The New

Our country was divided the year President Trump was elected, and most, if not all Americans, chose which side of the political aisle they preferred.

History seemed to repeat itself in the November, 2020 election. Now that it is history, I believed possibly the two sides would slowly merge, and division would be a thing of the past.

However, I soon realized there is a new divide in our land, utterly and distinctly apart from politics.

No, the new line of demarcation is whether or not you have already been a Covid victim.

The questions that arise within a short span of conversation, either vocally or digitally, are alike,

“Have you been tested? Are you now negative?”

Once the answer is affirmative, the questions begin. It is astounding the degree of concern, or perhaps the element of fear hoping for some reassurance that Covid survival might be possible.

The new division may not have the latent anger of the political divide, but what is worse is the communal fear that has saturated our country.

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers, or soothing phrases, because Covid defies description or analysis from the layperson or recent victim.

Every case has different symptoms, some vague, some more formidable.

Recent Covid patients cannot provide words to help those anxious about the possibility of infection because we still have many concerns.

It is a scenario that seems to invite more questions daily than answers. Kind and thoughtful friends have suggested I refrain from getting the vaccine. I listen with gratitude to their beliefs, and then get a phone call from my internist reminding me of my appointment at a local drive in.

I will make the decision and admit it will be heavily weighted on the advice of my concerned medical adviser. However, I am not without doubt or fear, and no way am I able to give advice to another.

Each infection appears different. Each exposure had different consequences. The phrase, “I don’t know how I got this?” is repeated so often it has become a mantra as I listen to the words again and again.

And while we may not have the vocal outcries of anger heard during the political divide,perhaps the quiet fear of the country is far more chilling. We are bonding once again in different camps; those who have tested positive and the others, who are anxiously waiting, fearful of that unwanted experience.

Now another lesson is to be learned about what is truly important.