Over a week ago, my family and I traveled to Phoenix, AZ for my scheduled surgeries. I had titanium rods removed from my chest finally after three years and they were able to fix my slipping rib issue. I have been living in pain for years now, and so that chapter of my life is almost over and it's almost time for the next one to begin. The surgeries went great and it was just an overnight stay at the hospital. Since Phoenix, AZ is known as a hotspot my parents, especially my mom were very afraid of this China Virus and forced us all to wear masks and take precautions. After avoiding wearing a mask this entire time I finally was forced to wear one. To enter the hospital, enter hotels, to go to the freaking bathroom, etc... and masks suck no matter what some say. It's hard to breathe.
Their fear has been very frustrating. My brother and I and them don't see eye to eye on this virus. They rather live in fear and my brother and I understand the facts of this virus and how it's been overhyped. All throughout my mom had a bunch of anxiety over this whole trip and it certainly made things frustrating. But nothing more frustrating than our last night at a hotel.
I was recovering from surgery so I needed a walk. So, we walked to go get food at a ’ Black Bear Diner’ near our hotel. With faggot masks on waiting for our food-to-go order. All throughout our wait for dinner, my mom had so much anxiety and ranted about how ”idiots” are going inside the diner to eat with no masks on and all of that Karen like behavior. But then my dad mentioned something that really pissed me off inside. He said something like ” I don't know how we can ever get back to normal and talking about our ”new normal” wearing masks.” those aren't the exact words not even close but that's basically what he was saying.
Really? Imagine thinking of a world where we wear masks forever. Wear we stay apart forever. Stay in fear forever. How is that living? How is that sustainable? Not to mention for a virus with a low death rate and high recovery rate. This is not a world I want to live in. This is not America. So, I found myself just staring at the American flag that hung on a pole next to the hotel flag. What my father said that night and what my nurse even mentioned a few days earlier is complete nonsense. Their ”new normal” is not living at all.
Our world has survived for generations without masks, without distancing, without vote-by-mail. Why change now? We're at home safe. I'm just resting and recovering from my surgery and none of us got the Kung Flu. So, when Dr. Birx tells us if we go in a hotspot to automatically assume we have the virus I think it's safe to say what utter crap that is. We traveled 20 hours through Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and 20 hours back and we didn't come down with it. Yes, we took precautions and stayed away from people and all that but if it was so dangerous and so contagious I think it'd find a way to infect us. 🤷♂️
I could've swore I just heard an ad on TV say something to the effect of "there will never be a 'back to normal', but..." and I didn't hear the rest because I was like Ummmmm, excuse me?
Not gonna lie, if this shit keeps up I'll just sell my house, take what supplies I can carry and fuck off into a national forest. I'm not going to live under this insanity lol.
I was just telling my family I think everyone is being trolled.
Come to Connecticut, people are straight up fucking brainwashed here.
For years I've wanted to buy a pickup, a truck camper and fuck off to the edge of civilization. Now I really wish I had to say the least.
That'd be nice!
I don't blame you. Geez.
It's all a bunch of dumb bullshit. Never have I felt more like I was part of the group in Brave New World who decided not to partake in the new world order and I've been banished to the archaic island.
Don't get me wrong, I'd choose the island. It's just sad seeing all the people around you, even people you've known forever, reveal their inner NPC.
I had someone I talk to a lot at work where she knows I'm not into masks and I told her I don't wear them because it's not right to follow an order that's a lie - and it's a lie because even the most articulate pro-mask argument falls apart when you accept that 95% of the masks people wear are either literally or basically bandanas. So it's just symbolic virtue signaling compliance.
And her first reaction was that I don't do it because I'm a narcissist and I want to look cool.
It was sad to see how someone defers to the literal propaganda that the media marks the "other" as...This person knows me pretty well too. And it was just such a dehumanizing way to think about it - "all people who fight masks are doing it because they're narcissistic ego maniacs." What an easy way to totally throw out any critical thought or debate.
Just sad to see how many ppl are under the propaganda spell.
Yeah, I fully understand. It's all just a load of crap. And it's frustrating that so many including my family have bought into this lie.
The new normal is whatever you make it, don't want to wear a mask?, don't. If someone gives you crap about not wearing one, tell them to go home and don't come out until it's all clear.
The problem is I'm still living at home. So, I may be 20 but I have to abide by their rules. It's a long story. Now, it's time for a new chapter in my life once I heal.
Don’t be upset with your parents over it, you need to love and honor them. This to shall pass. The fear and hype will fade away and people will move on, even them.
I still love them. That would never change. It's just frustrating. And I'm still living at home so it can be challenging. They're living in fear and this new chapter of my life I'm done with it.
this is it man, too many people complied, it's too late now. Our normal will be bacteria ridden masks, viruses, vaccines, distancing, all of the above forever
That's no way to live. It's horrible.
Thanks for the link! However, it's no use. They just don't care and they won't watch it.
