I am finally fully vaccinated……but not without some drama.
I last wrote The Corona Diaries at the end of The Winter of Our Discontent, but you might call this installment The Promise of Spring which didn’t quite materialize, and hopefully not the start of The Summer Which Never Came?
It’s been a depressing several months, the weird and wacky weather, the long frustrating wait for vaccines to get us out of this mess, the hope for better days ahead, when they all seemed more of the same, and all the while the world was blooming with loveliness.
May and June are my favorite months, but somehow this year they got cluttered up with much delayed appointments – doctors, dentists, lab work, vision, both for myself and my mother. Then there were the maintenance things like car, A/C, computer and spring cleaning maid service. (I still can’t believe the earliest appointment is mid-August – guess we’ll have to live with the dust for awhile longer). Having received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine on April 20 I felt it was safe(r) to re-book some of this now and get it over with, but it seemed like every day when the weather was perfect for sitting outside there was something on. The rest of the time it was either too hot and humid, too cold or too rainy. So much for spring. Now after two weeks of drought, we’ve had two weeks of rain – so much rain that the backyard is a tropical resort for giant mosquitoes, one of which bit me on the leg resulting in several days of itchiness so intense I couldn’t sleep, so I’ve retreated inside again….like a hermit going back into it’s shell.
As there were um…..comments about the last post (A Reading Sabbatical) being too long, I shall spare you the drama (and accompanying word count) of the vaccine process, other than to say that I long for the days when they just lined us up for a jab with the needle.
Actually when I was in grade two in 1963 we were lined up for the oral polio vaccine, which was even better, as they dispensed it on a sugar cube. We never had sugar cubes at home so the sensation of that dry granular square in my mouth was such a strange thing that the memory has stayed with me.
After five months of lock-down, even I, the most contented of homebodies, have been enveloped in a cloud of gloom and doom lately. Now that I’m fully vaccinated and can go out, there’s nothing much to do – every outdoor summer event was cancelled months ago, including the fall fairs. We are now entering stage two of reopening, with the stages spaced at cautious three week intervals, assuming case counts remain low and vaccination rates continue to increase.
I’m tired of cooking, but with no indoor dining until August, I’d rather wait until my birthday when I can visit my favorite steakhouse, a place with tablecloths and candles and frigid air-conditioning, and be served a meal someone else has prepared and will clean up after.
Non-essential stores have reopened too, at 25% capacity and after the initial crowds disperse, I’m looking forward to some retail therapy, if only to browse and buy socks. I have a whole list of things which need replacing – things you have to look at in person not pictures on a website.
And I’m sure once I get a haircut next week I’ll feel better and be ready to face the world again with more optimism. My bangs have achieved Cousin-It status and it will be nice to be able to see through my new glasses. I haven’t had my hair this long since I was a teenager, and while I kind of like the hippy look, the darker graying roots simply must go.
Bring on Summer and Peace Out!
(650 words)
thehomeplaceweb 
Yeah! Don’t you feel giddy? I did during the process of registering and lining up for that first injection back in March. So glad supplies finally made up your way, Joni. And now the heat wave is making it your way, too?
By the way, I always enjoy reading your posts, no matter the length.
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There’s a sense of relief to getting your second vaccine. I felt it, too, when I got mine. We’ve found the same thing as you about getting appointments for house maintenance. Call in early May, get an appointment for late June. It’s kind of defeating because it’s more waiting for things to happen instead of making things happen. But that’s way it is now. Love the Sun-in ad. I remember seeing those in magazines for older girls!
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My A/C hose is split and leaking outside and they can’t fix it until August as Reliance is on strike and is sub-contracting the work…..so frustrating. The Sun-In ad was from 17 magazine, of which I still have a few copies from 1970 in the basement! I feel relieved about getting my second shot too, but worried that tonight on the news Pfizer is applying for ER status for a booster because of the variants. Wondering if life will ever be normal again?
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First off: your post about the Reading Sabbatical was NOT too long – don’t bother with providing a word count! I found it interesting and read it to the end. Next, congratulations on being fully vaccinated – I had my second vaccination at the beginning of the month and am glad that’s behind me. The country is now targeting the 50+ section of the population. Then, I loved your reminiscence about the polio vaccines: when I was in primary school we all had to walk down the hill to the doctor’s consulting rooms to get the injection – some children were terrified – and then one year,as you point out, we got a blob of syrup on a sugar cube. This seemed like a real treat! Keep writing Joni!
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I couldn’t remember about the blob of syrup, just the sugar cube itself. It’s interesting re the polio photo, as one of the people at the vaccination clinic recognized her younger high school self in that photo! I think she was over 80 now. Thanks for the words of encouragement Anne. I think true book lovers would at least skim the whole thing because we are always looking for something to read.
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Aw, my friend from the kinder, gentler place! So glad you’re finally vaccinated, and I assume your mom is now too.
