I've returned to working in-person (never really stopped). We've continued to grocery shop in-person. I walk with a vaccinated friend with wearing masks. We stayed in a hotel in Ohio in October, and again last weekend. We've been to NYC. We've been to an amusement park (looking forward to returning to a Disney theme park someday).

All along I've tried to make wise choices, and have made some others would disagree with, in the end I received the vaccine before I caught COVID (still have not caught COVID, and trust the vaccine, but don't want to jinx anything), so my risks worked out.   

This week we look forward to our first minor league baseball game since the pandemic. I wonder what our next first will be.

Stay safe. Keep wearing your mask. Keep washing hands. Keep staying out of people's personal space.