We have been over two years now at the mercy of the pandemic. Supply chain disruption notices come in daily along with rampant inflation. These are not all a result of the pandemic alone but have been exacerbated by severe flooding in our area and global staffing shortages. Backlogged parcels are still coming in that were shipped in December. Unlikely missing items create unusual empty spaces on grocery shelves. Nothing urgent really. But noticeable.
Our behaviours have adjusted to continual changes in expectations. I am asked to show my vaccination passport to be able to accompany and assist David with the process for his contrast imaging MRI of his heart. We answer a long list of question to confirm we are both healthy and to the best of our knowledge have not been exposed to anyone with Covid-19 during the past ten days. We are handed new masks to put on even though the ones we are already wearing were fresh when we left the car. We say nothing about how squeaky clean they are and quietly make the change knowing that we will discard the hospital masks at exit and clean our hands to hopefully leave anything we were exposed to behind.
The hospital staff are patient, pleasant and measured in their exchanges. We do our best to make things as easy and seamless as possible for them knowing that it has been a long hard couple of years for them as well.
When we leave, we head straight to the ferry and secure a ticket for the first boat home. We get a light late lunch and hot drinks while we wait. The cafeteria has oddly opened up indoor seating again and there is no longer a one way flow of customers.
I always bring a down quilt and our pillows in the car for winter travel and our books all year around. The windows steam up but we are cozy.