So... my mom has decided not to get the vaccine. At least right now. I was so disappointed and felt like a failure- how could I not save her from misinformation? but I've come to accept that I can't decide for anyone. I saw other bloggers talking about it this week and I guess I'm not alone. It's very disheartening though. Is anyone else having this problem with family?
In other news we went out to eat for the first time in a year the other night- we've had lots of takeout, of course, but this time we went out to a restaurant.
This week I have a night walk from a hot springs town. I also shared Dystopia playlist #7.
I'm liking the idea of sharing a tweet occasionally to generate discussion. This tweet and the comments. Many are saying we missed an opportunity to reset our society- for example, so many people said teleworking couldn't be done- and yet we discovered otherwise. Who wants to commute?
Suddenly, today, I panicked about life inching back toward “normal.”
— Emily Ramshaw (@eramshaw) March 6, 2021
I don’t want to travel endlessly for work. I don’t want my weekends to be over-committed with activities. I don’t want to miss bedtime with my kid. I don’t want to wear blazers — or, hell, even shoes.
Song of the week
PULP COVER OF THE WEEK:
BOOKISH LINKS
I shared this last week but honestly wanted to again- this is so cool to just leave on in the background and watch the planets roll by.
I don't consider myself an extrovert by any means, and to me the idea of being able to work from home seems like heaven. That said, I think human beings need some form of routine in their lives to lead healthy, dignified, fulfilling lives. I went to the grocery store the other day where I saw no less than 5 people shopping in their pajamas in the middle of the day, lol. That would never have happened before in my little white-collared town before the pandemic. While I think we can implement some good changes, I don't think we can allow ourselves to get too complacent.
ReplyDeleteI have had people who have said they not taking and midway changed their minds, but I do have one cousin who was very hesitant and I did not want to push anymore! So much of stories, rumours go around that some do feel there is truth in them. Cant help them all. But it is very troubling.
ReplyDeleteI can understand people being unsure or scared when it comes to Covid vaccines, since they're still in embryo, so to speak. I mean, all the others we're having have been around for decades...(...and still some people refuse to have them, but well 🙄). And there is the occasional collateral effect that CAN go overboard. But we aren't coming out of this hellhole without vaccines...I hope your mom will change her mind eventually.
ReplyDeleteI love your tweet-prompt idea! I sometimes wish I could work from home, except...heck, it's a reason for dressing up, making up (at least the eyes now LOL) and go out of the house. I'll probably end up covering the distance from one room to the other in my swivel chair without it LOL.
I mean, "I'd probably"...etc.
DeleteMy parents have decided to postpone vaccination too. Their reasons being: (1) taking vaccine doesn't mean you can avoid all the safety precautions, there's still a 20% risk; (2) they would rather avoid the initial rush because rush means crowding and crowding means infection; and (3) others would be taking the vaccine anyways, so the overall risk anyways goes down by a bit... 😂 I'm going to let them take it slow, and cajole them in the meantime with success stories.
ReplyDelete~ Lex (lexlingua.co)
P.S. Love the spaceship ambience and the ASMR videos. Thanks!
I'm so sorry to hear that your mum isn't getting it. Luckily my dad agreed with me that it was vital to our health to get it. We get the flu jag every winter and it has reduced the terrible infections I'd be plagued with all winter, year after year. I hope she changes her mind, especially considering your own experience with it. My uncle died of Covid so I know what it can do to people.
ReplyDeleteI know that my parents are EXTREMELY conservative and lots of people against the vaccine fall into that category. Luckily they are very much on board with the vaccine and have been fully vaccinated, but I feel your frustration with that generation and trying to understand their beliefs and thought processes.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing against the vaccine, I'm just terrified of needles. Like, paralyzing fear of needles. If our little town ever gets the one-shot J&J vaccine I might be able to man up enough to go get one.
ReplyDeleteAs for the 93-yo, she needs the shot to come to her because there's no way I can get her in the car and down to the pharmacy and there's no way she can sit in a chair for the required 30 minutes or whatever it is and then get back in the car and go home.
Luckily, she doesn't go anywhere and I only go to the store once a week and I'm always masked up.
Very, very grateful that our company is 100% work from home, even after everything opens back up. We were at 80% before COVID and during COVID they decided to just get rid of our brick & mortar office permanently. Don't need it.
