Today I am wearing a tee shirt that says “If You Can Read This, You Are Standing Too Close”, a testament to the year we have just spent. When I bought it, I gave no thought to the possibility of obsolesce beyond hoping it would become so. I just liked the shirt.

So here we are, miles ahead of where we were last year at this time. The crisis is on the decline and, with the advent of serums, hand washing, and distancing, it appears we can whip this thing. Given my age, I made sure that I got my shots at the first opportunity and, although I was not militant about it, generally followed the prescribed guidelines to protect myself and those around me. Now, sans mask, I walk around with much more abandon, but still giving others their space.

It seems that, like so many other things, if you do them enough, they become habit. I find myself washing my hands as soon as I return home from anywhere for instance. I never used to do that, but now, it is almost automatic. I have also become more attuned to my environment. Pay more attention to what science and our medical leadership are espousing. What are the conditions in my state, my town, my neighborhood. Things I really didn’t pay any attention to before. Good things to do. Things that say ‘are you living better because you are more conscious of the reality that surrounds you’. I think the answer is yes.

I hope that my tee shirt never returns to relevance, but being that I own it, I will still wear it and let those that read it wonder why. I just wish there was a way that it could be updated to say “If You Can Read This, Give Me A Hug”. Just sayin.