As of the day I am writing this, I am fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You know when you are a kid and people ask you on your birthday if you feel any different? But you don’t really? That’s how I feel about being fully vaccinated.
I know there is a lot more I can do now, and I know that there are some things I am going to feel a lot more comfortable doing. But I am not quite ready to take my mask off for extended periods of time yet.
I just don’t feel ready to start walking down the street without my mask on, or like going into stores without. And I want to go to Disney without a mask on as much as the next Disnerd, but I am just not quite ready to go back yet, mask or not.
I say that but I already tickets for one concert, and I am planning on purchasing tickets to another shortly. I guess that I am telling myself that by like September that I feel different. More than likely I will.
There is something about the mask that makes me feel emotionally safe. I can make weird faces, sign along to the in-store radio, talk to myself and know that no one if going to see or hear any of it. And as a young woman who likes to be fairly independent, the mask gives a layer anonymity that is really nice.
I has not doubt that as things progress I feel differently about taking my mask off. But for now I am happy just to be protected. When this whole thing started, the thought of my family, friends or myself getting and dying from COVID was my biggest fear. Now knowing that everyone is my immediate circle is protected, and we got to the stage where we can be vaccinated without anyone getting COVID or losing anyone is enough for right now.
I think my next step towards “normal” is definitely getting to see, perform in and work live events again. Sure, I pumped to go to Cheesecake Factory. But I never really ate out that much before this anyway, so that element of this hasn’t really impacted me that much.
One day, this whole thing will wholly, solidly history. Until then just remeber, if you can live through this, you can do anything.
