Some of us wake up in the morning thinking about the world. We think, what can we do today to make the world a better place? A safer, more loving place? Should I, “mind my own business” and pray it goes well? Shall I hide in the shadows and depend on others to make it all OK? Maybe I could shut my eyes and it’ll go away?
Nope.
After all, some government leaders don’t believe Jan 6 happened, so I guess any reality is possible depending on one’s level of intelligence. I, for one, have not signed up for the “alternate reality.” Turns out we have retrumplicans for that.
Many of us don’t have a choice for we are “wired into” the rest of the world and are a integral part of everything! Many times I wish I were not this person. But I am.
I am the homeless person asking for change, I am the addicted soul looking for my dealer in the early morning when all is not, “positively Greenfield,” I’m the carefree Mom with two kids, busy on her phone while they shoot off into the parking lot, I am the driver who sees only that she is late and is clearly not watching out for the rest of us, I am the DPW worker sweating in the road, not thinking of the distracted driver who nearly hits me, I am the child, the masked little child, who wonders when the heck the grownups are going to get their act together!
I may also be the lovely lady headed to the library without a care in the world, I am the driver of the gas-guzzling truck going no place other than to show off my truck, I am the fireman/woman who wants to go to Calfornia and help fight fires humans have ignited, I am the police officer who keeps us safe so I always give the peace sign when driving by, I am the 60-hour a week working CNA striving to buy school clothes and feed my kids, I am the waitress, always, I am the waitress — actually I wish I were the waitress for waiting on people is truly my favorite work, play, volunteer opportunity, ever! But I digress. . . .
I am the “very annoying Ellen Villani” and it turns out folks often look to me to speak for them, with my voice. My privacy means zip if your privacy means you’re unvaccinated and “moving about the cabin” and not telling the rest of us. I have lost faith in believing you will wear your mask on your unvaccinated face!
I used to be a very trusting soul. You have stolen that faith and trust from me. You already are shopping, working and passing COVID around like a Thanksgiving turkey and then you’re bringing it on vacation with you. In honor of your privacy. Public health overrides your privacy.
Spare us your very special self who lives in the world alone. I’m assuming the unvaccinated do not work, shop, play, ever leave their homes, for that is the only safe way right now.
And ignore the science? They certainly would never own and operate a public business and not be vaccinated could they? They certainly cannot have kids, right? And not be vaccinated for your children and the success of schools? Might your doctor, gym, restaurant, dry cleaner, etc. be actually doing that and not telling you? Yes, they are.
If you believe this letter pertains to you, time to get vaccinated, isn’t it?
Do not write me an email. Go get your shot. I have no fear of losing friends or angering anyone or offending anyone. This is life and death.
I run on the energy I could not use for my Dad’s funeral. We couldn’t have one, we were minding the COVID rules. What were you doing?
I’m far more concerned about the entire world than just little old me. Try it, it changes your view. Are you sick of looking in the mirror yet? BTW, you traded in your privacy for a cell phone so that ship sailed long ago folks.
May I take this time to thank all the other letter writers trying to make sense of this crazy world we live in? I appreciate your writing. I also appreciate the “other letters” spouting fictional storytelling skills the likes of which are Disney worthy for you have that right too.
Ellen Villani lives in Greenfield.