Dear Kids,
Today was supposed to be a great day for all of us. Today, the 3 of you were supposed to get your COVID vaccines. Unfortunately, a student tested positive in SBR’s class, so a bunch of kids had to quarantine for 10 days. SBR was one of them. This not only changed our plans for today, but also for the weekend.
Ima and I have been running a lot lately, and we were supposed to go to Philadelphia to run the 1/2 marathon there. But, thanks to SBR being quarantined, we had to cancel. Fortunately, the organizers were happy to push our registration to next year, so we’ll plan to run the 1/2 in Philly next November.
The other big change is that SBR didn’t get her first vaccine shot today. SBK and SBE both got theirs, and Ima and I were so proud of SBK…no tantrums, no running away, no calling the nurse mean names. She did voice her unhappiness with the situation, but in the end, she did what she had to do and didn’t fight. Let’s just hope she’s that good for the second shot!
But poor SBR; you’ve been talking about how you wanted to be first in line as soon as you were old enough to get the vaccine, and now, at the (hopefully) tail-end of this pandemic, you are quarantined and weren’t able to get the shot when you were supposed to. I know you also were upset that SBK and SBE got theirs before you. But the important thing is that the school is going to have a special clinic for you and the rest of your class who had to miss this one because of quarantine.
Slowly, but surely, we are moving forward. We’ll either get through this thing or we’ll learn to live with it. But, , I want you to remember how you all did what you needed to, not just for yourself, but for your family, your friends, your school, your community, your country, and your world. Although I’m worried about what this vaccine may do to you later in life or even to my grandchildren, I’m still convinced it was the right thing to do, and I’m proud of all of you for being strong and brave. As Mr. Spock said in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: “Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”
Love,
Aba.
