New Beginnings
There's a less cliched phrase for this title, but I'm not going searching for it.
Hello!
Does anyone else feel like they’re on the edge of a cliff right now? But in a good way? It’s the arrival of something fresh. A new dawn perhaps, for all my Twilight fans. Spring is here, vaccination rates are starting to ramp up, and it feels like there’s a light at the end of this very long tunnel.
I was able to book my first vaccination dose next week, which is very exciting. I also start a new job next week (a buried lede? I would never) which is another new step for me. It’s a completely remote newsroom, so my physical surroundings won’t change, but everything else will.
And that’s the problem with new beginnings, isn’t it? So often, it’s just one aspect of something that changes, and the rest of our world stays the same. That’s why it can be so hard to describe feelings of great change to someone outside of the event. I’ll still be working from home, I’ll still be writing and interviewing (and even freelancing, so I’ll continue working for many of my usual publications), and I’ll still have a lot of freedom when it comes to my schedule. So not much changes - except everything.
It’s the same with these vaccines. We still need to wear masks, we still need to be cautious about socializing, we still can’t travel freely. So it can feel depressing. What’s really changed?
And look, there have been a number of hurdles in the vaccine distribution, both federally and provincially. That we’re still booking follow-up doses four months out is WILD. But ultimately, these vaccines are possible because of an untold number of agencies working together to create and test and distribute billions of doses, which is a worthy feat. In some parts of Canada, like Nova Scotia, rapid Covid tests are also readily available and free, and everyone is encouraged to get tested often to find Covid clusters. I’ve been to testing centres, and the process is incredibly streamlined and efficient.
Compare that to the start of the pandemic? That’s a huge change. It’s one we should be celebrating, and its pace is one that we should hold our officials to when it comes to other pressing societal needs.
I have that first-day-of-school feeling. It’s excitement mixed with nerves, and a dash of wanting a new outfit to show off. I’ve non-ironically debated what to wear to my first vaccination appointment. When you don’t get out much for weeks/months, any appointment is an excuse to LIVE LARGE.
So not much will change right away. But also, everything is changing all at once. And I’m ready.
Recommendations from the Slush Pile:
I normally keep this section focused on Canadian publications, but I do love a financial diary and also SO MANY WOLVES.
This piece about trying to make your dog Instagram famous certainly does not resonate deeply with me, no sir. (You can follow @sixpcnugget if you’re so inclined, though)
This was a helpful primer on what’s happening at Fairy Creek.
The Novel of the Week is Finlay Donovan is Killing it by Elle Cosimano. It’s a mystery that’s actually mysterious, but snappy and funny and fresh. I finished it in a day, and I’m ready for the sequel, which is already in the works.
One Last Thing:
I’m sorry. Truly, I am. But this is objectively hilarious.