COVID-19 Quarantine Day 131

I've thought, since getting back from vacation, about changing the subject lines of my blogs to stop having COVID-19 Quarantine in them.  I mean, businesses have reopened, people are going out again, and this may just be the new normal, and no longer be considered quarantine or the height of what we're facing.  But then I take a look at what I'm doing, how my life has changed, how the world has changed, and I feel like we're still right in the thick of it.  When we came back from vacation, we quarantined for almost 2 weeks to make sure we weren't sick before seeing friends and family again.  Quarantine.  We're still wearing masks if we have to go out and about, but we're limiting our outings as much as possible, trying to stay away from stores and unnecessary trips in public.  Quarantine.  Governor Kelly shut down schools before the last quarter of the year last year had even started.  Now, with a month still left in the summer vacation, she's asking the State BOE to push school start dates back statewide another 3 weeks until after Labor Day.  This allows us to see if we can flatten the curve before the fall semester starts, before kids get back into schools, if they get back into schools.  Quarantine.  Kansas is up over 23k cases state-wide.  Do you know what that makes me want to do?  Quarantine.  Do you know why?  Because I don't feel like I can trust the people in this state.  So many people think this is a hoax that will go away in November.  Many people think it's just the flu, and even if you do get it, you'll be fine.  I used to be one of those people.  But new information has come to light.  I've read accounts of people personally affected by COVID, who describe it as hell.  Some who say they wish they would have just died.  Because when you test negative again, it doesn't mean everything is over.  The long-term health effects can be felt months later.  And we don't know how long those effects will last because this virus has only been around for 8 months and while we know a few things, I still feel like it's only the tip of the iceberg.  So yeah, I think we're still in quarantine.  At least my family is.  Or maybe we're just being cautious and careful.  Maybe this is just what our lives will look like for the foreseeable future.  We're certainly living through a historic moment in the world.  And even if it means quarantining, and keeping our heads down when other, louder heads are up and shouting that I'm overreacting, I intend to be here when this is all over.  Maybe I'll say I was silly for keeping us home so much, for not going into businesses or restaurants, for restricting playdates and quarantining afterwards.  But the vulnerable people in my life are not worth the risk.