Nothing to do with your point, but I love Black Bear Diner!! I'm from AZ. Now I miss it 😢 In Texas now
Are there no Black Bear Diners in Texas? Bummer. I used to live in Arizona and I've tried that place once before. My first experience with Chicken and Waffles. Pretty good!
This time our food came back cold and it wasn't so good. It was when we were in Idaho.
This will be over after the election. Relax and don’t lose hope. I have been traveling and enjoying myself this entire pandemic. I am currently at a resort. Beach is like always, everyone is enjoying the pools, hot tubs, lazy rivers, no one is masked. No one is at all concerned about the virus. Things will get back to normal. They already are in many areas. I’ve flown. I’ve road tripped. I am getting a kick out of the absurdity of it all. In one hotel, you could go to continental breakfast, but you had to sit down and a person would bring you all the food. At another (same hotel chain, btw) they took out all the tables and chairs. You had to get your own food and immediately leave the area. They were the exact opposite! So I find these things kind of amusing. Several hotels have closed their pools. Yet here I am at a resort and have been swimming over a week! I think some places just don’t want to bother with the extra work. Try to find the humor in the inconsistency. I tell my boys to see the silver lining in everything. Covid made air travel much less crowded. My son was able to spend more time studying for the LSAT. We have had more time together as a family. Remember, sometimes things aren’t happening TO you, but FOR you.
I'm glad you're enjoying your time! That's great to hear. It can get depressing and frustrating. Yes, the inconsistencies are hilarious! One hotel on our trip was just a bagged breakfast with just a plain bagel or a muffin, cream cheese, an orange, and a tiny water bottle. The other hotel you could sit at a table that was distanced but they'd serve you your food. My mom didn't want to do that one out of fear so we just ate a bear claw from the previous nights ’ Black Bear Diner’ dinner.🙄
Amen! It's NOT my new normal. I'm gonna have surgery in a week. I'm 57, so I'm a grown-up but I want my mother with me. But no, I have to go in wearing a mask and no one can go in with me. I know I'm grown, but gee, I want my mommy. The surgery will be about two and a half hours. I don't want to awaken alone and disoriented. She and I see each other and spend hours living with no masks, but she'll be somewhere not in the hospital, so if something bad happens she can just get a call and have to drive back to make arrangements. But my favorite phrase is 'In these uncertain times.' oh, I'm very certain that this is not nor will it ever be my new normal. Mask bullies can suck it.
Good luck with your surgery I've been through three at my young age so I know how you feel. My parents and my brother came along with me. I'm 20 and still living at home, and so I wasn't paying for the surgery. We had to go to the Phoenix Children's Hospital as I had my previous surgeries there and the surgeon who put those titanium rods in my chest wanted to be the one to take them out. I was allowed a parent. Only 1 at a time. Ridiculous.
We were required to wear masks until we got into a room pre-surgery. Only when a nurse or surgeon wasn't present may we take off our masks. Thankfully, after surgery, I wasn't required to wear a mask inside my Hospital room as I was tested before I did the surgery. But my parents had to wear a mask every time a nurse or surgeon entered the room. My parents switched off. My mom was with me during surgery and a little after and my dad stayed with me overnight.
But the Hospital made my dad wait for a long time just so he can bring me dinner and see me. Because my mom was my original plus one. Like geez, they're paying for it it's their right to see me. I gave them permission. So, besides that the experience was great and the Children's Hospital is fantastic.
Thanks for the well wishes. Sounds like you guys were troopers. God bless us all!!!!
Good luck with the recovery. I had a titanium chest plate put in last year after a few attempts to fix a pectus excavatum issue. so i know how that rib pain feels. Hang in there!
Thank you! It's been over a week now. I'm resting at home. It's nothing compared to my other two surgeries though. It's bearable but recovery is a process. My first surgery I had was when I was 14 or 15. It was a major Spinal Fusion Surgery for Scoliosis and then when I was 17 I had the Ness Procedure done which was for Pectus Excavatum. Another major surgery. I have Titanium rods in my back for life. And the Titanium rods they put in my chest I could have removed in three years.
And so I finally got them removed! But they also did two surgeries in one because I was also dealing with a slipping rib issue. So, yeah, I've been living in pain for quite a long time and so this is nothing I can't handle. Once I heal this chapter of my life ends and another begins. I hope you recovered nicely as well! I never here about Pectus Excavatum so that's really cool that you were dealing with the same thing. The recovery was rough and these many years were painful and debilitating but hopefully, it's all in the past and I can move forward. I am limited in some things I can do because of my back rods, but that's life.
Wow, you are young to go through all that. I was 30 when I had my first surgery and I'm 33 now. They did the Ness Procedure first, then those two bars slipped out of place so they went in with a curved bar under all my ribs, that could come out in a year or so, and a titanium chest plate on top drilled into all my ribs.
Glad to hear the recovery is going well. Keep your head up, i know how debilitating the pain can be.