The pandemic has played wildly with nearly everyone’s psyches, I think. It’s understandable that now that things are opening up, while the weather is still erratic, you’re feeling stuff is awry. It IS awry. I hope you’ll have some pleasant weather before your August birthday treat.
Interesting that you were reminiscing about the polio vaccinations. When my husband and I were talking about the Willfully Ignorant who refuse Covid vaccine, he conjectured what life would have been like if parents had refused to permit their kids to have the polio vaccine. I don’t remember any anti-vaxxers then.
I support your desire to write a post of any length you choose!
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Yes my mother is too, although her shots were 14 weeks apart, which is concerning. I was able to get mine the day I took her for her second one, as they had an extra dose and I got in on a cancellation as they refused someone, so I was lucky and mine were only 8 weeks apart, otherwise I would have been later too. All of a sudden we have more supply so they are doing the younger people the recommended intervals if possible now. Hard to tell what kind of immunity we have as individuals when the intervals are all over the place. True re the polio vaccine – perhaps the possibility of seeing your child in an iron lung must have scared people. Those machines were horrible. I believe there was a small anti-vaxer group due to one bad batch of polio vaccine in the early days, I think it was in CA, which actually gave some kids polio. Two of my university classmates had had polio when they were young, one had a brace, and the other was okay but missed a whole year of school. Also one of my old bosses – he had braces and walked with crutches. They were all younger than five when they had it. Thanks re your support re blog length. I’m probably a bit sensitive about that, but not sure why someone would feel the need to comment on it – just don’t read it! No sign of sunny weather here for the next week – rain forecast every day – it is depressing for summer. And that heat dome/wave in the southern US makes me think we are ruining the earth.
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We hadn’t had any mosquito problems until Monday. Now they are everywhere. “Clouds of them” my husband said. I hate using mosquito spray but if I will if I must.
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I think the rain has brought them out. I can’t even sit out in the yard for fear of being bit again, and hate the smell of the spry. We have rain forecast again for all next week. They’ll be gigantic by then.
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It has been weird hasn’t it that summer events were all canceled. And as much as I like patio eating, the extreme humidity or incessant rain doesn’t make it easy… Nor am I particularly a fan of sitting next to heavy traffic well consuming a meal. I look forward to eating IN a restaurant again and I hope they don’t shut us down again.
But do go out if you can. Retail therapy even if it’s just window shopping has its worth after all this sitting at home…
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Thanks for reading Claudette. Oh I think some retail therapy will cheer me up quite nicely! I just want to go into a store like Winners or Homesense and browse. I don’t even have to buy anything. Tonight again its all gloom and doom re the variants and Pfizer applying for ER status for boosters etc. I’ve actually stopped watching the National at night, it’s just too depressing. Wait and see – we’ll have a fourth wave in the fall – I can see it coming already. I cannot eat on a patio too close to the road – it’s an accident waiting to happen.
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I too stopped watching the news. Why bother? I have trust issues with all of them.
My main concern is school and activities. It’s going to be a mess again is my feeling but, I’m trying hard to focus that it won’t. Time will tell.
I need a mirror from Homesense… 🙄🙃
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Great news on you finally getting the vaccine. That’s a relief. Love the photos.
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Thanks! Yes, it’s a big relief!
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Getting the second shot was awesome for me. Don’t let people get you down about your posts. They are fun. If someone doesn’t have the time, they can skim. There are no blog police patrolling at least in my area! 🙂 Hope your birthday celebration, whenever it is, does not disappoint you! I’m dying for a good steak not made by me.
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Thank you Kate for the compliment. It made my day! I’m looking forward to any meal made by someone else!
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I am happy you can count yourself amongst the vaccinated. I have two also, and am anxious for as many others as possible to join the ranks. For the greater good of humanity, if course, and because I have tickets to Hamilton in January, and I want the event to happen! Enjoy all the new re-openings, as they occur.
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Thanks Arlene!
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Congratulations on getting vaccinated Joni. I know you were concerned about when they would ever have a schedule and you could get it done. I know that’s a relief for you and in 14 days you are free to roam, but you can’t as you pointed out. Now the big debate is whether or not a booster should be given. Dr. Fauci says “no; better everyone gets vaccinated.” Pfizer says “no; we need it.” Of course how much $$$ will they make with a third vaccine given to all. I am still masking up, not only at the grocery store/errands, but the Park too. I know it is safe but with the Delta variant, it makes me nervous. And now there is the latest Peru/lambda variant. Mask-wearing does not bother me in the least and when it’s very hot, I just wear a paper one. You and I are the same age and I, too, remember the sugar cube for polio. We never had sugar cubes either, just regular white sugar, so it was a novel experience for me and because I was afraid of needles as a child, the next time I went to the doctor for childhood shots, I asked if I could have it in a sugar cube.
