So there are 41 cases now, officially, and tests keep coming. The library is closed and the pool isn’t going to open this week after all. The Bookstore is closed for the week. So is the Bamboo Room and Pioneer Bar. “We decided to play it safe,” Christy, who with her husband Bob owns the place, said. Masks are everywhere, I hear. I have been home with Papa Bob. We head out for the first time since it all hit the fan this afternoon for asymptomatic testing in the parking lot behind the clinic. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Our town is about 70 % vaccinated, I think, maybe a little more– (the stats are challenging and different depending where you look, but it’s a lot.) Stoli is, our family all is.My friends that are testing positive are running about 10-3 vaccinated. It sounds like (and again, these details are sketchy so far) about half of the cases are in vaccinated people. It is the Delta variant, the acting manager said on the radio. Haines had a total of about 24 cases in the entire pandemic, and no more than a few at a time, all contained and not too bad. We hadn’t had one in months. We thought we dodged it. Our risk level was low all summer. We were all sunshine and roses. Then Wham-O. Red alert.
We all are a little responsible in some way. Most of us who are vaccinated quit wearing masks religiously months ago. We held a fair! I danced and hugged. We traveled, we welcomed visitors, and now people are sick. ( And yes, dear friend who always wears a thick mask and reads everything on Covid, and sounded a bit like Henny Penny, you were right. I love you. ) Blaming the anti- vaxxers, anti-maskers, free living fun folks, is not helpful right now. Neither is sharing information on mortality rates in breakthrough cases. When a friend has cancer you tell them about the folks who beat it.
Why is it that people feel shame and guilt first when they tell me they are positive? Or don’t want anyone to know? What have we said and done (or left undone) to make that so?How can we fix it so we can help each other survive this?
As one friend emailed me earlier this morning : “It is a learning time. God what are you trying to teach us now? Compassion for the ill and consideration for those who refuse to get a vaccine. God has his/her hands full.”