It's hard to argue with your mom, huh? I'm lucky in that everyone in my family is eager and willing to get vaccinated. My sisters got their first shots this week, and my mom has already had both of her shots. (Which was a huge relief to me!) I have a couple of co-workers though who aren't going to get vaccinated. I don't know why they don't want to help end the pandemic sooner rather than later. It's frustrating. Mostly, we just don't talk about it any more.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your mom! Hopefully she'll come around. I know others as well who are reluctant to get vaccinated, but I hope people look at the facts and realize that these vaccines were created by skilled scientists who know what they're doing. I can't help but think that being in the time of social media also doesn't help with the misinformation.
ReplyDeleteThat is really frustrating. As if the death toll isn't enough of a reminder how important it is to get vaccinated. Ugh. I feel for you, Greg.
ReplyDeleteI am curious about success rates with work from home. My company has had as many people out of the office as possible since last March. They made it work. Just not sure if productivity was affected. I am curious. I hope when we go back, we only have to be in the office sometimes, instead of all the time. Never know. My family is gung-ho on the vaccine. My dad, sister, brother-in-law, and niece's boyfriend are all vaccinated. My mom is in the J&J trial and wants to stick it out. Most people I know want it or got it. There can be complications with any vaccines (even the flu shot), and it's not 100% effective, BUT the pros outweigh the cons, if you ask me. I wish I had a Cracker Barrel nearby. I love their breakfast menu. Your daughter chose well.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I think the only reason my grandmother got hers (she's in an assisted living facility and it was pretty much required) is because she thinks it was a flu shot. We can't really get her to understand what is going on and the seriousness. I probably wouldn't be in such a rush to get vaccinated if Will wasn't sick. I'd get it but since it's pretty easy for me to stay home I'd probably wait for the rush to pass and let those who do have to go to work go ahead of me. My husband is working for home for the foreseeable future. Every once in awhile there are mentions of them going back to the office but that gets pushed back. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteMaybe your mom will change her mind once more people are vaccinated. I worry a little because I feel like it was developed so fast, but if millions of people are getting it and they're ok, then I think I will be, too.
ReplyDeleteI started a new job just as everything was shutting down, so I've never actually worked in the office. My job was eventually going to be part-time at home anyway, so this just sped that up. I do feel like I have a way better work-life balance now, and I get to spend way more time with my husband than I did before. I do like this more slower-paced life we've been living for the past year, but I miss things like traveling or just being able to go places without having to think about it too much.
I am so sorry about your mom. And for everyone whose families are dealing with this. My parents were practically fighting over who got the first appointment, and I truly don't know how I would handle that.
ReplyDeleteThat tweet is so true honestly. And like- okay, maybe it wouldn't be ideal for everyone to stay in pajamas forever, but we NEED to discuss how messed up the work-life balance is. And maybe, we should fix the fact that people aren't paid enough to live, and maybe workers would be more productive if they weren't completely demoralized.
Also, true story, I haven't been in non-grocery store public since like, Unity Days, and I don't think I'd know what to do at a restaurant at this point. 😂
That's great you ventured out again to a restaurant. I'm still hesitant in going. I feel better sitting outside and eating on the restaurant's patio than being inside. But that's just me.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'd love to read that Luck for a Lady book. I'm a sucker for pulp covers like that. I'm going to see if I can find it at my library. Thanks for posting these gems!
My dad got the one-dose vaccine on Thursday, and he's now under the impression that he's invisible from catching the virus. He's looking for any excuse to stop wearing a mask, which he hates to wear.
ReplyDeleteMy dad so far is set against the vaccine, not because he doesn't want it per se, but because it's so new and he wants to see if there are any side effects. Unfortunately there have been reports of a batch of vaccines that was pulled from the market because of negative side effects here in Italy, so I get it.
ReplyDeleteAs for remote working... I've been fortunate enough that I've done that for the past 2 years already, so it's not something that's totally new for me. I've worked both in an office and from home and I can say this: if the choice is between staying in traffic at least 2 hours a day to go to work, and having the chance to spend those 2 hours doing something else, I'll always choose the second one. I miss working with people and knowing that home means the place where I sit back, kick my feet up, and don't think about work, but again...2 hours a day are spared from a pointless activity lol
Hopefully we'll be allowed to choose between working from home and in an office once the pandemic is over, and everyone can do whatever they want as long as they get their jobs done :D Have a fantastic week :)
Greg, I am very sorry to hear your mum has decided not to get the vaccination and that you feel like a failure - It really isn't you fault because at the end of the day we do have to let people make decisions like this for themselves. All my grandparents have had their jab and my parents will be having them soon too. Actually I will be having my first one on Tuesday, as I work with vulnerable children. Take care, be kind to yourself and happy reading. 🙂
ReplyDeleteMy one rePublican cousin on Facebook paused her account when the presidential campaigning started and she realized all of the rest of the family (except for her brother whom I have blocked) was stumping for Bernie. Ha ha. She hasn't come back on yet. Both of her daughters are nurses, so I'm hoping she is going to get the vaccine, but you never know...
