It Has Been Almost a Year.

[MineralMan]

We first heard of the novel coronavirus about now, a year ago, if we were paying attention to the news.

Then, in January, we began to realize that this was a life-threatening pandemic.

In February, I started hoping that I'd still be alive to vote in November, as it became clear that our President was not going to really do anything serious to minimize the impact of the pandemic.

In March, I started wearing a mask when I went out and begin eliminating my get-togethers with people.

In April, I began looking for hand sanitizer to replace my supply that was quickly running out.

In May, I started going to the supermarket only once a week, early on a weekend morning.

In June, I realized that our car was not getting many miles on it, so I had an oil change and other services done, even though the mileage didn't indicate that it needed them.

In July, the month of my 75th birthday, I still was hoping to make it until November, so I could vote that dismal fucker out of office.

In August, I had to cancel my planned trip to California to visit my 96-year-old parents, and wondered if I would ever see them alive again.

In September, someone I knew died from COVID-19.

In October, I received my absentee ballot and I voted and dropped it off at a ballot drop-off location. I was determined to vote as soon as possible, in case I was ill on Election Day.

In November, I stayed awake until the early hours of the morning on Election Day, not sleeping until it looked like Joe Biden was the likely winner. Still, I watched the news as the results were checked, recounted, and confirmed.

In December, I waited and watched as states confirmed their election results and waited for the day when the Electoral College met to verify that Joe Biden had won.

Now, as January approaches, I hope I am still alive and well to watch Joe Biden and Kamala Harris get sworn it. I think I'm going to make it until my wife and I can get the COVID-19 vaccine. I hope so, because I hope to see things begin to improve, once Donald J. Trump is no longer President.

I remain hopeful. That is all I can do, really.

[Wounded Bear]

1. We're all in this together MM...

We all live for the day when we can hug each other again, TBS.

[MineralMan]

2. Yes. That will be a wonderful day!

[Warpy]

28. We introverts have had a much easier time of this

Rejoining the rest of the world is going to be tougher on us than leaving it for a year and a half.

This time last year, I was poring over the Straits Times on a daily basis, they had the best reporting on the new virus in Wuhan.

In January, I drove for the last time, realized I couldn't do it any more.

In February, all the toilet paper disappeared. Yeah, it's a military town.

In March, we went into lockdown. I had a fever, a headache, a cough, and no sense of taste. I wondered if I had the new bug, but my chances of it were roughly the same as winning a scratch off ticket, according to the numbers they published. Now I'm about 80% sure that I had it. I still wear a mask when out. It would be just my luck to be the one in 5 million who gets it twice.

The problem with having the world reopen is that a lot of things aren't going to be there any more. It will be open but there will be few places to go, many businesses having gone under and no seed money available to restart them because the billionaires made off with all the money in this country and they don't share.

[LiberalArkie]

34. As an old guy with Aspergers and (introvert) I think I got it in January will all the symptoms

or a month long case of the trots. Had to have left carotid artery surgery in March when the hospital was closed for all but Covid. Kind of a nice secure feeling there.

Now when I see ER nurses at the supermarket none of them wear their masks, not hanging at all, just not present.

It is like living in one of those dreams that seem like you are awake.

[neeksgeek]

3. In mid-February...

In mid-February, I had a weird cold for a week or two. I was teaching class with a cough, keeping my distance from students, wiping down the podium and keyboard after teaching, and telling them it couldn’t be Coronavirus because I’d had no contact with anyone who’d been to Wuhan. Now in October my doctor said, based on the current information the medical community has, I very well may have had it (but we’ll never know because it’s simply been too long).

[niyad]

10. The thing is, over 800,000 people were in and out of Wuhan last Dec, and more in Jan, and they

traveled and interacted worldwide. It did not have to be someone from Wuhan.

[neeksgeek]

24. We know that now.

My point is, the failure was from the start. And at multiple levels of government and policy-making, including individual colleges like mine. It’s obvious now that the initial lockdown was way too late.

[niyad]

33. Sadly, you are correct. Other countries had saner people at the top, who took the threat

seriously, and acted accordingly.

