Yesterday was our anniversary, Number 27, and we celebrated with a drive through dinner, and going to bed early. My wife got her second Covid shot, so was tired and her arm hurt, but didn’t seem to have any other effects.
Is until the middle of the night.
#uhoh
She had chills.
She had sweats.
She was too hot.
She was too cold.
She’s been miserable most of the day, sleeping a lot. However, as they day went on, she starting the road to recovery. Slowly, but surely, recover.
And she’s got the second shot, which is a step in the right direction for us. Plans are being made. Ideas are being hatched about what we can do. Bands we can see. Festivals we can go to. Just jumping into the truck or car and going at this point (a step outside my comfort zone because I’m a planner), is on the table. We’ve kept our circle small, our circle of travel small, and we are ready to open that circumference up, open it up a lot!
But, with the shots out there, the millions of vaccines that have been put into arms, and the millions of shots to come, the pandemic is not done. The virus is not done with us, not by a long shot.
Why do I say thing? Because as we are out and about, mask wearing, is not happening. I go to our local convenience store, and I’m the only one with a mask on. I go to the local fee place, less than half have one on. I got to the local grocery store, many people without a mask. Rural Iowa hasn’t bought into this pandemic. It doesn’t help that our governor and several state legislators have essentially said Iowans are through the rough part.
The near future scares me, just because of how people are acting. St. Patrick’s Day parties and parades and spring breaks and it goes on and on. And for what? Why give up when we are so close to being able to move forward? Move past this year of rough times, heartbreak, the lack of contact, and the not knowing.
However, while the near future gives me anxiety, moving forward, if we have everyone eligible by May 1st, then the idea of a 4th of July party sounds better and better.
Who doesn’t want their fireworks and medium done steaks?
Just keep trying, keep going, for a little while longer so we ALL can enjoy this, together.
The Life of a Conflicted Teacher 
March 13, 2021 at 9:01 pm
I’m with you, Darin, and I don’t see this ending as long as people keep disregarding guidelines.
I’m glad your wife got her second shot. I’d dreading mine, as my first one was rough, but whatever… I’ll be putting my arm out!
March 13, 2021 at 9:34 pm
My arm was sore after my first one, but nothing too bad. Watching her reaction to this second one, yes, dread is a good word!
However, it a step in the right direction, and I’ll be there, with my arm out too! 🙂
March 13, 2021 at 9:27 pm
I have every empathy for your wife and hope she’s feeling much better. My shot knocked me out! I read 1 in 10 Americans are already vaccinated. That sounds like a lot until I turn it around to 9 out of 10 are not. So, I’ll keep wearing my mask even if I’m the only one because it is a barrier against Covid.
March 14, 2021 at 11:01 pm
I love that 10% are, but like you said, that means 90% are not! So, my wife makes me new masks and we continue to show up with them and do what we need to do! 🙂
March 13, 2021 at 9:31 pm
Yep. As your neighbor to the immediate south, I was super-scared Super Bowl parties were going to be the ruination of us. That cold snap was well-timed!
Even with mandates still in place, people are getting very lax.
I know people are tired, but… this one is a marathon we don’t get to quit.
March 14, 2021 at 10:59 pm
This isn’t a time to quit! This is a time to buckle down a little hard, for just a little bit more! 🙂
March 13, 2021 at 9:53 pm
Open that circumference – YES! I love that line. I feel you on this front. I just was on the phone with my mom earlier today (who is coincidently traveling to Iowa for work this week) and she was telling me how her that have the shot have now started acting like they are invincible. Sans mask. Party party. She however has not gotten her vaccine yet and doesn’t get how their actions really spit on the people who are waiting to be eligible and get in to get theirs. It isn’t fair. We do our part. We’re still all in this together… my thanks to you and your wife for doing yours 🙂
March 14, 2021 at 10:58 pm
Where is your Mom going in Iowa?
We are all in this together. I think of HIgh School Musical when that’s said, so I have to smile! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
March 19, 2021 at 8:53 am
I’m sorry, I never saw this! She’s in Davenport. Says it’s fairly masked and everyone has been keeping to their social distancing but restaurants have been tricky. Just that some don’t have food on the menus and others seem short-staffed. That kind of thing. She’s working so it’s a leisurely exploration and her range is like hotel to office and whatever in between. Hotel has been exceptional in safety matters she said. So that’s something!
March 19, 2021 at 10:21 am
Sweet! That makes me feel better about that little part of Iowa. If she were coming to rural Iowa, I’d guess that would be SO much different. The urban areas tend to just be more cognisent of the virus and aren’t buying into the “Bill Gates wants to track me” nonsense that’s floating around. I hope she has a great time and travels safely back home too! 🙂
March 13, 2021 at 11:49 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with what you are saying! Here in Ohio, masks are still mandated, thank goodness. If they weren’t, I know that many people would be going without them because they are tired of them. Yes, we are ALL tired of masks and social distancing and all of that. But everyone needs to hang in there a little longer until we can all get through this. Thanks for sharing! ~JudyK
March 14, 2021 at 10:57 pm
Hey Judy! Thanks for commenting! A mandate would be great right about now, but the, “what about my freedoms” crowd would be just going crazy. I saw a “Unmasked, unmuzzled, unvaccinated, unafraid” meme on my Facebook page. I wanted to add, “uneducated” but I’m better than that. We can do this, but it will be difficult as we get closer! 🙂
March 14, 2021 at 4:48 am
Hope your wife has a quick recovery! I had my shot on Thursday and needed some time to lay around about 24 hours later. I’m so happy to have the vaccine, but wish the rest of my family had it. I still worry about bringing it home from school. There were a lot of teachers missing from our school on Friday and we needed to work together to cover classes. Luckily I made it through the day! There is a district close to us that had to close because they had so many teachers out. I am with you about wearing masks and seeing this through. I live in a location where everyone still wears their masks almost everywhere. I am dreading the day when I have to make a decision to be the only one doing it. Stay strong!
March 14, 2021 at 10:55 pm
When mask wearing wasn’t a thing, it was a thing for our family. We got the side-eye in many places because of our choice. I’m guessing, we’ll get it again because we’ll continue to wear them.
My wife was miserable yesterday, but has slowly rebounded today. Tomorrow, we’ll hope for 90%! 🙂
March 14, 2021 at 5:21 am
I hear your concerns and they are entirely valid. The pandemic is not done with us. I do hope that you and your circles will be able to celebrate good times come summer. I’m holding out hope and like you, a good dose of caution.
March 14, 2021 at 10:52 pm
That’s my hope, that we can celebrate more closely this summer!