Off to a good start
It’s the first week of December and my favorite Christmas lights at our village plaza have been lit. Just when things were looking better with more and more in my community getting fully vaccinated, Omicron comes along to dampen spirits and set alarm bells ringing, yet again, around the globe.
Several countries have swiftly changed border guidelines and rules or toughened restrictions for the following days and weeks. It’s yet another reminder, as if there weren’t enough of those already, that we can’t afford to be complacent as we are clearly
still in a pandemic.
My family and I went for a short drive to Bukidnon this week and made the most of the Bonifacio Day public holiday. Whizzing past, I was pleased to see quite a number of vaccination centers specifically set-up for Bayanihan Bakunahan. Grateful that many are rolling up their sleeves to give themselves an added layer of protection from SARS-CoV-2.
The inoculation sites we passed by were at public schools and I also saw that pediatric vaccination was continuing to take place outside popular fastfood chains.
Can’t stress enough what a relief it is that my whole household is now double-vaxxed. Seeing other people do the same keeps me hopeful.
Driving up to the countryside, I saw a few little businesses I hadn’t given much notice of in the past. Some look like new establishments that have recently sprouted, perhaps born of a necessity to find alternative means of livelihood in Covid times? Whatever the reason may be, they appear as fine options for those like me wanting a bit of change to daily home-centered routine.
Eateries and small food joints surrounded by flora and wide-open spaces, the better to socially distance. A welcome sight for anyone who has had to stay put at home for the most part since March 2020.
In Decembers past, not including last year, I’d be steadily busy catching up with friends and family, creating or finding the best kris-kringle or secret Santa gifts, attending Christmas parties and going to the shops to complete my presents for my nearest and dearest.
This first week of the holiday season, I have no pressing need to shop or would rather not find out how busy it might be at my preferred malls. It helps (a lot!) that my daughter has done a bit of online gift shopping for her cousins and friends early on.
Instead of shopping, I’d much rather go for a short ride to farmlands and mountainous areas and meet up with two other loved ones not from my household. Glad I got to do exactly just that this week! Wishing you a great start to your holiday season!
“The inoculation sites we passed by were at public schools and I also saw that pediatric vaccination was continuing to take place outside popular fastfood chains.
“In Decembers past, not including last year, I’d be steadily busy catching up with friends and family, creating or finding the best kriskringle or secret Santa gifts.