[stopwastingmymoney]

4. KnR

It’s my 50th birthday today and I’m just really bummed about it. My parents visited yesterday and we sat outside in the cold, no hugs. Mama brought me my favorite lemon truffles, which is loving and wonderful but I haven’t hugged her in so long.

Thank you for this thread, it helps. We can hold out together.

[niyad]

8. Wishing you the happiest birthday possible in these times. May the coming year be much better.

[MineralMan]

11. We're all going to have stories from this, I'm sure.

[lastlib]

37. Happy birthday, and welcome to geezerhood!

(Take inventory today of what works and what doesn't--you'll need it for future reference!)

Now, repeat after me:

"You kids"

"get off"

"of my"

"lawn!"

[Initech]

38. Yeah I turned 40 this year.

I had to celebrate on Zoom. That was definitely not how I pictured my 40th birthday celebration. I hope that year 41 is much better.

[tblue37]

44. I want to wish you happy birthday, though I realize in many ways it isn't as happy as it

should be. But at least you and you parents are still alive, and with the vaccine, you might be able to hug each other by June.

So happy birthday.

[malaise]

5. Here's a nice thought - the next time the 20th of a month shows up

will be Killa Kon's last half day in office.
2020 has been rough but you voted the monster out so we should be hopeful . Happy Holidays to you and yours MineralMan

[MineralMan]

12. Can't wait. Just 31 days!

[panader0]

6. In February I told my friends that our weekly band sessions were through

for a while. They thought I was overreacting. How long they asked. I said I thought that maybe
it'd be over in a year. It might have been it we had had real leadership. As it is, I was off by several
months. And things will never be the way they used to be.
Jeannie's been working from home since March.
I'll be happy when I can get together again with my band mates.

[snowybirdie]

7. Sounds like my year

with an added life change in July by selling my northern home. Became a Florida voter! Keep hangin in, we are. Goal for 2021, see family.

[niyad]

9. Thank you for this post, MM. It has been the most bizarre year. Here's to a much better one.

[MineralMan]

13. It has been the strangest year I can remember,

and I can remember many, many years.

[DeeDeeNY]

14. Beautifully said

This is a dangerous month ahead of us, and there will be a collective sigh of relief afte4 Jan. 20.

[MineralMan]

15. Thank you so much!

[mahannah]

16. Many thanks. We all needed that.

[pandr32]

17. Such a familiar story of the year

Here's to staying well and watching the inauguration.

[MadLinguist]

18. I'm looking forward to your post from California with news about how your parents are doing

And before that, the celebratory day when they are vaccinated, and the day of dancing when you and your wife are vaccinated.

I am waiting now for the VA to tell me when I can come in for my big vaccination day.

All our vaccination dates will be the 2021 days to mark in a year from now.

Candle in the window til then.

[MineralMan]

21. Given the horrible situation in California, I don't think

I'll be going there until I have had both vaccine shots. That may be too late, though, to say goodbye to my mother, I'm sorry to say. I just can't take the risk of bringing Covid to my father, though, nor back home to my own wife.

So many people are making incredibly difficult decisions...

[MadLinguist]

41. oh god, I'm sorry mineral man

I guess it is going to be quite a long time til it's safe to travel again.

[people]

19. Let us all hope that next year at this time . . .

this will be mainly behind all of us.

I always enjoy reading what you write. It is so thoughtful and real. Thank you.

Take care all.

[MineralMan]

22. I think things will look a lot better a year from now.

I truly do.

[Ferrets are Cool]

20. +1

[hamsterjill]

23. Thank you for this. I needed it.

I’ve turned in to such a wimp. I’ve had a hard time through this, and I get mad at myself. So many people have had it worse. I should be stronger.

I lost my job when all of this started and I haven’t found anything. There was a time where I wasn’t looking too hard because I thought COVID would be a thing of the past, but as time stretched out, I started looking earnestly. I have had a few interviews but nothing has materialized. I have one tomorrow morning, so please say a prayer for me. It’s an in-person appointment, and I admit to being fearful having to go and sit in a room with strangers not knowing the precautions they follow. I will mask up and distance, take hand sanitizer and take my own bottle of water.

