...And then came Omicron.

 

Once again, we find ourselves in another wave of infection caused by another variant. A state of emergency has been declared in DC, but what does that even mean anymore? Kids are still expected to go to school (if their school hasn't been forced to go virtual because of an outbreak), and we are expected to still work. Today is the last day before winter break, and I'm just holding my break and crossing my fingers and toes that we don't have a case at work. 

The past weekend was unseasonably warm, and we were able to see several friends outdoors. It was wonderful, but then there was the lingering feeling afterwards - what if one of us was exposed to the disease, even though we were being relatively careful? I had a negative test a few days after, and everyone appears healthy. So we keep going, holding our breath and hoping we can remain healthy for Christmas, to see family. Then, the new worry will be after that. We balance needing to have these times with friends and family for our mental health and to simply enjoy the basics of life, and then feeling guilty and worried afterwards. At least, thanks to vaccines, there is a little less worry. If illness touches our family again, we will likely be able to handle the inconvenience, and none of us are likely to become severely ill. But, having a child that is still too young to be vaccinated is eternally frustrating. 

Penny's class talked about the winter solstice a lot yesterday, and they made "suncatchers". Their hope and innocence is refreshing during these times of doom. 

Last year, "Long December" seemed so poignant: "It's been a long December, and there's reason to believe, maybe this year will be better than the last". And then the year happened, and a few things that happened were better. But as a whole, the year was still a dumpster fire in so many ways. 

We are trying to "live with the virus" and carry on with life, but it continues to be a struggle. So, as 2021 ends, I am reflecting on the good, the bad, and the lessons learned. I have no great words of wisdom, I'm just tired. 

Getting Away and Giving Thanks

 

After cancelling two trips back to Australia, we were itching for some international travel as a family. Travel in the time of COVID is tricky, but doable. You have to think carefully about where to go, research the travel precautions, make sure everything is refundable, try to be careful and less social leading up to the travel, and then just hold your breath and hope nothing goes wrong. 

We decided to go to Iceland because of its high vaccine rates, relatively low COVID numbers, and low population density. We would go in Fall because it would not be the primary tourist season. We would rent a car and mostly do our own thing, as opposed to doing tours and going to many places where we would be indoors with strangers. 

There is a reason few people travel to Iceland in November, and that many fewer attempt it with a three-year-old. The weather is harsh and unpredictable. We hoped we would see the northern lights, but we were never so lucky. Food and pretty much everything is expensive. 

Iceland has a beautiful and unique landscape, unlike anywhere I have travelled in the world. We swam in hot incredible geothermal baths, roadtripped, and stayed in different hotels/apartments/cabins nearly every night. We walked breathtaking waterfalls, canyons, black sand beaches, and glacier ice. Penny had the mature premonition that even though she missed home and wanted to see her friends  she would miss Iceland when she was back at home. I came home at least temporarily renewed - getting out of the USA and being reminded of the larger world, that current events are small in terms of the scale of time and history, and that we are resilient. 

And now we are home. And we just had a Thanksgiving very much like those in pre-COVID times. We saw family, and more family. Penny played for uninterrupted hours with cousins. We ate, and ate, and ate together. 

Last night we virtually attended an Aussie wedding we had originally planned to travel to and attend in-person. We were probably the only ones watching it from North America; many more watched it from the UK. It was nice they could stream it, but obviously not as good as being there in person. While we can slowly do more and more, there will still be moments and events like these for at least the next year that will be modified. 

I am thankful this year, as I always am. But, particularly, I am thankful that it feels like we are starting to make plans (with fingers crossed) enjoy life again. COVID is still always in the background, and we weigh our risks. With vaccines, testing, and precautions, it's less scary. I burned out on doing the constant mental math a long time ago anyway. 

Fall Escape

 

Since my last post, the country went through a fourth COVID wave, and numbers are falling again. Work hast started up and there are actually kids in the classrooms. We have been lucky to have no cases of COVID so far, but every week, a kid in each class is usually out with a cold and they have to get a PCR test before they can return to the center. One positive is that regular colds and illnesses haven't spread as much because the kids have had to stay home if they show any new symptoms of anything. The masks, handwashing, and distancing also seem to be helping. For now, we keep on trucking. This has been one of my hardest years in terms of work, ever. So much has been thrown at us and continues to be thrown at us from every direction. Some of the work is even enjoyable. I am very lucky to have a strong and experienced team.

A week ago we had our first little escape in six months to Mohonk Mountain House in the Hudson River Valley. The hotel was founded in 1869 and the property has undergone many changes over the years. It was kind of nice to be in a historic building with beautiful nature all around. It was a reminder that many things were around before this pandemic, and people/places/things/ideas can and do endure. It was also nice to be somewhere where we could do lots of family-friendly outdoor activities, and that it was understood that everyone be masked when indoors (vaccinated or not). Penny loved exploring there and spending time with her cousins. She was particularly excited to swim at an indoor pool for the first time - it was quite the novelty. 

Because of traveling out-of-state, Penny had to stay home for a few days before returning to school, just as a precaution. It was actually pretty nice to have a taste of being home for a little while with nothing particular to do. It was like when we had been home during the earlier days of the pandemic as a family, only without all the fear and anxiety, and knowing it was just temporary. 

Since my last post, I have received my COVID booster shot. I'm grateful to have access, particularly since I'm working in-person with young, unvaccinated children. 

It feels like we are all operating in limbo - wanting and feeling like the pandemic is nearing its end, but never being sure what is around the corner. We are all exhausted from living through interesting times. I am hopeful, but I know better than to assume anything these days.

