This past year started with a plethora of hopes and dreams, New Year’s Resolutions, and the promise of a state championship win for the best Amity Wrestling Team in years, and the ever-popular Amity Spring Musical! Hard-working students looked forward to graduating and going off to college.
Some ambitious folks began working on their crafts, photos, and other entries for the Orange Country Fair. Committees were working hard on making this year’s ceremonies and festivals the best they could be. Wedding plans were being finalized, A big bright future lay ahead for everyone … and then, Covid.
By mid-march, America had heard about the virus’s severity from trusted scientist immunologist, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Schools were closed and students began to absorb the art of distance learning, while teachers, God bless them, had a crash course in effectively teaching their students outside of the classroom setting.
Mask wearing became the new normal. Businesses began to suffer as more people self-quarantined as a precaution. Restaurants started to figure out how to stay alive by offering call-ahead, curbside pickup meals, and although it didn’t work for everyone, many Orange establishments are still open thanks to smart management practices and carefully following all the constantly changing rules handed down from the state.
Slowly, we began to emerge from our homes again. Locally, most people followed the rules and wore masks when they went out in public. I don’t recall seeing any arrest reports for obstinant violators, though, across the country there are some real “winners” out there.
I really enjoyed learning how to make really awesome triple layer masks for adults and kids and sharing them with those I care about. My design has a single loop that goes around the back of the head and won’t interfere with hearing aids or earpods. (They don’t slip down off your nose like the ear loop models often do either).
What saved me though, was the Hallmark Channel and its wonderful idea to run Christmas movies all summer long, and then carry new movies in the fall and winter. My late mom and I used to watch the Christmas in July movies together, and seeing some of the old ones from her last year with us brought me back to those days. I’d tell my granddaughter, “Gramma loved this one.” Thanks, Hallmark!
OH COVID
Even though we’re learning to cope with living in the disappointing world of COVID-19, we now have the added fear of several mutations invading the US — the UK variant is already here. The first case of the UK variant B.1.1.7 was discovered in Colorado, then California, and now, a young man in his 20s with no history of travel has it in Florida. This strain reportedly is more easily transmitted and little more is known at this early stage.
The vaccines are now available, but sadly, they are just not being distributed fast enough.
Around 2.6 million Americans have received their first dose, the C.D.C. said, far short of the goal of 20 million by the end of 2020.