CoronaVirus Pandemic - Has Life Gotten A New Normal?

Coronavirus or Co-Vid 19 has taken lives of so many Americans, along with many other nationalities, and may simply have changed our lives forever. Many states have been under a shutdown for 30 days or longer and some are looking to extend that now that May 1st is rolling around. Many families have completely changed to a new routine with children doing E-Learning at home, many parents working from home, and many without jobs due to this shutdown. Many feel that the shutdown and all the steps that government has taken is a full abuse of power, while others feel that the steps have been helpful and some have even asked why more has not been done. A nation divided is what we always will be, as not everyone will ever agree upon the steps to take in these times. 

As I listened to the governor's update yesterday on our state and the preparations we are making to return to an open society, I was thinking that I believe life as we knew it before the pandemic has simply vanished. Are masks going to be a new normal? Will the number of people in a business at one time be limited? Will schools change the way they operate? Have parents discovered that being home and a part of their child's life is important and that the job that was so important may have lost some of it's luster? Do parents hate eLearning? These are all things to consider after the pandemic has left us with a new look at life. I have seen many good things come from this pandemic as well. I have taken virtual tours of zoos and museums that I would never have seen in real life. I have seen many people coming up with fabulous ways to help their children connect with friends, many people finding a unique way to visit their loved ones in nursing homes, and even a stuffed animal zoo that a family is doing to raise money for the humane society. Creative and fun and a great teaching tool - a way to give a little joy to those that might be struggling some. Across the United States, there have been so many good stories of faith, human kindness, and someone lending a hand for someone in need. Those are the times that I hope we never lose following the pandemic. 

On Sunday, my husband and I had to make a supply run for his garage. I decided that I would wear a mask as the weather was nice and I was fully aware that people would be out more and I was so correct. I wore my homemade mask everywhere we entered and I am thankful that I did. We even left two stores without going in because of the lines in the parking lot going in and the number of cars in the parking lot. My husband is in the high risk category and I am not taking chances of being the one to give it to him. I began thinking that this might be a new normal for myself and others. Having to wear a mask in public, even into the bank where I could not wear a hat or sunglasses before this whole virus ravished parts of our country. Social distancing is a new normal word that I am sure will somehow be listed as the phrase of the year in December as we look back on 2020. 

20/20 is known as being perfect eyesight and I think that 2020 has given us a chance to look at our lives with a new vision and make some changes to ourselves as well as our society. Maybe families have grown a little closer and found new ways to interact. Maybe the kids are discovering a world outside the window, that may be changing, but still offers fascinating play opportunities and learning. Maybe a child that would normally be on the computer has learned that grass and other items in nature can be more exciting than the game he/she plays for hours on end. Maybe a board game with mom or dad or both has become a Friday night routine and needs to continue. Maybe dinner with everyone at the table has made a comeback. Maybe some good has come out of this and 2020 has opened our perfect vision to a world that existed before and that might very well change around us but can still hold some of those important values that seem to have gone out the window. 

Our state is still seeing hundreds of cases daily and I truly feel that our stay at home order needs to continue. I know others are not happy about it and I don't know that it will happen, but for myself I will be sheltering in place a little longer. I will be social distancing a little longer and I will be making more trips to the barn to visit the horses, but it is okay. We are healthy and I intend to stay that way!

Comments

  1. I agree with you that we need to open later rather than sooner. We are both high risk, and I think I will be afraid to go anywhere forever now! glad to read that you are being so wise and cautious! Yes, some good things have come out of this. The air is cleaner than it has ever been.

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    1. Yes, there is so much good coming out of this and yet, a group of people can't seem to see anything except that they can't have hair, nails, etc done and they can't go anyplace they want.

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  2. This is such a beautifully written and thoughtful post. We're in the same boat in Michigan. Our Stay Home goes till May 15 but some things have opened up. Rick had to go to the hardware store last night and he said no one was wearing a mask except him or distancing. It was a little scary. I will shelter as long as it takes to feel comfortable (or a vaccine) and scial distancing, too. Like you, I'm intending to stay healthy! Your 20/20, though -- very spot on and thoughtful.

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    1. Thanks! I hope that Indiana extends theirs as well. I know one county has and I hope to see others follow.

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  3. Such an insightful post. I like your thinking about 2020. Yes I think we are all seeing things clearer. Could this be a really turning point for the country??

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    1. I wish! However, it seems our country is more divided than ever. If the elected politicians in Washington DC could agree on anything it would help!

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  4. Lots to think about and I’ve been grateful to be out of reach of TV and the news this last week. Alas, we go home in a few minutes but just for a couple of days and we will be back. I’m of two minds. Those of us at high risk will and should continue what we’ve been doing. But I think those out of work need to get back to work. No telling how this will all play out but we can still take every precaution for ourselves.

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    1. What scares me about that is that although my daughter needs to return to work, the nursing home is still have positive cases and I don't feel that the beauty shop should be opening until all cases are gone.

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  5. Although I shudder to think about what has happened to our economy during this crisis, I personally have enjoyed the time with my family. I have NOT enjoyed having four of my older kids in healthcare! One daughter has worked exclusively on the Covid floor of the hospital, and it's so stressful. My oldest, an NP, is heading to Buffalo to help out there, in the ICU, with virus patients. My son is an RN at Stanford Hospital, and says it's not terrible there, but still. It will be a new world, and I hope I'm wrong about the coming inflation and hospital closures...but our small regional hospital hasn't been cleared for elective surgeries yet, and is losing money hand over fist. As for masks, my own experience is that here in NY, where they are required now, people are NOT careful, less careful than they were before. They do not social distance, do not follow directions (as in arrows on the floor in Walmart, keeping the traffic one-way). They touch their masks, itch under them, pull them under their noses...they make people feel falsely confident. Anyway, this crisis seems to have brought out so much goodness in most people, which is refreshing. Keep safe!

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    1. My husband and I had to go to a local farm store just a few days ago and the cashiers were wearing the masks just above their upper lip if on their face at all. Masks are not the answer as no one seems to understand there importance. I hope that local businesses recover but I am not sure that they will.

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  6. I too will be cautious for a while longer. Masks in place when shopping for groceries, etc. I am also a care-giver for an at risk woman and sure don't want to be the bearer of "bad news".
    At least during this time hubby and I are accomplishing a few projects and actually enjoying each other's company.
    We just get antsy to "go" !!!

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    1. My husband has said the worst part of this is not being able to go out to eat and sit down to eat. I am a home health aid so I know your concerns.

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  7. I have been working through this whole thing so life has not changed much for me. The only difference is that if I'm bored on my days off and feel like doing some shopping I can't do that. That's probably a good thing though. My concern is for all the people who have been out of work for so long and are running low on funds. I know of some people who are still waiting on approval for unemployment because the system has been so overloaded.

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    1. I know the system is crazy. My daughter's is showing that she is working full time and she doesn't. I am truly unsure of what is going on with it but she plans to call again.

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  8. We are healthy too and I also plan to stay that way! I wear my mask when I go to the grocery store and will continue to do that. Life has changed and we are adjusting. I am staying at home and missing people but still staying home! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

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    1. My youngest and I were just discussing yesterday whether life will ever be normal again and I said 'it will but in a different way".

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