Pandemic Year 5

March 13th, two weeks ago, was the fifth anniversary of the COVID pandemic. For as all consuming as the pandemic was, I can't believe that anniversary slipped by me mostly unnoticed.

I wrote about it at the one year mark and here.

Again at at the 16 month mark when President Biden wanted to declare it over (but the disease had other plans).

At the 19 month mark when I realized my calendar was full for the first time in over a year and a half.

The two year mark.

The three year mark.

The four year mark.

If you enter COVID into the search bar on the right, you can find countless other mentions of it in blog posts.

So, why not the fifth year?

I'd like to say it is because the disease is completely eradicated and life has returned to normal, or even the "new normal" that was predicted as it all started.

But the reality is there are so many new crises that I forgot about COVID.

I think our latest health crises are measles and bird flu. I think because the current POTUS has eliminated funding for the NIH and CDC and refuses to educate the population about things that we might be able to prevent.

I do see more people wearing masks in public places, especially in NYC. They are likely the smart ones. I'm at the point where if I get a deadly disease, it might just put me out of my misery so bring it on.

Up until a couple of months ago I heard about friends testing positively for COVID, including one in Australia. I had a cold or maybe it was the flu at New Years, but did not test for anything. Just let it run its course. Sort of how life seems to be in general in the United States. If we close our eyes and ears and block out the noise, maybe, just maybe it will all go away.

That's now how it happens, of course.

COVID is here to stay.

May we get rid of fascism easier.