Exactly one year ago today, our local officials in Harris County instituted a countywide lockdown to help prevent the spread of COVID19. Across our country, everything came crashing to a halt. And the virus continued to spread.
We stopped being able to see our friends and families without a fear of catching or spreading the virus. We stopped being able to give each other hugs or shake each other's hands. We lost the ability to comfort each other face to face as loved ones died separated from us as they drew their last breath. Our children lost their ability to go to school and see their friends and families. Many lost their jobs, while others have heroically spent the last year risking their lives to provide us with medical care, educate our children, and provide the food and other basic necessities we all need to survive. We learned to deal with face masks and social distancing. Celebrations of births and birthdays, weddings and funerals, school lessons and business meetings all replaced by endless Zoom calls. And the virus continued to spread.
As days dragged into weeks and the weeks dragged into months, we time and again saw people blatantly and wantonly disregard not only their own safety, but the safety of us all. Feeding off of the depraved lies of certain public officials, too many made ignoring safety and health experts into a badge of twisted pride while others believed the whole thing was a hoax. Regardless of their reason, every one of those people put us all at risk. And the virus continued to spread.
534,000 people have died from COVID in the U.S. alone this last year. Every one of those people were more than a number in a database. They were people with hopes and dreams, with family and friends. And their loved ones have suffered a heartbreaking loss. Others lost their jobs and with it the means to support and provide for their loved ones. Even those of us fortunate enough to have not suffered the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job, lost the basic ability to connect with our fellow human beings.
One year later the world is a different place. With the creation and distribution of COVID vaccines, there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. This last year full of heartbreak and staggering loss has exposed some of our very worst impulses while also showing us the quiet heroism and nobility of caring about each other. We can never return to The Before Times, but we have to take the lessons from this plague year, both the good and the bad, and take this chance to make the world a better place going forward. That is the only way to cope with what we've all suffered and to honor the lives of those we've lost and the sacrifices of those who've fought to protect and provide for our safety and well-being this last year.
As we enter the second year of lockdowns and quarantines, of social distancing and mask wearing, take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and your communities. Grieve as you need to, mourn as you need to, and don't take the time we get to spend with each other for granted ever again. Stay safe, stay healthy, and know that we will get through this. And don't forget to love each other.