PAWPAW'S DIARY: MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 5
Connor,
Pawpaw loves you!
Bryson,
Pawpaw loves you!
Archer,
Pawpaw loves you!
The
Pandemic
The year
2020 was a year that will be documented in history books around the world
because of the COVID19 Pandemic. It all began with news of a strange virus
strain in
COVID19 was
a rapidly evolving virus that was spread through contact and breathing the
virus from an infected person’s exhale. Tom and I had booked and paid in
advance for a
The virus
was deadly for people with asthma and diabetes and the elderly. We received
notice that our cruise was canceled. Thousands of people were stranded on
cruise ships with infected passengers because no countries would allow them to
dock.
Doctors,
scientists and virus specialists warned everyone to isolate, stay away from
crowds of people, wear masks to protect our breathing and use antibacterial
hand wash every time we go out. Tom and I were faithful and changed our
lifestyle immediately. My own doctors advised me to isolate myself from my
daughter, son in law and grandkids because of their school exposure and work
exposure. (Most people did not see their own grandchildren for a year or more.)
It was
unsafe to grocery shop. We began to order our groceries online and have them
delivered. After bringing our groceries into the house, we were advised to wash
our hands because we had touched bags a stranger had touched.
The
insanity that was the Donald J Trump presidency continued as he tried to hide
the severity of the pandemic. He called it a hoax. He berated and mocked
scientists. He offered insane ideas like injecting bleach into citizens and
that sunlight would kill the virus. He said the virus would just disappear and
that it was being blown out of proportion. 500,000 Americans had died. How many
of them might have lived if our President hadn’t been an arrogant, uneducated
jackass?
As the
Governors of the United States begged the Federal Government for ventilators to
keep COVID19 victims breathing, Trump went on air and said that the Governors
needed to “be nicer” to him if they wanted breathing machines for their
citizens.
As millions
of people around the world were being killed by the virus, scientists from
around the world began to work together. Pharmaceutical companies began to
focus solely on the worldwide pandemic. Unfortunately, President Trump’s words
fooled thousands of people into believing the virus was a hoax. He traveled
around the country hosting large gatherings where thousands were infected. His
followers, acting like a cult, began threatening the lives of the scientists
that were trying to help humanity by finding a cure. The world’s leading
Virologist Anthony Fauci needed bodyguards for his entire family because of
death threats from Trump cultists and insults by the mentally unstable
President.
Many
businesses had to close. Others were able to adjust their employees to work
from home. Professional sports were canceled. Many schools had to be closed for
safety reasons. Educators rushed to educate their students online from home.
Our whole life was upended and threatened for over a year.
Finally, in
December 2020, Pfizer announced they had a vaccine that protected against the
deadly effects of the virus. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson soon released
their vaccines. President Trump was totally unprepared and clueless about how
to distribute the vaccines.
Thank God,
Trump had been defeated in the 2020 Presidential election. In January 2021,
President Joe Biden took office and promised 100 million vaccinated Americans
in his first 100 days. He accomplished 100 million in less than 60 days!
As I write
this, it is August 2021. I have had my two necessary vaccine injections. Tom
has had both. We are protected 100% from death due to the COVID19 virus. Over
600,000 American people have died.
One of the most difficult challenges was not seeing my daughter and grandchildren. I’m not sure you kids understand that my doctors isolated me due to my health disabilities. I don’t know if you understand why I was away from you because my doctor's said the virus could kill me. Your Mom and Day, who I loved with all my heart, mocked people who believed in the pandemic and protected themselves.
In any
earlier era, the COVID19 pandemic would have threatened the survival of humanity.
We were fortunate to have the science, technology and knowledge to battle it.
By the time I was allowed to travel after being vaccinated against the virus I came to visit you but everything had changed.
