Lockdown heroes were the bravest of the brave
SO this week is the start of us all getting our lives back.
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel but we just don’t know how long exactly before we are free from this dreaded Covid-19 virus.
It is refreshing and inspirational to speak to various elderly people I know after they got their vaccines.
The smiles, the excitement, the relief, the feeling of rebirth.
A year cocooning at home, hiding from this pandemic, trying to stay alive has been a monumental struggle for many of them.
The pain of not being able to see your family or hugging your grandkids was torturous.
It was even harder still for those living alone. How they didn’t go mad talking to themselves all day from the isolation and the loneliness, we will never know.
They are the bravest of the brave, and each and every one of them a hero.
They had no choice but to stay at home, and stay away from people because they knew in their hearts if they caught the virus there was a serious chance they would die.
People like my mother Carmel, who got her second vaccine last week, are the lucky ones.
God willing they will hopefully have a few more good years to enjoy and intend to live every second of it.
My mum can’t wait to go and see her best friend Gemma, pals since they were four years of age, who she hasn’t met for months.
Top of the list for many elderly is to meet a friend indoors for a cup of tea or to get into the hairdresser and beauticians to get their hair and nails done. They are not asking for a whole lot.
Hopefully they will also be allowed to go on a holiday soon enough, preferably abroad to the sunshine with their vaccine passports.
Remember, every one of this generation over 70 will be making up for lost time.
The message from Government to us all, after over 100 days of Level 5 restrictions, is we no longer have to stay at home, but stay local. We can all now roam our respective counties, in my case Louth, and go 20km into a neighbouring county. We can also meet a friend socially outdoors but not at our homes.
In another two weeks we will also be able to play golf and tennis again and the children can get back to their sports which will be a big relief to many families.
Keeping children away from outdoor sports has been madness in my view.
By the beginning of May, in another three weeks, non-essential retail could be opening along with hairdressers and beauticians. Outdoor dining will also be considered.
We as a nation must all try to stay positive and hope that the vaccine rollout picks up a gear after a very sluggish start.
The Government promised 80% of the population will have their first vaccine by the end of June but only time will tell whether the politicians deliver or not. Supply may continue to be an issue due to the incompetence of the EU Commission, who failed to secure adequate vaccines for Europe.
But let’s salute our elderly and remember those who sadly didn’t make it as we slowly reclaim our lives in
the weeks ahead.
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Top of the list for many elderly is to meet a friend for a cup of tea