Thoughts on the Coronavirus: Year One

Posted by sasha on 20 March 2021

On March 11th, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) a global pandemic. I would consider COVID-19 the greatest global disruption since the Second World War. It's been over a year since it was declared a pandemic, and in that time events have been canceled, plans changed, the global economy shredded. The world is a very different place compared to the end of 2019. The coronavirus has brought both myself, my family, my friends and everyone I know and don't know much stress, heartache and trauma, both physical and emotional.

At the time I was living with my (then) fiancée and her immediate family. What I didn't know is how much would change in a span of a year, let alone a week. By the end of March my engagement to Emily was history, I had my own place and independence, I had plans to move to Albany and the future seemed bright. Barely two weeks later face masks became a thing. I've known people who have contracted COVID, people tested to ensure they didn't had it, people who died from it (either former coworkers or friends of friends).

The plans didn't quite pan out. I didn't realize that running from problems would only create new problems. I had made a family among my coworkers and friends in the Southern Tier. I embraced the warm glow of the Buffalo Bills community in the Southern Tier, with Buffalo no more than a three-hour drive. Leaving Elmira would be harder than I thought.

As much as I'm in a rush, I'm also not in a rush to leave. My life in Elmira is stable. I have a job which at the worst I tolerate and at best really enjoy. I know people from before the move (and B.E.*) who live here (those two people can raise their hands as they feel appropriate!).

*B.E: Before Emily, think B.C.E.

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