This time last year, I was preparing for our second cruise. We were leaving for 5 days on the Carnival Paradise on February 29, 2020, bound for Cozumel and the Cayman Islands. I was absolutely beside myself with excitement, because I knew we were going to have so much fun.
As with my previous cruise in 2019, when we got back to land, I was amped up for my next cruise. It wouldn't be until 2021, but I couldn't wait.
I also couldn't wait for the concerts we had planned, the baseball games we were going to attend, the various activities we were going to do, the mid-week visits to the zoo, going to Busch Gardens. I was preparing for Sebastian and Anastasia's 16th birthday party, trying to figure out how I can make their Sweet 16 just a little bit sweeter.
I had my surgery on March 10, 2020. I got out of the hospital on March 12, 2020.
On March 14th, the world shut down.
*author's note: Evidently America is NOT part of the world because, while many countries went into a very heavy lockdown, America said "nahhhh...we are good" and just did the absolute bear minimum. We had the Orange Idiot in charge, he didn't take it seriously and NOW, here we are a year later, still battling it.
Due to the fact that major surgery compromises your immune system and the fact that I have an auto-immune disorder AND I was recovering from said major surgery, Matthew did all the running, all the leaving, all the buying. I rarely left the house. I didn't feel confident enough to leave. Especially once I had the pleural effusion.
I found that my life wasn't as interrupted as some people's. I'm a homebody in that I don't really like going to the places because of the people, but I still like to be part of things.
I'm complex...don't try to understand me.
But I still missed doing the things we liked doing as a family. I missed the sporting events. I missed the concerts. I missed the zoo visits.
Sebastian and Anastasia didn't get that important 16th birthday party every kid looks forward to. Because the economy crashed and a lot of jobs were cut, they didn't even get much of a birthday. They got a cake and I'm not sure what else, but is was very...lame. We were very much affected by the job loss, so we couldn't do much.
Here we are in 2021 and, while we CAN (and DO) go places, we don't do NEAR as much as we used to. We go to the store, we go out to eat sometimes (and mostly stay in our car to eat). No cruise this year, no concerts, no sporting events. Especially in Florida, because the people here suck and are MAJOR maskholes and don't want to wear them.
So I miss that. I miss the zoo and all the animals. I miss Busch Gardens and all the shows. I miss going to the movies. I miss going to baseball games. I live in Tampa...TAMPA! We are hosting the Super Bowl this year and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in it...first time in HISTORY that the hosting team is in the game. Yea, we went to the Super Bowl Experience thing they had, but it was VERY scaled back and we didn't feel comfortable taking the kids so they could participate in the activities due to the lack of them wiping things down.
I miss the normalcy we were all used to...you know, the one we took for granted. I want to go back to what it was like BC...Before Covid (but keeping Biden as president because..YAY!!!). Not just because of my own selfish needs and wants but also because so many people are hurting now due to losing jobs. As bad as it sounds, I want that sense of security back that we used to have.
Something I think we will never have again.
Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This month 5 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.
My subject was "What is one thing you’ve really missed during covid. Not people, but a place or an activity." and it was submitted by my Fairy Blogmother Karen over at Baking In A Tornado...you know, the one who runs these fun challenges!
Clicky click below and see what my friends are up to.
I miss what I never knew I had until I lost it, the ability to go wherever I wanted to without fear of being targeted. I hope you find a way to enjoy the game, even if it's not in the way you had hoped.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! We planned our trip to Alaska for 5 YEARS! We bought equipment, my husband took five weeks off of work and at the last minute the world changed. We were to leave the day the riots started and the day after George Floyd died. I miss eating in restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI can relate. For what it's worth. Our country had two lockdowns (one current), and we are not much better off in terms of infected people. At least we don't have any orange idiots and better social benefits, but we miss all the things you are talking about just as much.
ReplyDeleteAt some point I *need* to revisit my favorite places in your country!
Have I ever told you about the night in 1999? We could not find accommodation because of college basketball finals.