I know we're accused of being mean bastards and uncaring vultures, but I wish those who call us that would read articles like this one in the NY Times, (gifted, you can read it for free) and know that this virus is not a hoax, not a joke and certainly nothing to laugh at.
1 Million Deaths, 13 Last Messages
Ok, here's the gifted link:
It is stark, brutal and shows all too much what the statistics are about. It's not pretty.
I was able to read the article. Thank you for sharing it, Mary. Still can’t believe we’re at 1,000,000+ deaths and people think the pandemic’s over. 😔
Thanks Mary, I was able to read it on my phone. The rising death count (almost certainly an underestimate) is still something I have trouble wrapping my head around.
So sad. I live in the Midwest. We've gotten off pretty lightly, it seems. Enough so that many still don't take covid seriously. Even though I have friends in healthcare, it's still hard for me to take in the numbers. Part of it's that most of my circle has taken every possible precaution in the last 2 years, and no one I know personally has had serious illness. But people I know have had relatives hospitalized, including on ventilators and ecmo. I'm concerned that when autumn comes, everyone will be crowding back indoors with waning vax protection and overconfidence. Overconfidence based on our government's backing down and past experience of our rurals who've been somewhat shielded by people in population hubs vaxxing up. I'm a worrier, but it still feels to me that we're heading for disaster.
This brings me straight back to those early days (seems like a lifetime ago). That first (known) case in the US (yay, Massachusetts!) That first death. Then the numbers climbing from there. New York City. It can feel like PTSD remembering that....and believe me, neither I nor anyone I knew had COVID. But I remember watching the policy makers sit on their hands and do nothing. It was like watching a slow-moving train crash. And yeah, I can't even imagine having to die alone in a room. It turns out from reading this that those feelings are still right under the surface. :(
Was able to read it on my cell phone, Mary. I guess I haven’t maxed out my freebies there. Very sobering. Republicans failed Americans. That lady with lymphoma was straight up murdered by those assholes that refused to protect the vulnerable. I’d be so raging mad if this had happened to any of my people. We’ve been exceedingly lucky. Cautious, yes, but it only goes so far.
Wanted to read, wouldn’t let me without signing in.