Now that we're getting close to the end of the year that made taking a turn for the worse a national pastime, it raises the question as to whether next year will simply continue the nonsense. We've lost a lot of celebrities—which is actually quite normal—but we've lost a lot of family and friends as well. Living through a global pandemic with plenty of restrictions put on us limiting our movement and activities is new. California has the highest number of cases of COVID-19, the dreaded novel coronavirus disease, in the nation, while New York leads with the number of deaths. I'm no scientist, but I expect the trend to continue well into next year.
There are a few reasons for this and I'll get into it in a bit. Not everyone reading this will agree, which is fine because this is my blog and I get the final say as to what gets published. Not trying to be an ass, but if I'm going to write anything, I'm going to write what's in my heart and soul. Disagreement is OK around here as long as no one gets violent. In such a situation, agreeing to disagree is usually the best course of action.
Earlier this year, I wrote a Facebook status update encouraging my friends to wear a face covering. A now ex-friend took offense and wrote a reply essentially disagreeing with my post. (Fine, it's her opinion.) However, a bunch of my friends replied to her post and pretty much tore her to pieces. In response, this now-former friend deleted her post, which took all of the replies with it, and clicked the Unfriend button. ¡Adios, muchacha!
The CDC recommends that everyone over age two and anyone with no breathing problems wear a cloth face covering properly positioned over the mouth and nose any time they're out in public. The idea is that the mask contains the bulk of tiny water droplets released by the wearer during breathing, thus preventing them from getting into the mouth or nose of others. Fairly simple concept, but so many people find wearing a mask to be inconvenient or uncomfortable (I don't, honestly, despite having asthma). With so many people wearing masks improperly or not at all, it's no wonder this disease isn't slowing down. People are gathering in large groups, which increases the risk. I can only hope that in addition to properly wearing their face coverings, people are sanitizing or washing their hands as often as they can. Everything helps.
But even without COVID-19 and its effect on the world, 2020 seemed to be the banner year for things to just plain old go wrong. Unemployment has sharply risen, people are losing their homes and businesses left and right, though some of those things are likely due to the pandemic.
Really, about all we can do is say our prayers and hang on for another wild ride in 2021.
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