I prepare for my second Covid shot tomorrow. In two short weeks, freedom beckons.
Here’s what I love about this country: the diversity of people and places, of languages and thought.
For all our flaws, for all my flaws, I am blessed. I can make a mental travel list without worrying (too much) about gas prices or places to stay or who will look after my cats.
All those places and people I gave up seeing. There they are. In sight and worth waiting for. Just a little bit longer, now.
***
Thanks Rochelle and Na’ama for the inspiration. It’s spring, and I along with much of the nation will be fully vaccinated soon. And yeah, I’m already making lists in my head of places to go, all here in the Northeast where I live. The Statue of Liberty isn’t on my list, but the sight of Lady Liberty reminds me how blessed I really am to be able to make these plans.
Meanwhile, my heart is with India, with the people and the leaders there.
Hope everyone has a great week.
Anne Higa 
I don’t want to put a downer on this, but “nobody is safe until everybody is safe”. We are emerging from lockdown just as another variant (B.1.617.2) surges
Happy to hear you are approaching “liftoff.” May 2 was mine freedom day and oh what a feeling it was.
Hari OM
I have to second Neil’s comment, I’m afraid. There is still no definite result on whether one can still be a carrier and although definitely better off than without, it is not 100% safe. The odds are greatly improved, of that, there is no doubt and definitely a cause for celebration. Seeing family again, though, that’s so very important.
Enjoy it, but with caution… YAM xx
I am fully vaccinated and would love to visit my faraway family. I live in England and have one daughter in Ireland, a son in Canada. Neither are reachable yet without expensive tests, endless waits at airports, and unquantifiable dangers.
I hope you get to see them soon. I can’t imagine what this would be like without Internet.
One of the beautiful things about America is its size, so many places to visit. Today I walked my first mile though open fields, and had coffee in my local public house, delightful
Dear Anne,
We’re fully vaccinated, but the trip we’d hoped for in November for our 50th anniversary to New Zealand doesn’t look like a go. Ah well, things are starting to open up. Lovely piece in any event.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Beautiful piece full of hope and gratitude. I too live in a place where I can make plans (in ‘normal’ times) and just go. Our vaccinations aren’t as complete as yours yet but I’m lucky and get my second shot on Saturday. It’s a great relief to have tthe “deadly” now being a lot less likely in “deadly disease”. But I also agree with Neil, it’s not over yet and will haunt us for a while yet. Only if infection numbers go down worldwide, those #*$$# mutations will decrease. I think we’ll need yearly shots like with the flu. But I hope for travel, too. Maybe next year?
I’ve had my two and as of this week, things are almost back to normal in the UK. I had my first pint in a pub for ages on Monday, another Tuesday and … well, you’ve guessed!
My contribution!
I hope you enjoyed all those pints responsibly Keith! Emphasis on the enjoyment part, of course!
freedom beckons at last. i can smell it without my mask on..:)
This is so lovely I felt the burn of tears in the back of my throat. I get my second vaccine tomorrow morning… I have to admit to a small bit of anxiety as I”ve already been told that I may experience some intense side effects from the second shot that I didn’t have with the first one. Sigh…. But, I’ll be all “shot up” as Hubby says. That, in and of itself will lessen my fear levels for Hubby’s safety. I hope you have a great week, and maybe you should add our lovely Lady Liberty to your bucket list of sights to see. Great Story this week. Have a safe one!
What a lovely piece, Anne. Thank you.
Good luck with your visits! I hope you are able to see both family and friends and feel close to them.
Beautiful piece but I’d have to agree with Neil. It’s not over till it’s over. But we can live in hope and dream of that time when the world opens up and we can meet our loved ones again.
I’ll get my second jab in a fortnight, should just be a few more months until everybody else has been jabbed and things can get propely going again! Enjoy 🙂
I loved the spirit of this writing. 2020s have been dark thus far, but many of us still have a lot to be grateful for. Back to basics. Good luck with the shot.