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| "I don't know where we're headed, but I'm ready!" |
Life has not yet returned to "life as we knew it," but a lot has happened in the two and a half months since my last post. While the case and hospitalization numbers in our state have not been good, the governor did not issue another lockdown. He instead asked for a "statewide pause." The pause increased some restrictions, such as limiting many in-person businesses to 25% capacity instead of 50%, but ultimately not a lot has changed. My job has continued to be 100% remote since November. We visit our close family when we can. We order delivery and curbside pickup. We take our son for walks outside.
And yet, a lot has changed. In the world at large, a new mutation of the virus has emerged and is being described as even more contagious than the original, causing many to recommend "double masking" in public. Vaccine distribution has finally begun for healthcare and frontline workers, though the process is slow and often muddled. Vaccine shortages are common in many states, yet little by little new appointments appear on our local health district website.
Which brings me to the changes in my own little world. We faced a new Covid scare at the end of January when a family member came in contact with someone exposed to the virus. Another close family all got sick, though thankfully with only mild symptoms. And my family member was lucky in that he didn't catch or spread the virus to anyone else.
After that blessing and relief, I was suddenly given the opportunity to get the vaccine myself through my work! I never expected the opportunity so soon, but I understand why. My job is returning staff to work in order to reopen February 1. I'll be back in person with the same fall schedule I had of two days in person each week.
Which makes this my last official week of being a fully remote, work-from-home, stay-at-home mom. Again.
While I don't look forward to leaving my son again, the change doesn't feel quite as momentous this time. Probably because we've been through all this before, or because we've just been in the pandemic so long that all kinds of fatigue have set in. But I also think it's because I'm not quite as scared as last time. The vaccine gives some peace of mind with its 95% efficacy protection, and I'll have both doses by mid February.
My first shot was January 22 and my second will be February 9. I experienced no side effects from the first other than a slightly sore arm that day and an uncomfortably sore arm that evening as I tried to get comfy in bed. But after just one day of only slight discomfort, I was back to normal. We'll see how the next dose goes.
I plan to report my experiences with the transition back to work here, as well as any side effects of the second vaccine, and then the hopeful success of my husband's vaccine too--as a frontline worker, he was able to get his first dose yesterday!
I may continue to write small updates after that, but as the world starts on the path to reopening, to normality, I will no longer be "remotely" yours. My last major post will likely be in March, a full year after this pandemic began and I started documenting it. I'm glad I'll have this blog to look back on to remember the details of such a momentous time in our history, even if much of this experience is one we'd all probably like to forget.
Still, I can't deny the bond its brought me with my son. A true "mama's boy," he loves it when I hold him, read to him, dance with him, and make him laugh. Our adventures are only just beginning as I think about the possibilities that could finally happen this year. Once all my family is vaccinated, we could actually do something as normal as a trip to a store, or a playground, or a coffee shop.
And when I return to work next week, at least I'll have Starbucks lunch breaks to look forward to again, and "welcome back" hugs from my son at the end of the day.
Life as we know it is not the same, but we are returning to good things, little by little.
