Last year 2019, I turned 65 and most people at that age are taking retirement or making plans to. They tell me they have been traveling here and there and went places that they have not gone to. They spend a lot of time together with their significant other. This was 2019 when we can travel and get together with family, friends.
The start of 2020 was yet to change. Wuhan, China people were infected with the covid 19 virus. It is more deadly than SARS and it is not something you can take a vaccine. There was none. The world did not know about it until February or March but China knew January. So some of the countries that were struck bad were Korea, Japan, Italy, Spain , England. Did it affect USA, yes, of course, but I truly believe that people thought it was a hoax and people downplay the virus. Pretty soon, those numbers started to increase, there was not enough testing and states had to do a lockdown, where all businesses, schools, airlines closed. Only businesses to remain opened are pharmacies, grocery stories, post office , hospitals, doctors which are considered essential business. Many people lost their jobs, many businesses had to close for good.
I am fortunate! I was able to work from home starting in March , 2020 and we may go back to physical location 1/2021, if the numbers go down and in control. Right now , they seem numbers are increasing so who knows!
I start thinking of things and life in general. My sister had a lump in her breasts. She was so scared and I was too. But fortunately, she did what she can to get a biopsy and do radiation treatment and go for mammogram every 6 months and on medication. My sister is my best friend and I love her. I want her to be here forever. Though I don't go down to NYC that much to see family, I always try to keep in touch via email or texting now more so, because they live in NYC, lots more infected.
Since I am home, I see my husband face to face a lot more. It is not that we just sit there and talk but we now have more time to have a good meal and eat together. Before, it was I work late and we did not eat together.
I wish I can contact some of my friends I met in Hong Kong when I went there to watch my idol of the sixties in concert and opera. First time I went was with 2 friends and us. Second time I went I got to go to see the old movies of Chan Bo Chu at the Hong Kong Film Archive and went to concerts and operas of hers.
Both my sister and I count our blessings that we outlive our mother who passed away at age 59 with cancer over 30 years. Our father passed away from lung cancer over 38 years ago. We were quite young to lose our parents. So I remember my mother would always tell me Life is too short , eat dessert first. My father would tell me Live your life the fullest as if each day is your last. It sounds morbid but it is reality. At times I forget that. And with this pandemic, I am reflecting on life.
The pandemic got me concerned , not scared of going to other places except to the grocery stores. I would like to go to the eye doctor but I can wait. I have to go see my regular doctor for annual and refill on meds and that I need to do soon. I am considered in the high risk category before over 65 with asthma. Some have gone to restaurants but we are not comfortable yet. We are not even comfortable with take outs or pick ups.
Where I lived North Carolina went into lockdown in March, 2020. The governor did a 3 phase of what to open. We are only up to phase 2.5 and it has extended for another 3 weeks because numbers are still high and increasing.
So the gym I go to finally was able to open September 14, 2020. They understand some of us are not ready to come back to gym environment so they still have FB LIVE vids of classes to do later. That has been a tremendous help to keep us healthy as best as possible. Nothing is better than going to the class itself. I only went to one time on a Saturday.
My husband keeps telling me he wants to move and that I need to clean the rooms of stuff, so this is what I have been doing on weekends. I work during the week so too tired afterwards. And on Sundays, we go food shopping for the week.
So the best we can do for the remainder of 2020, is do your best to stay safe, stay healthy, eat healthy which I need to start doing and be happy or at least feel fortunate that we are still here and that we have jobs or we have a family to talk to.
This will pass eventually and it will be the new normal. I still think the vaccine will not be here in 2020 and it maybe not be here 2021, so we need to take our own precautions.
I just wish others understand this and not be against wearing a mask because their rights are taken away from them.
I truly hope all my friends and family take care of themselves, give hugs and smile!
Always,
Sue
