Exactly one year ago I was camping up here in the worst of the pandemic 🏕

Laying back in the hammock, listening to the news and some podcasts. One of the stories I was listening to was Radiolab which discussing who should get ventilators in the midst of shortages, back when doctors thought the best way to help with severe cases was to hook folks up to ventilators. How fast things change, although the bodies keep adding up.

At least with the elderly folk and liberals at that point were mostly homebound, as heard on North Country Public Radio where many people had not left their homes in weeks. Many thought even going outside was a grave threat to go outside, much less take a walk. Maybe for some that was very good advice. I know I avoided any public places except for a quick weekly shop at Aldi’s or other small supermarket. I would actually buy two gallons of milk at a time to minimize shopping trips. And we can all remember that you couldn’t find nearly any toilet paper and the grocery store can aisle looked like it had been picked over by a mob. Always maintain social distancing on the trail and eventually a bandana for a mask.

Fast forward a year and I’m back at the same campsite. By Wednesday of this week I will be fully vaccinated from COVID-19. Campsite is about the same although now I don’t have to worry about telling people I went up camping in the wilderness, lest I risk the wrath of the stay home, stay safe folk. While social distancing was necessary some folks with their moralizing were just obnoxious. Social distancing and later wearing a mask became a badge of honor for some.

I’m glad to be back home in the Adirondacks again. The more things change, the more they stay the same is the old meme. While I have nothing but disdain for some of the politics of COVID-19, we all had to live through it and it’s now mostly in the rear view mirror. Life is slowly getting back to normal, and maybe some of the changes are better for all of us. We will miss the many lost in the past year but it could have been a lot worse.