ReplyDeleteI bought the first Green Star book. 😊
Have a wonderful new week. 🌞
My parents only want to get the jab when it is from Biontech and when it is administered by their doctor. So, yes, I can relate to your feelings and thoughts. I would be happy if I could get the jab right now but will have to wait until August/September. Germany is having a pretty heated discussion about the vaccine delivery or better said, the delivery that will not happening and how to deal with those who are already had their jabs because our government has no longer a reason to deny all those their constitutional rights of free movement and free travel etc. So, yes, I envy you from the bottom of my heart that you were able to go to a restaurant and actually sit there. Even if it is only outside dining. I hope you enjoyed it and am glad that you actually could be in a restaurant. Happy reading and stay safe and well.
ReplyDeleteHi Greg,
ReplyDeleteI had a very interesting discussion with one of my friends regarding the vaccine and the different age groups. Now here in Africa, the vaccine is currently only going to medical staff and then it will be other essential services. Then only to the elderly and the weak. And then to the general public. My friend's mother also said that she doesn't want the vaccine. It's rather obvious that there won't be enough by a long shot here in SA for a couple of months to come and her mother feels that she rather wants to have the vaccine go to the younger people who still have their lives ahead of them. So that is another side of the coin too.
But each to his own. My sister says she's not getting it and we actually both have high blood pressure and cholesterol. So I think she's reading too much miss information. But what can we do, like you say - we can't force them!
Do take care of yourself and your family first!
Sorry I've been a bit absent lately, life is hectic. But next week is holidays and then it will calm down a bit.
Have a good week!
Elza Reads
So many people are scared to get the Covid vaccine. A few of my family and friends got theirs through work already and we are waiting our turn.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the tweet, I'm not ready to go back to "normal" work life either. I'd rather work from home and not commute. I get to see my family so much more.
How was indoor dining? We haven't done it yet, but it's open here at 50% capacity now. Happy reading this week!
I'm sorry your mom has decided not to get the vaccine. That must be both frustrating and worrisome.
ReplyDeletePart of me isn't looking forward to going back to "normal" either. I've enjoyed having my husband home. (I have worked from home for years.) But it doesn't mean he has had more time; he still puts in a lot of hours. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to other aspects of "normal", though I think it may be a while before we're comfortable with those. I long to see my parents, our child, and my sister and her family, none of whom we have seen in over 14 months. (They're nearly 2000 miles away.) We're all planning to get vaccinated; the older generation (my parents) already have, and my generation have mostly gotten the first shot. I'll breathe easier when the younger generation has gotten theirs, including our Robin. I miss them so much!
I was actually surprised when my dad got vaccinated because he was so against it, I haven't. We never stopped doing things though as we have been eating out since they opened back up, but that is Missouri. :) I still am on the fence about vaccinations and mainly I don't like being told I must do something.Then I rarely get flu shots. Not saying I won't just don't like feeling forced. Yes, I am that kind of person.
ReplyDeleteYou don't want my thoughts on that tweet. I am a very old fashioned kind of person and I would probably offend people. :)
Have a great week and happy reading!
Stormi
Week in Review
I am sorry that your mother won't listen to your reasoning but we can only do so much. I am glad you are easing up slowly and going out for food. Stay safe though.
ReplyDeleteAll year we have been bombarded with so much disinformation that I mostly ignore the vaccine naysayers.
ReplyDeleteLove your treehouse!
Thanks for visiting my blog, and enjoy your week.
My parents watch Fox News all day, so I gave up on talking about important things with them years ago. I just let them live in the Fox News Cinematic Universe and believe whatever it tells them. I agree with the tweet you posted. I really hope this pandemic will teach the world that not everyone needs to go to an office or a school building. For some people, online work is healthier and more accessible. I’d love to see more schools and offices offer online options.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
My mother was scared to take the vaccine, but eventually agreed to it. Unfortunately, the misinformation out there is just too much to overcome with some people. It's pretty scary.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that about your mom. My family have all taken the vaccine (except me - I haven't had access yet). I can't imagine how frustrating that is for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your mom is under the sway of conservative disinformation. I hope maybe she will come around at some point. Vaccines are amazing and it's really disheartening that people will believe a meme on social media over people who have spend their lives studying virology and immunology etc etc. I'm going to try that ASMR later today- nap time?
