2019, 2020, 2021. It seems like the pandemic had its deadly way with us for decades. During 2021 while we were still in lockdown. my beautiful Sadie died, and then my sweet husband Jesse died in his sleep. Basically, they both died of old age, which still happens, even in a time of pandemic.
Many of us Boomers did get COVID. Millions died of it. The generation ahead of us, the so-called Greatest Generation was especially hard hit. Many nursing homes and retirement villages were scourged. Once vaccines became available and we were no longer sentenced to six months of coma and ventilator if we ventured out, we were all wanting to get out and go, go, GO!
This past June, 2022, after such goings out and about, I got COVID, but having had a vaccine and boosters, I only suffered two days of misery and a month of recovery. This put a damper on my enthusiasm to go out and mingle, which led to a return to Zooming: Zoom Church, Zoom seminars, Zoom tea parties. And then bit by bit out and about, choir practice and grocery shopping, masked and then unmasked.
And now I am in Panama walking on the beach and going to receptions, dinner and dancing. And coursework and meetings and excursions. It’s a miracle. I'm here at Playa Bonita Westin with a few hundred friends, friends in three dimensions, up close and personal, not just on a monitor or Facebook. Actual solid, multi-sensory, in the flesh. Exuberantly hugging old friends, and enthusiastically shaking hands with new friends. In a word, Joy.
I find myself humming this week. It’s been a while.
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