I have (what is the right word?) traversed this pandemic to the best of my ability; I’ve tried to remain calm and reasonable in the face of constantly changing information and negotiated the multiple levels of risk like a gambler at the wheel of fortune. But my subconscious? That’s a whole other story…as I am having dreams that I have never had before.
In one dream, to my horror, I enter a large indoor gathering where I am the ONLY person wearing a mask. In another dream, I am the only one NOT wearing a mask and lost in a huge group of people. But the worst dream I have had so far is the one in which I reach out to grab someone`s hand as I watch them falling in front of me and as our hands touch, we both recoil in horror. Sound familiar? I think we are, each one of us, suffering from a pandemic anxiety that has seeped into our very bones. Who ever had dreams / nightmares about face masks prior to 2020? Or been horrified at the very idea of touching another person`s skin?
Therefore it was such a wonderful relief that, contrary to being told that my age group would be vaccinated in June, I had my first dose of vaccine last Wednesday, March 24. Now, no matter how bad the numbers become in this province, somehow I am feeling that things will eventually, over time, be all right and I am so grateful to live in a country that not only tries to do the right thing but also has the means to do it. This pandemic is a world changing event; I only hope we learn the right lessons from it. It is, as an Indigenous Elder said, a message from our planet and we would be wise to heed it and take action. It’s a call to arms, both in the sense of vaccines, and to the belief that we, collectively, must do better.
Happy Passover!
Happy Passover,
Like you I am hopeful.
Susan