The Dog Days of Summer

 

The numbers of vaccinated people have been going up, and the numbers of cases and deaths were going down for several months. Now it seems as though there's another uptick of COVID-19, but I am hoping that the vaccines will do their work and keep this a relatively low rise. There are still pockets of the US where less people are vaccinated, and those will sadly cause problems for the rest of us. But, as a whole, we are lucky that Virginia and the DC area are doing well in terms of vaccination and low case and death numbers.

Reading the news and social media from Sydney, they are on an extended lockdown and their worst outbreak to date (which is still very low compared to the US). 

At least this summer is better than last. We have a pool where Penny has been getting swim lessons, and she loves being in the water. We were able to do a mild family getaway on the Eastern Shore of MD. Michael and I got to go camping and kayaking with friends this past weekend. Penny has been able to attend daycare, have a few outdoor playdates, and see both sets of grandparents somewhat regularly.

My work situation has changed, and will change again next month, and the month after. By that, I mean I am in a new role, and then I go back in person, and then children will start attending the school again. So, my day-to-day work will change. So, it will be a while before I feel settled. It's also hard to enjoy the end of summer when work has already ramped up and I have a gargantuan task of bringing a little school back from the dead, essentially. 

I recently rediscovered "At My Most Beautiful" by REM. So I'll end with that...

The Pandemic Hits Home

 

Just over a year into the pandemic, it finally directly touched our household. We have been lucky that we can manage, but it's really difficult with a 3-year-old. She grapples with understanding why we can't get closer to other people, she misses her friends and daycare (such a change from not wanting to go everyday), doesn't always remember to cough into her hand, and forgets to wash her hands if we don't remind her and really watch her do it. And those are all developmentally appropriate ways to act when you're three. It has also been tricky because I'm fully vaccinated, Mike is partially, and Penny is obviously not. We have to navigate different risks for each family member.

What has also been difficult is receiving conflicting information from all the contact tracers. I ultimately have given up on them, and we are just following the published CDC guidelines. It's frustrating because I want to trust the health dept., and follow what they say, as our personal responsibility to the community. However, when each person says something different, it really just tells us they have no idea what they're talking about, and aren't even properly reading their own script or formula. 

We are grateful we have family close by, since they have been able to drop off fresh bagels and homemade chicken soup and fresh fruit. Still, we are counting down the days to things being "normal", or at least pandemic normal.

No rest for the weary, I am being summoned.

One year on, I still don't know how to cook or eat chicken feet.

 It has officially been a year since the pandemic began. After very many lows, things finally seem to be at least starting to improve. I've received my second vaccine. My parents are on their way to being completely vaccinated, and my in-laws are done too. 

Penny has returned to half days of daycare this week. It's an adjustment, but it's good for her, and she's excited to play with more kids again. Now that she's used to playing with a few older kids who really look after her and got along with her from the get-go, though, I think she's seeing that it's a little more work to play with kids her age. She's used to trying to keep up with the big kids, but now she's got to adjust how she interacts with kids that aren't as quick as her buddies, mentally or physically. It will be interesting to see how her whole cohort does in the next few years, socially and academically. 

My extended family is planning its first gathering in a year - an outdoor Easter gathering. We are planning two local trips in the next few months, within Virginia and Maryland. We will have a pool membership for the summer. My work may start up in-person again starting at the beginning of the fall semester. There are finally events to look forward to again, although they will still be mainly outdoors/distanced/masked.

Thinking back to a year ago, a lot of my realizations that things were getting bad happened at the grocery store. Suddenly the toilet paper and paper towel aisles at every store were wiped out. Soon after, other aisles grew bare and stores started rationing, saying you could only buy two of each item, like pasta, rice, and meat. Funny, there was never really a problem finding fresh produce. When Mike and I temporarily moved to Maryland (to stay at our in-laws' empty house while they were still out-of-state), the meat aisle at Giant was completely empty except bags of CHICKEN FEET. When I saw that, I remember thinking, "Well I guess we will become vegetarians for a little while because I don't know how to cook or eat chicken feet". It didn't come to that, but I mentally prepared myself anyway. The next thing was the line out the door of Trader Joes to limit the number of people inside; I probably had to wait 20 minutes just to start shopping a few times. Then, masks were mandated, and I would look around at all the masked people afraid to go near each other, still trying to pile up the food in their carts so they wouldn't have to come back again for a week or two or three. Slowly, the shipments caught up and the grocery stores stopped rationing. Despite the fact that things are pretty well-stocked these days, I rarely leave the store without a pack of toilet paper, even if we don't need it. Just in case. 

The Beginning of the End?

 

The pandemic has been going for 11 months. I have been very lucky to receive my first dose of the vaccine a few days ago. 

The Bar Keeps Dropping Lower

 I think everyone is still processing the news from two days ago. While this was not a true surprise, because there were lots of signs that something violent was ultimately going to happen, it was still shocking to see how easy it was for our Capitol building to be overrun by people who weren't particularly clever or cunning. Even though a small number have been arrested, it just seems that there has been little consequence for their grotesque actions. I continue to feel disgust that this happened in our country. I keep hearing sentiments like, "This is not who we are". This is exactly who we are, and that's precisely why it is so disappointing and embarassing. 

All of this has happened in the midst of a deadly pandemic that grows worse by the day. The vaccines rollout has been botched, which isn't a surprise considering how the country has handled the whole pandemic.

The US country is truly at a low point that keeps getting lower. January 20 cannot come soon enough. 

The night of the riot, I decided to eat vegemite toast for my evening snack. It's times like these that I remind myself of my Australian-ness.