One year of working in the pandemic

I took this picture on 5/26/2020. It was the first day we were back open after being laid off for 10 weeks during the shutdown last year. It still looks like this a lot of days.

I have to say, I was kind of surprised when it popped up on my Facebook "memories" yesterday. In some ways it seems like way more than a year. A lot sure has happened.

It was certainly weird when we shut down. I remember the COO coming in on a random March day. So much was unknown at the time. Would we be closed for a week? A month? Forever? There were unknowns all over the world!

Ironically, I felt rather hopeful when it first happened. I thought it was a great opportunity for people to pull together, to make changes, do different things and whatnot. I thoroughly enjoyed the 10 weeks of unemployment. In fact, I even made more money being laid off than I would have working! My weekly unemployment check was almost exactly DOUBLE what my weekly paycheck was/is (thanks to the covid relief package at the time, and a seriously low-paying job).

I also seem to have so much more creative energy when I'm not tied to a job. I feel less stress. If only I could find a way to make money at it...

Of course, then came the turmoil of 2020. There was resistance to shutting down the economy; followed by resistance to masking; now turned into resistance to getting vaccinated. And the riots and ensuing racial tension. And the election. And conspiracy theories. And... It's like all the hope I had at the beginning eventually morphed into hate.

If we 'Mericans proved anything in the last year it's that we simply cannot get along!

Personally, I feel like I am a much worse individual now than I was a year ago. I struggled with opposing viewpoints, I struggled with workplace issues, I struggled with people refusing mandates, and now the vaccine. I've been terrible to people and am as demoralized and disappointed with myself as anyone now.

I suppose there are things I should be hopeful about. Just this week I started going without a mask at work (they're no longer required). I had no idea it would be a whole year later! Next week we're supposed to open back up completely in all our facilities (no social distancing). They are also lifting mask mandates and opening up other venues around town and the country. I wish I thought things could improve, but I've lost what little faith I had in people (if I ever had any). I'm sure it's only a matter of time before things get worse again.

So, there ya go. It's a milestone, I guess. I wish I had a more positive outlook and thought it could continue.

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Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.