On this day one year ago I was sitting in the chair at my hair stylist’s getting a cut and color. My stylist Amanda and I discussed this coronavirus thing that was happening. The first case in Ohio had been reported just the day before. That night I had chorus practice – can you believe it? Just about the worst activity I could have been participating in, but we were all so innocent/ignorant then. During practice we heard that the virus had been reported in the county just north of us. It was such an ominous feeling, a feeling of “It’s coming for us now.” I’ll never forget that feeling.
Little did I know that my cut and color that day would be my last for a long while (I’ve decided to get a cut but no color after I’m fully vaccinated). The hair that I could barely get into a ponytail holder can now be French braided or put in a bun.
Little did we know that our visit to Chili’s a few days later would be our last, possibly forever. I remember sitting in Chili’s and one of the bartenders was speculating that movie theaters would shut down soon. It seemed preposterous at the time. Could that really happen? And even when it DID happen, we were all sure it would be a very temporary state of affairs. A couple weeks, a month maybe.
What a surreal 12 months it has been. So difficult in so many ways. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel now, getting brighter all the time. Yes, I know the vaccines have been out for a few months, but it’s personal now. My mother has had both of her shots. My sister gets her second shot soon. Several friends are now fully vaccinated. Chris got his first shot today. And last night I was able to make an appointment for my first shot.
Soon I’ll make that haircut appointment. I’ll make other appointments (eye doctor, dentist) that I’ve put off during this time. Life will start to look a little more normal.
Of course the new normal won’t be exactly the same as our pre-Covid days, and some of that is by choice. We’ve decided that we enjoy our at-home Saturday date nights more than we did our Chili’s date nights. I won’t be returning to chorus – I enjoyed it, but it also stressed me out, and I’ve decided my free time is too precious for more stress. I’m sure I’ll be returning to the office sometime in the next few months, but I’m hoping that even after I return, there will be some opportunity to work from home occasionally. We’ll see.
For now, I’m just so grateful for the scientists who have created these vaccines. Where would we be without them? Still wandering around in the dark, I’m sure.
Thank you for the light, my scientist friends.
Love,
Michelle xoxo