Covid 19 Reflection

These past few weeks have gone by slower than I ever could have imagined. I do the same thing every day. And everyday repeats itself seven times to make one week. And then that week turns into a month. It’s as if I'm living in a boring movie that is on repeat. Thursday March 12th was the last day of school for the 2019-2020 school year. To us it seemed like a two week vacation. But little did we know that Thursday afternoon was just the beginning of a journey no one wanted to take. Although we still have online school, it’s not the same. Athletes lost their spring season. Seniors lost their prom and graduation. I wonder how that Thursday would have been different, if we knew we wouldn't go back. Students would have said goodbye to teachers and seniors, textbooks would be returned, and lockers cleaned out. The hallways would be flooded with emotions. Some kids cheering, some kids crying. The class of 2020 continues to ask themself why. Why them? Why this year? No one can answer that except God.

I work at a nursing home as a dining server. My job is considered necessary, and I am needed. I go into work and it's quieter, there's not as much light, and you can smell the sanitizer that was used to wipe everything down. Before we are allowed in we answer questions, they take our temperature and record it on a sheet. We receive a sticker as proof that we have been screened. After that they hand us our mask and paper bag. I have asthma and the masks make it harder to breathe. At our “staff” meeting facts about the coronavirus are pounded into our head. “Stay 6 feet apart, wash your hands, wear gloves, don’t take off your mask, sanitize anything and everything.” Don't get me wrong there are some highlights, we get to wear normal clothes, our shifts ended earlier and we would get free food. At the beginning of all this we separate the dining room into two sections. In hopes to practice social distancing. The residents weren't too happy about it but they understood. But as the virus continued to get worse our managers came to the conclusion that we had to deliver their meals. That's what we do everyday. We bring them their meals, into their rooms. As I wheel the food cart down the hallway some of the residents look so lonely and it's heartbreaking. Some of them try to get you to stay and chat. But technically we aren't allowed. But how can you blame them. Some of the residents don’t even want to be here. And now all of them are quarantined in their rooms. They can’t see their family or their friends. You probably would be the second or third person they would see that day. Easter is on Sunday, and this holiday is important to most of the residents. They look forward to special traditions they have practiced for years. But this year their Easter service will most likely be on Tv and their brunch will be delivered in a styrofoam container. My grandparents just moved into an independent living community at another location that is close to our house. It has been very hard not being able to see them. I keep everyone in my prayers everyday (especially the residents). I pray that they will continue to stay healthy and not lose hope in a time where it feels like there is none.

Social Distancing has probably been the greatest challenge yet. Our generation has grown up to be very touchy people. Instead of handshakes and high fives we resort to hugs. A hug can help someone who is lonely or needs comfort. Someone who is sad or angry. It can help mend a broken relationship. A hug is a special connection between two people, that sometimes just heals what is broken. So when the “law” came out to stay 6 feet apart, it became a struggle for everyone. 6 feet felt more like 6 yards.

This reflection was written on April 10th of 2020. In part I had hoped that Covid would be a memory by now. But it is still something that we are dealing with to this day. Will we ever get to the point where its just a story in the textbooks, a story we tell our children and grand children and the generations after that. Will we ever go back to our sense of normalty?