My husband's good friend's wife gave birth to their first child last summer. She was like a porcelain doll, so small and fragile. In the beginning, as with any of our friends who have babies, we didn't bother the new parents by wanting a visit right away. I remember she was two months old the first time her and I met each other. As I held her in my arms, her tiny body warmed my soul. Today she's 15 1/2 months and her Dad tells us he can't keep up with her little feet marching around their house. They only stay this way for so long, at least that's what I'm told.
When I think back to the beginning of the pandemic, mid-March 2020, to the time when we were all wondering how the hell we were going to get through this, I remember feeling from people - notably strangers, a touch of community, calm and kindness. Seven months ago we were given this global reminder we are mere mortals. And the main thing, if we want to get through or past this super fucked up period in history, is: we must do it together. We should try and remember the way we felt, more than half a year ago now, when the health of Earth was at an all-time low. Albeit we've come a long way... I fear the worst is yet to come.
People say we have less than 75 days until the year 2021 but what does that mean?
The coronavirus won't expire when the ball drops on New Year's Eve.
Are we suddenly not going to worry about physical distancing?
Will our children grow up to be germ-fearing adults?
Do we have a collective understanding of how very real all of this is?
Are we able to accept what needs to be done, for our economy to rebound?
I don't know what to tell you if Canadians are still fighting wearing a mask.
I wish I could feel a push in the right direction for the future of our province. But the more time we spend "in isolation" the more I feel our wonderful country fill with hate.
As I look outside my kitchen window this morning, with snow falling like flour being sifted from the sky, I wish we could go back to August when they told us wearing masks in public indoor spaces in mandatory. We didn't realize then how easy it really was.
Need to go to the bank? Wear a mask.
Buying groceries? Put your mask on.
Taking the train? Mask up!
Want to support your local businesses? Bring your mask!
The sad thing about people who refuse to wear a mask is they don't love themselves enough to care about others.
Why Canadians weren't more considerate of peers prior to March 2020 should be the question.
You don't feel well and must go into work? Wear a fucking mask so you don't spread what you have.
This is such a normal act in other countries, yet for the rednecks of the United States of Alberta, I see it's a pretty big deal.
What are you teaching our children?
Are you better because you're taking a stand against common courtesy?
You don't even know how easy we have it here.
Please enlighten us...
Something tells me if we don't open our eyes soon it's going to be a longer road back to "normal".
And it doesn't mean we all have to think the same.
The reason our world here in Canada is so fantastic is because we have the freedom to think unlike our neighbours. I learned to appreciate that point myself just this year. And the more I think about it, thinking about how far we've come (in my opinion, not very far at all) makes me worry.
I so deeply want the children of our friends; our nieces and nephews; eventually our own kids, to grow up in a world that goes above and beyond to protect it.
I hope to be the kind of parent who shows their child a good way to act and the right time to rebel. Though we may believe differently, we are all the same on Sunday mornings...
Having a tough time believing tomorrow is Monday, again.
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