The weather has been horrid and the week ahead, with severe weather in the Wednesday/Thursday time frame gives me a lot of angst. Your flowers are beautiful. I have hydrangeas which are pink – they are “Twist and Shout” and bloom either blue or pink, according to the acidity in your soil. I planted them to replace the climbing rose I told you about. They somehow survived the Polar Vortex when other flowers bit the dust. I had a clematis like that and it was in a pot on a mini trellis. I gave it to Marge to plant in her yard so it would trail on both our fences as I had no other places to put it at the time. It is hanging in there and it has never bloomed again.
I hate that someone insinuated your post was too long – that grinds me and I feel for you. I also write long posts as you know – tomorrow’s will be long and picture-laden. I do plan to make them shorter down the road, but you, like me, put a lot of effort into researching and/or gathering info and photos to put into our blogs to make them pleasing and keeping with the theme of our respective blogs. My feeling is that it is your blog, your posts and people having the audacity to say something and not just skim over it and make a comment or just a “like” should perhaps just look for another blog with just memes strung together … that is not what I call blogging and I see plenty of that type of blog around. I would continue doing your posts the way you always have Joni.
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I think eventually it will be a booster, like the flu shot, tweaked towards the predominant variants. Now Israel is suggesting – immunosuppressed people get the third dose now, and while some of those people are obvious, others are not. I’m still wearing the masks when running errands, as it is still mandatory here and I can’t see them changing it for a long time even though we have close to 80% with first shots in and 50% with second. We will probably obtain a higher herd immunity than the US, as we are a more cautious nation. It’s weird your shared Clematis never bloomed again – is it in too much shade? I have one at the side of the house which only gets 3 or 4 flowers on it as it’s too shady – lots of greenery though. Thanks for your compliment – I’ll just keep writing as I’m doing, some long posts with some Wordless Wednesdays. I figure it all evens out, and some weeks I just have more to say!
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I stayed up past my bedtime tonight to catch up in Reader – was doing pretty good, then looked at what “came in” today. Everyone must have had rainy Sundays as there are lots of posts. But I put a dent in things and that is good and you are my last comment to respond to and I wrote the post today for tomorrow and Wednesday. Yes, do not change your style Joni … it was not right for someone to make that comment. I will always have long posts when I go on a walk at the bigger parks and take lots of pictures. But, what I did for most of June was instead of going on the weekend, when it either rained, was sickening hot and humid, I went when we had those 3-4 days of cooler weather and went out every morning before work started (because I left at 7:00 a.m. and returned by 10:00 a.m.). I managed to get enough photos on those trips for many posts and they will be shorter than normal as I’m splitting them in two … taking some pics from the Monday post and using them for Wordless Wednesday. I tried doing that tomorrow, but my post still was long. I will resume longer walks after Labor Day when hopefully it is cooler (doubt it) … in the meantime I’m walking at my Park where I can bulk up the miles since it is close. I have found that some people only comment on my Wordless Wednesday posts – easier to look at pics, than read a long post is what I am figuring. I do like the WW feature as I can take it easy one day too!
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Yeah Joni now you can feel a lot safer! I’m so happy you finally are vaccinated.
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Our local cases are down to two, which is a really good sign, and 75% of the pop. vaccinated, so I don’t worry when I go out anymore, but I still mask up because of the Delta variant.
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I am glad you finally got some vaccine up there and that you got your shot. And I remember the sugar cube too!
I have had both Pfizer shots but still wonder if it was a good idea. When people took polio shots, it was only after the vaccines made it through the full battery of testing and regulatory approval. You and I and everyone else who has gotten the shots are serving as the guinea pigs for the folks who get these kinds of therapies in another 5-10 years. Which is why I’m not too hard on those who would rather take their chances with Covid. Someday I will be either glad or sorry that I took the shots. We’ll just have to give it some time to know which.
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Interesting coincidence, Joni: my daughter-in-law planted a PJ clematis in her backyard recently (as did each of her family members), to honor her now-deceased grandfather. The plant is thriving as it climbs up the side of her house, asking us to consider divine intervention. I commented on the beautiful purple blooms this past weekend and learned the name of the plant for the first time. Two days later I see PJ clematis again in your post…
As for COVID, I think enough time has passed to declare the virus is here to stay, similar to the flu. Vaccinations will be offered annually, targetting the specifics of whatever variant is in the air. People will get sick and people will recover, even while a small percentage of others succumb. Somehow that brings me comfort. We learned to live with the flu so we’ll learn to live with COVID. One day we’ll wake up and realize our collective lives have quietly gone back to the way they were, perhaps even changed for the better.
Patience and hope will see us through.
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The purple ones are my favorites, as the color is so vibrant. Agree re Covid. I know I worry a lot less now that we are doubly vaccinated….yes, it’s still out there, and we may get a fourth wave, but not as many people will die from it, and the boosters will change with the variants. The Spanish flu went on for 4 years before it died out, although the first 2 years were the worse.
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