ReplyDeleteOoo, that Spirited Away vid :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm the only one in my entire family that plans on getting the vaccine and my brother keeps trying to talk me out of it. It's just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your mom Greg but as you said, you can't controle others and have to accept their decision. My mom will get her first vaccine tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMy family all want the vaccine. My dad got his. My mom passed away years ago, but I'm sure she would've done it, too. My sister and I work in healthcare and so both of us and our hubby's have already had both doses. It hasn't been my family that's expressed reluctance, but some friends who happen to be Republican. We don't talk much but I did touch bases with them recently and heard they wanted to hold back. Like you said though, everyone has to make their own choice.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the R's have been exposed to a lot of misinformation and love to share it. Yay for getting back to some normalcy. It's still so strange to go out. We're still only able to dine outdoors, but I'll take it!
P.S. I hope those who are able to work from home continue to do so. It's cut down on drive times for all of us and it saves so much time for those who've had long commutes on a daily basis. Helps with the environment, too!
DeleteMaybe some tough love is in order - no vaccine, no visits/family gatherings. I personally wouldn’t hesitate if our circumstances here were the same as there.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great reading week
My mother is currently refusing to get the vaccine as well. She says she's afraid of it, and she's avoiding me right now because she doesn't want to hear what I have to say about that. So frustrating.
ReplyDeleteSorry that your mom doesn't want to get the vaccine. Let's hope she does so soon.
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Sunday Post!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Sorry your Mom isn't getting the vaccine, I can understand the fear but will be getting it myself but I think i might have a few relatives who won't. Our vaccines are a long way away yet, they say by end of July we should have had it. We'll see. I think working from home at least some of time would be great and as the tweet above says there are important things in life not to be missed.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing about vaccine hesitancy but don't know anyone who is planning to skip it. Maybe she'll change her mind as friends get vaccinated. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteYour parents have their own mind and so you shouldn't feel like you've failed if they don't want the vaccine. I can understand where they're coming from, it feels very new doesn't it and maybe not tested enough at this point, but I will have the vaccine when it becomes available to me. I do wonder whether things will go back to the way they were I suspect not in some ways. Certainly wfh will become more the norm, it cuts down on the need to have huge buildings with all the costs that entails.
ReplyDeleteLynn :D
Sorry your mom won't get the vaccine---my dad definitely wants to get it, but I finally found him an appointment and he won't go because he says it's too far away. Sigh. Parents can be stubborn!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
thanks for sharing all the goodies. i haven't had that issue with family. everyone has been on board about the vaccine. i had it and had very few issues with the first one and just a sore arm for a day or two with the second one. mr wonderful has had his first one and i will feel so much better once he has the second dose. i'm sorry to hear about your mother. we have a lot of people here in the florida panhandle that are taking a pass too and i foresee repercussions from that, but there is nothing i can do about it except continue to stay safe. it won't change my wearing a mask and social distancing, except for a small bubble of family that have had their vaccine and i don't feel afraid to be around them...too much. we don't know what the new strains are doing so i will continue on as i have been otherwise. glad to hear you were able to enjoy a night out. take care and stay safe
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I'm sorry for your mother, but it's her choice, not your failure :) I'm hoping to get one but it's not that easy here in France, vaccination is veeeeeery sloooooow. As to the tweet, if there is one thing I'm not missing, it's the commute ! Uncomfortable seats, too many people, delays, train failures, too cold, too hot, no restrooms (or worse, very dirty restrooms) : I'm better home ! But it's difficult to work from home peacefully without any interruption. Ah well, we can't have it all !
ReplyDeleteI can relate, Greg. I have a sister who has never taken the virus seriously, from day one, and continued to carry on as normal despite every warning. She continues to ask for get-togethers, dinners out, etc, and every time I tell her that we are not comfortable with whatever it is I get the eye roll. It's discouraging but like you said, you can't change someone's mind. I hope at some point your mom decides to get the vaccination.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely some things I am excited to get back to - like eating in a restaurant. We have our first one picked out already! But there are some things we are going to take away from this year at home. We are enjoying a slower pace of life. I am loving homeschooling. I wish Billy could just continue working from home a few days a week but I don't think that is going to last much longer. :(
ReplyDeleteMy MIL was thinking about not getting the vaccine. My husband said that was her choice obviously, but that if she didn't then she wouldn't be able to be around our son unmasked, since he has high risk health issues. She ended up getting it. It wasn't intended to guilt her or blackmail her emotionally, but it was the truth from our end, unfortunately. She had to know that is was her decision but her decision would impact some of ours. :(
So sorry your mom has had a change of heart; that is too bad. Everyone in our family has either been vaccinated (full or partially) except for my son and his wife/daughter - not eligible just yet. The little ones will be some time in the future I suspect.