Things are starting to break, which stresses me out even when life is normal and regular. But especially now.

My heating/cooling system is in need of service and I just noticed that my truck had some oil under it when it was parked.

I’m a wimp because in the grand scheme of things these are such minor things to contend with. But I’m alone and it’s hard not to just lose it sometimes.

It gives me hope that others have some hope, so thanks for your post.

[MineralMan]

30. For many, this pandemic has been far harder than for others.

I'm lucky that I have worked for myself for decades, so nothing has changed, workwise for me. I'm very aware, though, that it has caused enormous upheaval for many people, like yourself.

My thoughts are with you and others in bad situations. I'm hopeful, though, that things will begin to turn around soon.

[Tanuki]

35. I will say a prayer for your success, Hamsterjill!

Practice self care and relaxation prior to your interview. Make a paper and pencil list for yourself of all of your strengths and virtues, and qualities you would bring to the position. Visualize yourself acing the interview and being offered the job. Arrive early at the interview destination so that you will have time to have collected yourself instead of coming straight from fighting traffic. Good luck and God bless you, Hamsterjill! You are not alone! And you've got this!
🐹

[hamsterjill]

36. Thank you so much.

All great suggestions.

I hope you are staying safe yourself. Hope you are warm, and loved, and happy. Thanks for reaching out. Means a lot.

[hamsterjill]

49. Just updating: interview went well.

There will be at least one more round but not until after the first of the year. I felt it went well, although that’s sometimes hard to gauge what the other side thinks, of course.

But I felt the prayers and I wanted to say thank you again.

Peace and hugs.

[Tanuki]

50. Thanks for the update, Hamsterjill! I am so glad it went well! ☺

Again, you are not alone! Your DU family is right here, praying for you and rooting for your success!

[c-rational]

39. Good luck tomorrow hamsterjill, you've got this. Good advice from Tanuki - I second it. Tonight

before you go to sleep, picture yourself having a great interview and being offered the job. Positive vibrations are contagious. Sending some your way.

[hamsterjill]

40. Thank you very much.

I appreciate it and I’ll remember to do that tonight.

[Bmoboy]

25. Me too

and January 6 (official electoral college vote certification by Congress) is my 70th birthday!

Holding on ...

[cp]

26. Thank you for your post

You speak for many of us.
Also remaining hopeful--cheers!

[Vinca]

27. I heard a doctor on a local news outlet talking about the priority levels of people being

vaccinated and it turns out those 65 and older and those with pre-existing conditions are at level 3 in our state and not expected to get the vaccine until early summer. It freaked me out a bit given my age and the recent news about a super duper variant of the virus in Great Britain. I'm all in to continue masking, etc., but I have to admit it's making me wonder if it's all going to work out okay. My husband keeps saying he's glad we're not young given the general state of the country and the world, but I'd like to last a few more years if possible.

[MineralMan]

31. I don't think the schedules are set yet.

A lot will depend on the supplies of the vaccines. We'll all have to hang in there, though, until it's our turn.

It is frustrating, of course, seeing people get the vaccine because of some sort of privilege. Management at hospitals getting it before front line healthcare workers is one example of that. It's outrageous. We'll see more of that, no doubt.

[HuskyOffset]

29. Glad you're here, M-Man

I've been hanging on these last four years, trusting that more people in this country are reasonable and not insane assholes. Seems to be the case. Now, if we can just get through this pandemic, we've got lots of work to do fixing all the damage.

[MineralMan]

32. Yes. That fixing can begin on January 21, 2021.

Many things will change after that date, I'm sure.

[samplegirl]

42. I'm live in fear

I can’t get the shot due to having Guillain Barre when I was younger.

[Lifelong Protester]

43. What a long, strange trip it has been

First off: Happy Birthday 🎂
Second: I have hardly been out of the house since this all started

I am so excited for the future. It has to be better than this.
Thanks for posting!

[Hekate]

45. Like you, I saw it in the news a year ago. I knew what "pandemic"

...meant, though it seemed inconceivable that — no, actually, what we are going through now did not seem “inconceivable” with Trump at the helm, not after all he had already done to hollow out the federal government. Just ghastly.

