After the new COVID-19 restrictions announced last week, I have a few thoughts.
To those who “earn a government paycheck” and were warned to think of others ... I have seen your posts and read your stories— You spend 12-24 hours at a time doing nothing but give completely of yourselves to save lives. Your bodies ache, your faces scarring from personal protective equipment, you are enduring mental and emotional anguish every time you show up to work. You are forced to play God in nightmarish ways, when your oath is to heal all who walk through your doors.
I have had surgery during COVID-19, my family is so grateful for your tireless efforts to keep the hospitals and clinics open. One of my co-workers and best friends received her mastectomy along with 70 other patients in one day. You knew this day was coming. She will get to raise her kids, thank you. You are keeping our family members alive at the cost of your own health. You have made the heartbreaking choice not to be with your families to keep your loved ones safe. Your sacrifice is not going unnoticed.
We see you, we hear you, we are praying the vaccine is rolled out quickly.
We are choosing to stay home ... Please hold on.
To “the poor” maybe it is just me, but the way it was said, or the tone that was used made it sound like you are not our friends, neighbours or contributing members to Alberta. We are all Albertans, with a story, and so many times life can be cruel, it can knock us on our butts with no escape route visible.
You are Albertans. You are family. You are friends and neighbours.
If you aren’t sure where your next meal is coming from, do not give up the fight. If Christmas is looming instead of a joyful reprieve, reach out, we would love to share.
To the Educators and students who have been asked to pivot again ... You have my heart.
My daughter is in Grade 12 this year, her mind expanding faster than I can keep up. She loves her teachers and the world you unlock for her daily. My son is excited to leave the house every morning to hang out with Mr. Sagan, the shop teacher. My son is a hands-on learner, these next few weeks will not be easy or enjoyable. I do not have the skills and talent to meet my son's needs, the way Mr. Sagan does.
You lose sleep over your students; your compassion runs in your veins.
Online is just not the same, we all know.
Educators, you are worried, you are fatigued, you are still showing up and loving on our kids. Thank you
To shopkeepers and restaurant owners, keep your menus and merchandise posted online if you can ... You are a huge part of what makes our communities a great place to be. I can only begin to imagine the stress induced sleepless nights as many of you have unfortunately already had to close or are hanging on by a thread.
Sharing food is sacred.
The day will come again when we will be with our friends and families to celebrate in your establishments. Don’t lose faith, until then we will continue to order curbside pick-up and encourage everyone to do the same.
And finally, to Premier Jason Kenney, a living breathing human being, just like the rest of us. I am sure you got into politics because you believed in the best Alberta possible. Our province, country and world, like you, have been blindsided by a pandemic. Last night I saw and heard the pain, frustration and fatigue in your voice. Although we may disagree on a lot of things (it is a lot), you are human, you are someone’s son, husband, father, and because you are human, you are scared about what is at stake on behalf of all Albertans.
If I place myself in your shoes, for just one moment, yours is a burden I would not want to bear, there is no pleasing everyone, there never has been, there never will be.
I was reminded by Dr.Jody Carrington this morning, we are all humans, doing our best in unprecedented times, please remember we are fighting a virus, not each other.
"We're all just walking each other home." Ram Dass
Regards
Jamie Rogers
