It Has Been Almost a Year. [View all]

[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.