My TKR (total knee replacement) in February was among the last handful of elective surgeries at our hospital, which was already taking great precautions. I thank whatever gods may be that I did it then, because all of 2019 I could scarcely move for the pain, and if I’d waited I would still be in that condition.

I missed saying goodby to my 71 year old brother this year, but his death was from COPD, not COVID, and appears to have been peaceful. When a friend came knocking to check on him, he was gone, sitting on his couch with a glass of whiskey in his hand. My other sibs & I couldn’t make it out to Oregon to see him beforehand ... the thousands of miles, the multiple airports, the holiday crowds at the end of last year, COVID looming on the horizon like the massing of black clouds, then suddenly it was January 2020 and the world was shutting down.

My sis did travel — a required company retreat in January, after which she came down with some crud that left her gasping for air. Two trips to the ER before they admitted her for 5 days for this mystery crud. Many months later, turns out she has COVID antibodies. Well, well. I almost lost my sister, too.

I tried to get prepared to hunker down, but I was laid up and couldn’t drive. My husband works from home, and he was touchingly worried about me and my rehab: he took very good care of me, but I simply could not get him with the program of prepping for lockdowns and shortages. So all of that waited until I could drive by myself again.

NOW he gets it.

In March I laid off my cleaning ladies. They used to come twice a month, and that schedule was perfect for making us pick everything up and put it away the day before they cleaned. Yes, I was spoiled. Yes, I know how to do housework. Yes, I really miss them. I sent them money for a couple of months, hoping things would normalize, but it never did. I hope they are alright.

But my one goal is to stay alive until this is over.

My BIL and family think I’m making too much of this. I miss them and their warmth and good humor.

My daughter is an anti-vaxxer who thinks the flu she and her kids had in February was probably COVID and that they are immune now — I told her she better damn well hope she’s right, as regards immunity. She thinks masks are stupid, but kind of wears them here. Finally Dec 10 I emailed her to let her know we really can’t have her and the kids here, and explained all my medical conditions, and then explained that contact tracing is not a straight line, but extends to everyone she has been with and all the people they have been with. Not that I got to see the grandkids that much, but I miss them too.

My one goal is to live through this terrible time, but I still cried when I wrote that email. I’m crying now.

At some point this year the phrase “Next year in Jerusalem” floated out of my subconscious and I knew it was shorthand for all of the longings and all of the losses of this year.

Next year I see my grandkids again and hold them tight. Next year my remaining brother and sister and I fly from the ends of the country to meet in Oregon to have a small wake for our brother who is gone. Next year maybe this country regains its sanity. Next year in Jerusalem. Next year the Promised Land.

My goal is to live to see it.

[MineralMan]

46. It has been a trying, miserable year, indeed.

It has tested us all. I keep reading people's stories here, and feel their pain and struggles. Many have worse things to deal with than I do, so I try to always keep that in mind. Still, though, these are difficult times. Maintaining hope is important, as difficult as it is to do at times.

DU helps. It truly does.

[Hekate]

48. DU really does help. I honestly don't know what I would have done without it.

You are good at reminding us it is not all doom, gloom, and Armageddon, and that we have to get off our butts and GOTV, and not lose hope. I notice, and thank you for that.

I do count my blessings. Often. We have food and shelter, and my husband is still employed and working from home full time, which is a lot more than many others have. But my husband and are are your age, and we are not sure we are going to outlast this country’s surge toward fascism, and that has been the hardest thing of all. Nonetheless (counting hopes again) millions of people showed up to protest Trump’s inauguration, to protest for BLM this summer, and a lot of stuff in between. We outnumber the thugs. And we just elected Joe and Kamala.

As I use to say during the BushCheney era: We shall live to see better times.

[BobTheSubgenius]

47. I hope this doesn't seem overly flippant, but consider the words of the first Brit to be vaccinated.

An elderly man, whose name I forget, was interviewed in the street, not long after receiving the vaccine. In typical Brit fashion, he said "No point in dying now."

Word.