Learning to challenge…

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The more things change, the more they stay the same. 

It’s been this way now for over two years. One step forward and a multitude of steps in reverse. Sure, I could throw out one tired adage after another as one day continues to roll over into the next one, but I’ll stop here. 

The numbness of this ongoing pandemic has altered my personality, in many ways. So much so that each time I embark on a specific bit of writing, it keeps navigating to how challenging life has been for so many since the beginning of 2020. 

I’ve come to realize that a great deal of complacency has set in, both in my life, and elsewhere. We’ve learned to live with a constant threat looking over our shoulders in the form of this ever-mutating virus. We have acquiesced to mandates, safe social behaviors, travel restrictions, empty store shelves, both a struggling economy and the sad, fragmented, individual who currently resides in the White House, tripping and falling through his presidential tenure. 

In my own circle of friends, we often look at each other and say, “when will this end?” Each of us longs for that evasive glimmer of hope, for the right answers and solutions that might help life return to some element of normalcy. In some ways, it’s almost humorous when we look back on our previous COVID fears, hysteria almost, that drove us into near hibernation. Now, we share how thankful we are because being vaccinated made getting one or more of the virus mutations…”so much easier!”.  

Will this be life going forward? Dutifully lining-up to get more and more boosters and our government will continue to orchestrate our survival; are we good with this?  Will we continue to remain nothing more than “test cases” in an ongoing quest to bring an end to COVID?

If I’ve learned anything, anything at all, at this point, it’s to question, to challenge, every damn element of authority with whatever time I have left in my life.

 

workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop...Tell us about something you learned this month.

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Thinking deeply…

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We’ve arrived.  Or have we?

A new year which, like most turns of the yearly calendar, brings the hope of change, especially if we’re looking back on the negatives of the previous twelve months.

Sadly, lives are still being impacted by the conveyor belt of virus variants that roll along.  In some twisted way, the entire situation reminds me of that I Love Lucy episode in the candy factory.  Funny then but, now, as our government has about as much control where this ongoing pandemic is concerned as Lucy and Ethel did managing the chocolate…it borders on being pathetic.

People both vaxxed and boosted are getting slammed with the Omicron variant.  But (gotta focus on the “buts” here) being vaccinated makes getting infected sooooo much less worse!  Correct?  Well, let me throw this out, boys and girls…antibodies!!  Why hasn’t antibody testing been put in the forefront of the medical field before people line up for booster after booster?  I’m curious to learn if those getting through an initial bout of COVID-19 have a higher level of antibodies than those who have had multiple injections and…have COVID survivors fallen victim to the parade of variants that keep emerging?  Deep thoughts here and I’m anxious to hear some feedback.  Someone, anyone?  Ferris Bueller?

A reminder here that, since this is MY space on the global network highway, I maintain the right to speak my mind.  I focus on a great deal of sarcasm to help override any deep thoughts which might make my writing less interesting.  And, of course, anyone reading what I share can simply move on, taking my “thanks for stopping by!” 

That being stated, I’m moving on to a few things which have irked the hell out of me, no, make that…pissed me off!  I’ll start with the hierarchy of our country, President Howdy Doody and his second, Vice President Minnie HaHa.  Names have been changed to bombard the guilty.

At the height of his campaign, President Doody claimed that “he would bring an end to the virus” as he threw snowballs into the fires of Hell.  Now, the man advises everyone to “learn to live with it.”  The thought process (make that thought-less) of this man ranges from maddening to terrifying and drops down to piteous.  But, hey, ya’ll disliked The Donald, and I respect your opinions, but…holy crap…how are you sleeping at night with President Doody driving the bus?

On a much angrier note, Vice President HaHa had the audacity to compare the January 6, 2021 Capitol Riots to the historical, monumental and tragic events of Pearl Harbor and 9/11.  This woman epitomizes the cruelest of jokes where political representation is concerned and should get the Nobel Idiot Prize for her constant displays of illiteracy and ignorance. 

So, here we are.  January 2022.  Yes, we’ve arrived, and it will be a crap shoot, probably well into November of this year before we can look back on any positive change.

Once again, these are my deep thoughts and I’m sticking to every damn one of them!

 

workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop…Write a blog post inspired by the word: deep.

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Not under control…

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We’re closing in on almost two years that our world has been held captive by a virus.  With the passing of each month, the rise and fall of the debates involved with controlling it are chaotic.  New infections and re-infections quash any hope of bringing it to an end.  There is a major “Covid-Crossroad” with people choosing to be vaccinated…or not.  Human accountability or reckless endangerment has become the underlying factor, taking on an overwhelming stance, given the personal decisions involved.

Once again, masks are re-appearing as an accessory of choice, even a demand, as we venture out in public.  Virus epidemics, in any size, shape, or form are nothing new to humanity.  We’ve dealt with them…and managed to overcome the gauntlet of infections.  No masks, sanitizers, shutdowns and obsessive fear were involved, common sense controlled each outbreak. 

Somehow, the operative word here is…control.  We are all at the mercy of both a political and medical hierarchy who continue to sidestep the facts surrounding this current virus and its increasing variants but have firmly grasped onto the stifling management of human lives which hang in the balance of this spreading plague.

Yes, I’m angry.  Life’s simple challenges of day-to-day survival have been irreparably impacted.  We take one or two steps forward only to turn around again and lose any progress made.  How many more businesses and livelihoods will suffer as each struggle to survive?  For those of us on the proverbial back nine of life, will this be our exit, stage left…leave in an orderly, normal, fashion, while keeping those masks on?

Sadly, what I envision is a permanency where this, and future, virus attacks are concerned.  We’ve become players in a well-choreographed master plan of control from various sources who may very well have the answers, yet choose to hide them, using same to their advantage, again and again.

 

workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop….Write a blog post inspired by the word: again

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