Vignette by Marilyn McAllister
Blind Bay, BC
Curious, the memories were always there, never changing. But somehow, with the appearance of ‘covid 19’ the memories have been expanded, or maybe just better understood…
The polio virus was around for many years before a vaccine was discovered in the fifties. It was a warm weather virus, which required schools to remain closed through September.
I remember my school being closed, the day I felt so sick that I came home from the playground and put myself to bed, and I remember the crowded, hectic hospital. Polio confined me in a hospital bed for a year, and defined my life for some time. It affected my life because there were things I could no longer do, and others I wasn’t allowed to do.
I remember the resentment I felt at being confined. But, as I grew much, much older, and a bit wiser, I began to appreciate what I was able to do. Gratitude then became a part of my experience. I guess one could say I developed an attitude of gratitude.
Curious how things go around and come around. I never thought that my life would be confined again by a virus. But here it is, the corona virus. And I have to say I am grateful that this time around I have some control over the situation. This time I know what to do to protect myself and others; social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing my hands with plain old soap and water. I know that we are all in this together caring for each other, and that’s how we’ll get through it.
Living through this corona virus I have had to look at those early memories with questions; why was I down in the playground when the schools were closed? Maybe my family didn’t take things as seriously as they could have. I’ll never know.
I heard an unusual cliché on the news the other day; “the hammer and the dance,” referring to how society deals with a pandemic. Although a slightly different image than the wave and trough it is equally appropriate. So, now the hammer is being lifted we’d better learn the dance.
Déjà Vu,
Copyright © Marilyn McAllister, 2020