My delay in writing this week was two fold: First, I was watching my daughter in Boston race at the HOC. Second, I was sick. Pretty sick. I’ve had the flu (which is bad sometimes) and I have had the stomach flu (which is bad at times), but this kind of cold and deep cough, was unusual for me and I worried.

I don’t want this blog to be about politics or religious beliefs but I do want to write about what worried me.

Allow me to back up a bit. For as long as I can remember (actually, as long as my kids could talk about s*** like this), they would often say, “You care more about other people (those in need) than you care about all of us.” Ok. A bit dramatic and not totally true. But, I get the sentiment and I often told them to put it on my headstone.

I do have a tendency to put those that I don’t know (but I worry about) in front of me. This is a good and not good thing because people like me don’t often take care of ourselves first (remember – on a plane, put your mask on before you put your kids’ masks on). 🙂 But, I digress.

When I started to have more serious cold symptoms, I first thought about everyone I had been around in the last few days – my daughter being one of them. I thought about the strangers I had been around at the HOC, when I bought apple cider, at dinner with family friends, the people on the plane at the airport, etc. If I had COVID, did I give it to anyone?

How is this not at the fore of everyone’s mind? It seems to me to be the best reason for getting vaccinated – to protect others. Of course, I do not want COVID. I don’t want to be in the hospital. I don’t want the “side effects.” But, I really don’t want to be responsible for getting someone else sick. Would I put myself at risk to avoid putting someone else at risk, yes. Thus, (in my lawyer terms) even if I thought the vaccine is “risky” (which it is not), I would still get it to protect others. It’s the same reason I got the flu shot – to protect my dad. It’s the same reason I don’t drink and drive.

Gratefully, I didn’t end up with COVID but it made me think about why I do certain things in life. I know not everyone cares about others the same way that I do — and that’s the nature of life. But for my purposes, I’m grateful that I got it from my mom and dad and (hopefully) my kids are following in my direction. Isn’t that the best a parent can ask for? 🙂

Be well everyone!

XOXO

Jessica