It seems like 2020 was the year of cancellations, bad news, and ugly media. Now, in 2021, I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t necessarily more of the same.
I mean, after all, there’s an “antidote” circulating now, right?
Forgive me if I sound naiive. I’m not. But with the arrival of vaccines, it just seems that we were destined to turn things around. That there was light at the end of the tunnel.
That there were things to start looking forward to again.
That was my thinking this year when I was putting significant dates into my calendar. One significant date was on January 17.
We’d purchased an “Intro to Kayaking” class for Christmas through REI for my daughter, and of course, I was going to go too. On January 17.
I wanted to learn how to kayak. I have visions of myself on the lake, maybe even at night, paddling along.
Unfortunately, like many things, the kayaking is now on hold. REI is sending us a refund because they cancelled the class.
So many things got cancelled in 2020, it was old news.
Somehow in 2021, it seems like it shouldn’t be more of the same. Or should it? What has really changed?
Not a lot. The world is still in the grips of this thing, with all the accompanying panic and fear pandemic propaganda can bring. So now I’m seeking silver linings. And bargaining. And telling myself this too, shall pass.
But just promise me one thing. OK, maybe two.
One: you won’t exercise by yourself outside in the middle of nowhere…wearing a mask.
Two: you won’t drive your personal vehicle, with no one else inside, wearing a mask.
I promise you, wearing a mask during those two moments of isolation will not help you. And neither will carrying that teddy bear you got when you were 5 years old. Comforting, maybe. But it’s not a silver crucifix pointed at a vampire. Or kryptonite at Superman. Wearing a mask does not mean you won’t get sick.
A mask is just a mask.
And I’m disappointed. Again. No kayaking this month, and maybe not this year.
Oh well.
But at least I won’t have the moral dilemma of wearing a mask on the water to calm down the anxious ones or not wearing a mask, for my own comfort.
No choice needs to be made.
Someone else has made it for me.
Crossing my fingers for a better season…someday soon.
The Bear View 
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