Simply uttering that makes many people angry. I know it sparks intense emotions in me, considering how poorly parts of the world have reacted to it. Regardless, SARS CoV-2, or COVID-19, has rocked the world’s stability. At best, it’s been a rough 13 months since The WHO declared it a pandemic. At worst, it’s been a nightmare.
Personally, though, COVID-19 has been an intense, mixed bag. Starting in late-March, I was furloughed from my courier job. Food was initially scarce, and general panic and anxiety skyrocketed. It quickly became a nightmare navigating basic essentials that I took for granted. I couldn’t even go shopping, lest I bring home the virus through fomites.
But it hasn’t been an entire loss. For one, I finally learned how to play Settlers of Catan, a game I was too scared to try. A forced staycation opened up opportunities I never thought possible, so I figured that was worth it. So I learned, even if I’m not the best anyway.
Two, I had many social opportunities online. Before April 2020, if you’d have asked me what Zoom was, I’d have scratched my forehead in confusion. After April 2020, however, it became my lifeline. Whether it was talking to colleagues from work, activities via social groups, or simply talking to friends and family, Zoom was the go-to platform. So much so that I even got a monthly subscription.
Three, my possibilities for skill expansion opened up. In the past 13 months, I’ve taken a novel writing course, joined a writer’s group, listened to various MasterClass lessons and completed an office administration course. I wouldn’t have done any of this without the pandemic. I’m not thrilled it had to happen this way, but I’m grateful.
Four, I wound up with a new job. In December I secured a position at a grocery chain as a lot associate. I, basically, am now responsible for scouting shopping carts from the parking lot, bringing them to the main entrance and spraying them for customers. It’s not my ideal job, I’d have preferred something at-home, but it at least got me socializing. And it gave me something to do outside of playing video games and watching YouTube videos.
Three, my possibilities for skill expansion opened up. In the past 13 months, I’ve taken a novel writing course, joined a writer’s group, listened to various MasterClass lessons and completed an office administration course. I wouldn’t have done any of this without the pandemic. I’m not thrilled it had to happen this way, but I’m grateful.
Four, I wound up with a new job. In December I secured a position at a grocery chain as a lot associate. I, basically, am now responsible for scouting shopping carts from the parking lot, bringing them to the main entrance and spraying them for customers. It’s not my ideal job, I’d have preferred something at-home, but it at least got me socializing. And it gave me something to do outside of playing video games and watching YouTube videos.
And five, I’ve become a face-mask aficionado. Prior to the lockdown, I didn’t have masks in my wardrobe. Face-masks were something I despised, and I hated putting them on when I was recovering from a bad cold. Nowadays they’re not so bad. I’ve even built up a modest collection!
The pandemic has been a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it’s been the worst time for my tics and anxiety, both of which have been out of control. But, on the other hand, it’s shown how valuable everything I took for granted was. And as my community enters its third lockdown to combat the more contagious strains, I see that even more. I hope I’ll take that to heart.
Since this piece is a little bit short as is, I’ll end it with a poem I wrote after receiving my first Pfizer shot. Those who follow me on Facebook will have already seen it, since that’s where I originally posted it, but it’s to the tune of “Who Knows One?” from the Haggadah:
The pandemic has been a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it’s been the worst time for my tics and anxiety, both of which have been out of control. But, on the other hand, it’s shown how valuable everything I took for granted was. And as my community enters its third lockdown to combat the more contagious strains, I see that even more. I hope I’ll take that to heart.
Since this piece is a little bit short as is, I’ll end it with a poem I wrote after receiving my first Pfizer shot. Those who follow me on Facebook will have already seen it, since that’s where I originally posted it, but it’s to the tune of “Who Knows One?” from the Haggadah:
“Who knows one? I know one! One is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows two? I know two! Two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows three? I know three! Three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows four? I know four! Four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows five? I know five! Five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows six? I know six! Six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows seven? I know seven! Seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows eight? I know eight! Eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows nine? I know nine? Nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows ten? I know ten! Ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows eleven? I know eleven! Eleven is for the months last year that the economy was in peril, ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows twelve? I know twelve? Twelve is for the number of months this pandemic has been a global crisis, eleven is for the months last year that the economy was in peril, ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows thirteen? I know thirteen! Thirteen is for the number of months it took for me to finally get my first COVID shot, twelve is for the number of months this pandemic has been a global crisis, eleven is for the months last year that the economy was in peril, ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!”
Who knows two? I know two! Two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows three? I know three! Three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows four? I know four! Four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows five? I know five! Five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows six? I know six! Six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows seven? I know seven! Seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows eight? I know eight! Eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows nine? I know nine? Nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows ten? I know ten! Ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows eleven? I know eleven! Eleven is for the months last year that the economy was in peril, ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows twelve? I know twelve? Twelve is for the number of months this pandemic has been a global crisis, eleven is for the months last year that the economy was in peril, ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!
Who knows thirteen? I know thirteen! Thirteen is for the number of months it took for me to finally get my first COVID shot, twelve is for the number of months this pandemic has been a global crisis, eleven is for the months last year that the economy was in peril, ten is for the months before Pfizer was made public, nine is for the months that I lost last year, eight is for the number of months that vaccines were in trial mode, seven is for the average number of chapters I wrote in my novel before we had our table reads on Zoom, six is for the major Chagim last year that I couldn't celebrate with extended family, five is for the guests I had outside for my birthday last year, four is for the four people who were in my household during this pandemic, three is for the vaccine types available in Canada, two is for both doses of the vaccine, one is for the pandemic, may it be damned forever!”
Let’s pray this ends soon, so I can go outside without worrying about getting sick!
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