ReplyDeleteI hope your mom changes her mind soon. If we all want out of this hellhole, we all have to chip in and get the vaccine. Both my parents got theirs, my in-laws too, my brother, me and my husband... we're all getting them or have had them already. I can't wait to see my family in person!
ReplyDeleteI worked from home for a month last year and was quite ready to be done with it when we were told to return to the office. Sure, there are days I'd prefer to have the option, but in general, even though I'm an introvert, even though I'm sitting her in my office with the door shut on my lunch break, I like walking down the hall and seeing people. I like the causal hallway conversations. I might feel differently if I had a killer commute, but I don't.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about your mom not wanting to get the vaccine. I hope your mom will come around. I have a couple of coworkers who are adamant about not getting the vaccine.
ReplyDeleteI can relate somewhat to the tweet you shared. I work from home most days but am still required to go into the office on a rotating basis. With my daughter in virtual school it has been a blessing for both of us. While my husband's employer went from having him and his coworkers work from home as a precaution early on in the pandemic, it's become permanent and he's very happy about that. My employer is talking about letting us continue to work home part of the time, but I imagine we will be in the office more than we are now eventually. I have mixed feelings about it. I have enjoyed working from home, but there are things I miss about being in the office. I don't miss the commute or having to attend meetings and trainings in person. The no shoe thing is real. LOL In terms of overcommitted weekends--we still are technically, but just from home, which gives me more free time. Less travel time to the studio, less sitting and waiting, and all that comes with it. But I also know that's mostly me being selfish. My daughter's still busy with activities. But she misses getting together with her friends for dance or Girl Scouts or just to play. I don't know if this pandemic has really changed anything fundamentally for us, other than appreciate what we had taken for granted.
I hope you have a great week!
I hope that things that changed for the better will continue, like letting people work remotely if that's what they want, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your mom. It's crazy that people still think it's better NOT to get the vaccine, but a lot of people feel that way. Maybe she'll end up changing her mind the more she hears about it and the more people she knows that gets it. I got the first dose a week ago and all went well!
-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
My maternal grandmother and my dad were both hesitant about the vaccine but ultimately decided to get it. They both said they're "Tired of sitting in my house!" Whatever it takes, right? My mom signed herself up the minute she woke up on her 65th birthday. She couldn't wait!
ReplyDeleteOne aunt keeps finding and disseminating false information about the vaccines. She is like the town crier! My mom doesn't follow the news at all so she calls to tell me the latest conspiracy theory, asks me what's really going on, and goes back to that aunt armed with correct information. Luckily my aunt is willing to listen so she goes and finds accurate sources that back up what my mom tells her. She's pretty much ready to get the vaccine when it's her turn! We'll see if she ultimately follows through. Fingers crossed. They all live close together and that aunt and her husband have already had covid. We're lucky it didn't spread further in our family.
My problem is that I'm not eligible for the vaccine and probably won't be for quite a while. But everyone we know seems to be vaccinated already and wants to visit us in Florida! I was excited to be closer to home (NC) but friends and family are kind of making me regret leaving the west coast before I was vaccinated. I know that I'll probably be just fine if I catch covid but that doesn't mean that I want to risk it! It's hard to know how to handle this situation without hurting feelings but still respecting my own wishes. Ugh. This was not a problem I expected at all.
I've got my head in the sand when it comes to people mistrusting the vaccine. Weighing the risk of COVID vs. the vaccine it seems a no-brainer to me to get the vaccine. I have a weird immune system and catch every respiratory virus within a mile of me, including the same one I was just getting over, so I don't even know if the vaccine will work, but I'll get it anyway and put my hopes into herd immunity. I hate wearing a mask all the time, but I have to say I've enjoyed not having a single cold between March 2020 and March 2021, as opposed to my usual six!
ReplyDeleteHopefully your mom will come around to the idea of getting the vaccine. Everyone in my close family (mom, aunts and uncles, grandpa and grandma) with the exception of one uncle, has or will be getting it as soon as possible. I can't imagine not getting vaccinated, compared to the alternative. It is alarming to see people say they won't get the vaccine because they already had Covid. Well gee, that's great, but you not only can get Covid again, but you can still pass it on to others. I don't understand that level of selfish.
ReplyDelete