It is now February 2023! Two years have passed since I wrote about our personal interactions resulting from COVID-19. There is now a new, semi-normal life. Individuals may still be concerned about the latest genetic strain of the virus, but they are not doing much more about it than they did before the epidemic began three years ago. As with many viruses, there have been numerous mutations, resulting in some strains being more infective than others. However, the Houston Chronicle has finally eliminated its daily statistics on the virus.
Currently, 6.8 million deaths have occurred worldwide, of which 1.1 million have been reported for the US. More than 670 million cases of viral infection have been attributed, globally, with 102 million in this country, and some 8.3 million confirmed for Texas. I, personally, know no one who has died because of the virus, although there have been deaths among relatives of those living at Eagle’s Trace, even if there have been no COVID-19 deaths reported for our own residents.
Our Medical Center has provided residents, those willing to take them, with two basic and two booster vaccinations. Only a few here have declined, although general acceptance of the vaccines has been limited, depending a lot upon one’s politics! With the anti-vaccination response evident by so many throughout the country, it would not be surprising if both smallpox and polio will return. Respiratory infections, in general, have increased, primarily in children. Adults are also suffering long-range fatigue following their recovery from COVID-19, itself.
Along with the physical fatigue, there may be a widespread psychological malaise. People are growing weary of the pandemic reports by the media. Perhaps, to offset this fatigue, video newscasts seem to focus, even more than they did previously, on details of mass-shootings of school children as well as attacks on Asians and other minorities! Police brutality and riots against authority make up the remainder of the nightly news. Fortunately, I do not follow the other, common social media outlets, which seem to focus on conspiracy plots and how the 2020 election was “stolen” from Mr. Trump, per his own accounts.
Social distancing is rarely practiced at the beginning of 2023. Stenciled footprints are still visible in many lines designated for public waiting, but few are occupied. Only a handful of people wear masks, either at Eagle’s Trace or in the grocery store. Karen and I have not visited a mall, together, since Christmas, 2019! While she was in the hospital, recently, for her hip-replacement, I did go to Memorial City Mall, adjoining the hospital, in order to buy her a Christmas present. Actually, I went twice, to purchase two gifts. The first visit was on a weekday, and the Mall, the major one for this part of Houston, was quite empty of customers. However, on Saturday afternoon, the crowds seemed to have returned in full force. I, myself, continue to order almost everything else from Amazon. I have not purchased any new clothes for the last three years.
With regard to religious gatherings, we have returned to the liturgies held at either Epiphany of the Lord or at St. John Vianney’s parish. Following Karen’s hip-replacement, I have returned to being the driver. However, I do not enjoy driving after dark, and Vianney is readily available with non-expressway traffic. Cardinal DiNardo now allows reception of the cup for those who desire to partake of it at Eucharist. Streaming liturgies are events of the past.
At this stage following the outset of COVID-19, much of the nation has returned to the behavior it exhibited prior to the epidemic. In fact, young adults may be even more anxious to return to a party-lifestyle than they were before being isolated. The older folks at Eagle’s Trace also seem to be in the process of setting aside the restrictions of the pandemic. The living room in the main building is, once more, filled each night with before-dinner wine imbibers.
Toilet paper is readily available in the stores. However, a dozen eggs, because of a new avian virus, may be bought for $7.00, over twice the price of a current gallon of gasoline! Only a few months ago, the prices were reversed. People, once again, are frequenting restaurants. Given the rapidly increased cost for all kinds of food purchases, I am reluctant to join in this renewed activity. Although the annual fee for maintenance at Eagle’s Trace, which includes funds for dining, have increased by 6%, it is still less expensive to eat here than at the “average” restaurant.
The cycle of life continues, as confusingly as ever. The new semi-normal life, as it becomes the new-normal, maintains its price-keeping pace. Reluctantly, I follow.