Well, it finally happened…Covid has hit 8 family members in three states!  All at the same time!  And they all got it independently, no sharing among states.  How’s that for synchronicity?

Thus far, I have missed this familial round of Covid, though I was treated to a bout in September and had to miss a trip to London.  I was fortunate with my round of Covid; I only felt sick for about 48 hours and was able to get Paxlovid which seemed to mitigate symptoms.

  But though nearly all the family members who have it now are vaccinated, it hit hard.

And for half of the folks suffering now, it is the first time they have had Covid.  Crazy, right?  To avoid catching it for so long and then get Covid as we approach the 3-year anniversary of the Covid shut-down seems especially unfair. I mean, when does it end?

 I think that’s the question many of us have.  Is there ever going to be a time when Covid is really, truly gone, or will it keep mutating and spreading forever?  I am okay with wearing my mask whenever I’m out and about, but I do like to visit the occasional restaurant and then I must unmask.

When you think back on these last 3 years, it seems unbelievable.  According to the CDC, in the United States we have had 102 million cases of Covid thus far, and 1.12 million citizens have died from Covid.  The U.S. Census Bureau reported that “Deaths in the United States increased by 19% between 2019 and 2020 following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 — the largest spike in mortality in 100 years.”

So yeah, Covid is real and has had a significant impact on our lives—and deaths—in so many ways.  I may be wearing my mask for the foreseeable future, and I’m okay with that. I mean, I’m still going to travel and live my life, but I’m not going to tempt fate.

I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to get a vaccine for Covid every six months if it will mitigate the symptoms of this deadly disease. It is no joke.

In the meantime, I’m sending love and well wishes to my relatives still suffering across the globe (or at least the country).  All seem to be recovering, thankfully, but it hasn’t been easy.

Take care, everyone, and be vigilant out there! Covid isn’t done with us yet.

KATHY WERNER is a three-time National Newspaper Association Award winner for the Democrat, and a true member of the family.