I'm Tired

I'm tired...

I'm tired of hearing that we don't need masks because COVID is over (it's not)

I'm tired of hearing that COVID is now just like getting the flu (yes, people have been saying this since spring of 2020... who is saying it has changed but the fact that it's not hasn't changed significantly... there are things we can do now for some people but not for everybody ... including those of us who are fully vaccinated and on medication that prevents us from taking PAXLOVID ... and not for every outcome... such as so many of the Long Covid issues, including organ damage, brain fog, chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms)

I'm tired of hearing that masks are a significant burden (seriously? If I can wear one and put up with you being an ignorant jerk, you can wear one and put up with my caring about your health)

I'm tired of people not at all understanding precautions... yes, you can have a picnic in the field where we're performing... we're just asking that if you're going to be near us (ie, in a crowd watching the performance) that you mask.

I'm tired of people mistaking not testing for there's less spread (newsflash, even if you don't get x-rayed, if I break your arm, your arm is still broken)

I'm tired of hearing "but if this is just the conditions we have to live in going forward, are we expected to always take these precautions?" (yes... oh and by the way global climate change means we should shift the way we generate energy and deal with transportation and change our infrastructure... and 9/11 happened so we have security theater at airports... and the American Revolution happened so we don't send taxes to the UK... and we wear things on our feet when we enter businesses... and we have requirements for our cars that need testing every year to continue driving them... facts on the ground change, we learn new information, we adapt)

I'm tired of fighting for the privilege to provide my services for free in a way that I will be safe. (nothing says "thank you" like telling me I'm not worthy of, you know, existing)

I'm tired of knowing that nothing I say will change the minds of those that care about me (or those that say they do) and help them understand that it's still dangerous, not only to me but to them too (and yeah, I know this post won't change your mind. it's not for you, it's for me).

I'm tired of understanding that this is indeed the rest of my life... none of this will change, the spread will continue to stay at high levels with waves but where the valleys will never get to low spread, I will never go to a movie again (benefit/risk analysis is a thing), I will always have to watch what I eat (sure, covid has no impact on this but being diabetic sucks in some ways), I will forever be fighting for inclusion or will just have to drop participation, and you will never understand why my soul aches.

I'm tired