Are you as COVID-19 fatigued as we are? Are you tired of thinking about it, hearing about it, worrying about it? We certainly are.

To think it’s been almost two years since news of COVID first came onto the scene. Two years!

I don’t think most of us then thought we’d still be in the throes of the Coronavirus almost two years later. While tired of it, the entire experience has had its pros and cons.

In 2020, we were transitioning to becoming empty-nesters. The youngest child was graduating from high school and about to fly the coop. Like most mothers, Kathleen was struggling with her changing role from full-time mom to where-did-everybody-go mom.

Then came COVID, and stay-at-home orders. Suddenly, all the kids were home again. Out came the board games, meals around the dinner table resumed, and do-it-yourself projects became family affairs. Kids were on the swing-set and trampoline again. This continued for the better part of a year. It was nice. It was really nice. It was like receiving a gift of time, which as we’ve aged, has become the most precious gift.

For us, COVID re-emphasized the importance of family. We will always treasure that aspect.

But COVID also brought polarization and divisiveness throughout the world and within our communities. That polarization and divisiveness lingers today.

To mask, or not to mask?

To vaccinate, or not to vaccinate?

To socially distance, or not to socially distance?

Suddenly, the mantra of “You do you and I’ll do me” completely evaporated.

Now, local governments began encouraging neighbors to report neighbors if they thought too many people were congregated in a home, a yard or at the park.

“See something, say something” was no longer simply an NYC subway catch-phrase, it was a call to action among friends and neighbors.

It went too far.

It divided neighborhoods.

It pitted neighbor against neighbor.

It not only created, but it fostered, distrust among one another.

It has been one of the saddest parts of COVID-19. And it seems to be the most difficult part to move past.

In our opinion, it is exactly what caused such a divide regarding the mask and vaccination issue.

We labeled people as bad or evil for having differing opinions.

We lost our compassion.

It opened a Pandora’s Box of ugliness.

And that’s what we are most tired of: the ugliness and lack of compassion.

Our household is fully vaccinated. We are vaccinated because we chose to be. One of our children is a Type-1 Diabetic. We also have a family genetic history of autoimmune disease. For these reasons, we chose to be vaccinated.

It is our opinion that whether someone is vaccinated or not should ALWAYS be their personal choice and decision. ALWAYS. We do not support nor do we advocate for vaccinations to be mandatory.

We reject the argument that vaccines are similar to or comparable to seatbelt laws, helmet laws or speed limits. None of those other examples require a person to inject a substance into their body.

Not everyone can eat a peanut. Not everyone can eat gluten. Not everyone can take penicillin.

We each have a unique genetic composition. We react differently to foods, medicines and other substances. To think that some might have an adverse reaction to a vaccine isn’t a conspiracy theory, it’s common sense. We support your right to choose without explanation to us or to anyone.

It’s past time for us to remember that we’re all having this human experience together, and to stop assuming we know or understand what’s going on behind our neighbor’s front door. It’s time to stop judging one another. It’s time to act neighborly again.