By Nanci Dixon
Do you want the bad news or the good news first? Let’s start with the bad news to get it out of the way. We can all agree that this year has been difficult … hard … and for some of us, horrible. It has been almost a year since we first started hearing about a strange disease related to SARS in China. We knew it would never reach our shores. But reach us it did and here we are. We all know the beginning of the story, but we don’t know the ending yet. There is no looking ahead in these tattered chapters.
Current unemployment is only outdistanced by the Great Depression, the country is cracking with division, PPE is in short supply, death is still claiming the elderly/the young/entire families. Folks aren’t wearing masks and young people just cannot find it in their hearts to social distance.
And to top it off, RV sales are through the roof, making camping spots few and at a premium. RV service bays are full.
But there is good news! Campgrounds are still open and with a lot of luck and tenacious searching campsites can be found. People are traveling. Campfires are blazing (where allowed) and marshmallows are roasting. Families are reuniting safely around those campfires with masks but without hugs. RV items and even RV toilet paper are available, just not necessarily the brand or price or delivery date wanted.
A few jobs are slowly returning. Drive-thrus are open. Pizza and groceries can be dropped off at the door.
People have found a new way to give and support others: The 7 p.m. nightly applause for health care workers in New York. The kids selling lemonade to donate money. The crane operator that lifts a daughter to see her mother through a window at a nursing home. Whole families sewing face masks to donate. The newlyweds that donated their reception dinner to a shelter. There are countless people giving in small and big ways.
It is a new world. It may never go back to the way it was. I have had to wrestle with the very possibility of death from this virus. I have had to consider what is important, what matters, who matters. Each day I have such gratitude.
My husband, my children, my grandchildren, sisters, nieces and nephews are healthy. We can sit around a campfire together, join at the table. We have enough, I can look away from the ups and downs of the stock market and still have food on the picnic table. I rise to see the sunrise and I am blessed to pause and watch yet another sunset. That is the good news.
##RVT963
Ah.. another Covid discussion to brighten everyone’s day. Have fun arguing.
Thank you Nanci for a great artical, but some of the comments make me want to pack it in after 45 years of owning an RV. It is just so difficult to deal with the complete disrespect of the no masker types in this world today. Thankfully as you pointed out they are the minority but not as small as we once thought!
It’s not disrespect, it’s understanding the danger of where this is all leading.
I’ll ask you 2 simple questions:
1. Why weren’t you wearing a mask before covid?
2. When will all this mask wearing finally start to work?
Because it’s not about facts, it’s about politics and control.
Simple mathematics tell us the more we test the more positive cases will show up, not necessarily in relation to hospitalization, which is the main factor number. But they don’t tell you that. Also the Wuhan virus molecule measures 60 to 120Nm its called a complex molecule. A N95 mask will allow approximately 20% of the Wuhan virus through. And that’s only if you pass a proper fit test. Paper surgical mask or cloth mask will allow approximately 90 to 100% of the Wuhan virus through. Again just looking at facts.
And if masks worked, why haven’t we opened up the country and mandate masks? If social distance works, why do we have to wear masks? The answer is because it’s not about the Wuhan virus, it’s about politics.
With people like you you’re right, the world will never be normal again.
Did you wear a mask and social distance a year ago? 2yrs, 5, 10?
No? Why not? There have always been all kinds of transferable illnesses all over surfaces, in the air etc.
The big thing I enjoy about RV’ing is in most parks everyone IS normal, I hardly ever see masks and it’s not till I leave and stop at a store that I’m reminded the world’s lost it’s mind.
Agreed
I disagree with you on many levels, but you are entitled to your opinion, just wish you did not feel a need to share your anger and negativity on this forum.
@Bill The only right thing you said is that he is entitled to his opinion. He displayed zero anger and negativity is in the eyes of the beholder but wow, you seem to be the one with an anger issue lol
It’s only anger and negativity because you disagree.
Explain how causing people to lose their jobs and handing over terrifying power to world leaders is going to lead to positive things?
I’m not angry, I’m deeply disturbed by the fact that I’m suddenly living in a Twilight Zone episode.
You need to learn the difference between anger and negativity with opinion.
And I guess that my son is lying about the number of COVID-19 cases that his department at a San Diego hospital is treating?
Quit complaining and trying to make this pandemic normal. It’s not. Most places that we go to in Florida, a mask is worn, by requirement in public spaces and OUT OF RESPECT for others. Please stop being selfish.
Maybe not on purpose but the test have been shown over and over to be very inaccurate and yes many Drs have come forward saying they were told to lie.
Sadly too, this whole issue has become political and people will def lie to promote their political biases.
I live in Florida too, on the Gulf coast, hardly anybody wears masks around here. If you wanna wear a mask go ahead. But for those of us that know masks do little to no good it’s not about respect it’s about common sense. Me wearing a mask does not protect you, you wearing a mask will protect you, if it is a properly fit tested and a N95 mask, that way you will only be allowing 20% or slightly more of the Wuhan virus molecule through. Paper surgical masks and cloth masks allow 99 to 100% of the Wuhan virus through based on the size of the Wuhan virus molecule which is 62 to 128NM. It’s not an opinion it is simple facts looking at the numbers and the filtering specs of the masks.
Agree
I am old enough to remember polio vaccines on a sugar cube; my first grade friend was not lucky enough to be born before she was stricken. I remember when No Smoking laws were enacted. Folks hated those too. Those laws were not to save smokers…they were to save the unfortunate placed in their path. My dad drove a cab and died from others’ secondhand smoke. Masks are not to save you…they are to save others from you. If only.
If that’s true why weren’t you masking before?
Most people’s masks are useless or they don’t even wear them properly. A beard will nullify them, many still leave their noses, eyes, sores, cuts exposed.
Your father could’ve forbidden smoking in his cab, any private business can forbid smoking.
Do you know all this handwashing rubs off the outer layer off your skin which protects you from many germs, viruses, etc – all as you use hand sanitizers with heavy toxins that can cause cancer, far more dangerous than 2nd hand smoke.
Not to belabor the lack of availability at my favorite spot or the amount of newbies on the road.
1-This year I have visited campgrounds/areas that wouldn’t have normally considered. I have met some GENUINELY nice families that own and operate local campgrounds.
2-I have had the opportunity to impart some of my wisdom on some of the newbies (we were all there once).
Not everything has been bad about the pandemic.
Thanks for your great attitude.