It’s Okay. I’ve Been Vaccinated.
Back to the Real World.
Wow what a ride the pandemic was right? I’m so happy to be getting back to normal. I love walking around maskless and as the CDC says it’s ok to do that now because I’ve been vaccinated.
As I wake up to return to my office job that can absolutely be done from home, I hit snooze on my alarm clock a couple of times. But that’s okay because I’ve been vaccinated.
I didn’t get my CDC recommended 7 or more hours of sleep but that’s ok because I’ve been vaccinated.
I forego my 205th day of the 30 Days of Yoga With Adriene but it’s okay because I’ve been vaccinated. I immediately return to my 3 cup a-morning habit of caffeine to jolt my body into awareness instead.
As I drive to the office on my caffeine high, I refuse to let another drive over. They should have known better and done it sooner. My lack of empathy is ok though because I’ve been vaccinated and have places to be.
I’m happy to see most of my coworkers. We are like some dystopian survivors from a young adult novel. We make the normal post pandemic small talk.
“What were your pandemic hobbies?”
“How many loaves of banana bread did you bake? What’s your recipe?”
“What protest did you attend?”
“What vaccine did you get?”
“What were your side effects”
I still keep my distance from Phil. I’ve been vaccinated but I never really liked the guy. He doesn’t need to know.
For lunch I treat myself by actually going out to a real restaurant. This is big. I don’t tip my server because they were so slow bringing out my food but it’s ok because I’ve been vaccinated.
There’s no need for our weekly extended family zoom call. We’ve all been vaccinated. We definitely won’t get together weekly in person instead of zoom but that’s besides the point. I dodge a couple calls from my Mom. Send her to voicemail. Now that we are both vaccinated I don’t have to worry so much about her.
During the day I get push notifications on my phone reminding me to do my duo lingo Spanish practice for the day. I clear those notifications and turn them off. Learning Spanish was a cute pandemic pipe dream but it’s not gonna happen now that I’m vaccinated.
I should also return that pandemic puppy I got. What was I thinking? It’s ok though because I’ve been vaccinated.
I should get a workout in but decide to skip it today. I don’t have to worry about my health so much anymore. It’s ok. I’ve been vaccinated.
I don’t skip any step in my detailed skin care regimen though. Vaccinations do not prevent age spots and wrinkles. Priorities.
I overlook the stack of books next to my bed. Titles such as White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, Asian American Dreams by Helen Zia, Black Elk Speaks John Gneisenau Neihardt, and Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Michael Oren. Instead I turn on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. It’s their last season and I had a long day at the office. I’ve earned it. It’s ok because I’ve been vaccinated.
I spend the last part of my day unsubscribing from all the social causes my furlough allowed me to be informed about and get involved in. Black Lives Matter. Unsubscribe. Stop Asian Hate. Unsubscribe. Diverse Reading Lists. Unsubscribe. Native Voices Newsletters. Unsubscribe. It’s ok. I’ve been vaccinated.
I set my alarm for 7:00 AM for the next day. The CDC recommends you do not take the time to reflect on your pandemic trauma. Instead, simply suppress and return to your pre-pandemic hustle. You can still occasionally make sourdough bread. It’s ok because you’ve been vaccinated.
