Last Goodbye

There’s an old Elvis song that talks of “my last goodbye.” That’s where we are now, closing in for our last goodbye to a virus that has and is still upsetting the world. But, with the vaccinations going on relentlessly, it can’t be too long before we can finally wave the enemy a last goodbye.

             Like most people, I can’t wait to be able to hug my children and grandchildren after more than a year of having had to be satisfied with video contacts. However, not everyone is seeing the future in the same way.

            Some people can’t wait to get out from under the restrictions of the virus to dance in the street, while others want to make certain everything is back to normal before they venture out. One thing is sure everyone will make their way into the future at their own pace. Some, still somewhat scared because the past year has been one of severe pain and struggle, will be reticent about joining the crowd for some time. Those in health care who have helped all the suffering souls affected by the virus can’t wait to finally be able to take a deep breath of relief and rest.

            I think everyone has been marked by the pandemic in one way or another. Some will rebound quickly, while others will have tears in their souls for some time to come. Those of us who are ready to dance in the street should remember to invite those who are still crying to join us when the last goodbye is finally a reality.

            We’ve all seen pictures of the roaring ‘20s when people let loose after the pandemic caused by the Spanish Flu. We will still be in the ‘20s when covid is gone. Let’s make them roaring again as we relegate a sad chapter of history to the past with a last goodbye.

           

 

 

Some Musings

As you age everything slows down,

except the time it takes for cake and 

ice cream to reach your hips!    

 

Work like you don't need the money
Love like you've never been hurt
Dance like nobody is watching
Sing like nobody is listening
Live like it's Heaven on Earth
Dream like you’re living your dream

And

Do you part to save the earth. It’s the only planet with chocolate!

 

            Life as I know it

More than a year ago now, I was going along just fine. I saw my family, I took part in local social activities, I shared meals with friends, and then a dangerous enemy made itself known and altered everything. The end result was that I became basically confined to my home. Suddenly I could not see anyone and became somewhat of a recluse.

            Before my beloved dog died, I used to talk to him when I needed to find solutions to one problem or another. He was a great listener, and talking it out somehow helped me find the steps I had to take.

            When covid became a reality I realized that because I had no one to talk to, I began talking to myself without really being aware of it. Leftover from when I used my dog as a sounding board, I suppose. I asked myself things aloud and I argued with myself yet seldom won!  But self-talk is not all bad.

            Psychologists say that talking to ourselves is healthy when our social lives are restricted for whatever reasons. It can even improve our performance of some of the tasks we do regularly. Professional athletes have been known to criticize themselves after missing a putt, a ball or failing to score. For my part, I became aware that I criticized myself aloud for being unable to complete a crossword without help from the internet.

            Was everyone in the same boat?

            When walking outside with my mask on, I began wondering if the masked people I encountered also talked to themselves behind their face coverings. You can’t tell much about people wearing masks. You certainly don’t know if they are smiling at you. When masks are gone from our lives, it’ll be great to see people’s faces again and be able to assess if they are open to conversing.

            But for a little while longer we have to continue as we’ve been doing for over a year which means I and many others will carry on talking to ourselves and be the better for it.

 

 

About Abuse

Since 2006 June 15^th each year is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It’s an official United Nations International Day which acknowledges that senior abuse is a public health and human rights issue. The day sheds light on senior abuse by promoting resources and services that can help increase the safety and well-being of older individuals.

            There are many forms of abuse: psychological, financial, physical, sexual and ageism. These can lead to an array of problems for victims from anxiety and depression to diminished financial resources and deterioration of health.

            Sometimes people know or suspect that a family member, friend, neighbour or acquaintance is being mistreated or abused, sometimes by that person’s child, but they are not sure what to do. They worry about getting involved, not saying the right thing or wrongly identifying the situation.

            If you suspect someone is being abused, make an effort to reach out to the person. You can ask things like: How are you doing? Can I help you in any way? Is there someone you would like to see or talk to?

            No matter your age, if you are being abused, know that you have the right to live without fear and that you do not deserve to be abused. You have the right to control your own life and make your own decisions.

There are steps you can take to get help.

-          Tell someone you trust what is happening to you.

-          If someone is hurting or threatening you, or if it is not safe for you where you are, call the police.

-          Talk with people to learn more about resources available in your community. Find out your option to take care of your personal needs and financial security.

-          Make a safety plan in case you have to leave quickly.

Take steps now because abuse often gets worse over time.

 

Passport or no Passport

The talk all around these days is: Did you get vaccinated? When are you scheduled for your second shot? etc. We are on our way, carefully, to a brighter future after having had to alter our lives for more than a year. But what happens when it’s over – covid that is. Will it ever be over? Not even virologists know for sure. After all it is a new problem no one expected, and all the ramifications are still in the process of being fully studied and remedied.

            However, when life starts again in a new reality, how will it work? It will be a while yet for everyone to be vaccinated and not everyone wants to be vaccinated. So, what to do?

            Employers, for example, will want to make sure all their employees are vaccinated before coming back to their work environment. After all they have an obligation to protect their personnel. And what about airlines? When people are crowded like sardines inside an aircraft it would be nice if everyone on the flight was vaccinated, especially now that more variants of the virus keep appearing. So how to be sure?

            Vaccination passports as proof of inoculation have been suggested, but there are objections claiming that it would violate individual rights. So how to protect people from disease while protecting people’s rights? Definitely a difficult question to answer.

            I am not Solomon, but I would think that in the situation in which the world finds itself at the moment the rights of the whole take precedence over any individual rights. The loudest argument in favor of that view is the danger to the community. And as we have seen over the last year or so, once disease invades a community it’s a long struggle to tame it.

            And if proof of vaccination becomes the norm in the near future, will anti-vaccine proponents quit their jobs rather than accept a shot in the arm? Let’s hope that they will find that price a bit too high!