One year ago I had a very different view of covid than I do today.

One year ago we had no vaccine, and with the information I had at the time, I decided to go on with my life, rather than cower at home in fear. The race was on for a covid vaccine and nobody thought one would be available anytime soon, so when it became available half the folks couldn’t get it fast enough and the other half were divided into folks that wanted to wait and see and those who were afraid that their DNA would be eternally altered, or some other conspiracy theory found on YouTube or the internet. I was in the wait and see camp.

I believe with all my heart that in this day and age there is nothing that isn’t tainted by politics and agenda, so undoubtedly this virus will continue to divide us, but here is my reasoning, and my reasoning only applies to me, but hear me out and make your own decision.

I smoked two packs of cigarettes every day for thirty-five years and I am weeks away from my sixty-fifth birthday. I had a lung infection a couple of years ago that at the time I told my wife that if I were older I thought it would kill me. I became over time, almost too weak to fight it. It was extremely difficult to breath and my doctor wasn’t a whole lot of help. I believe that places me in the covid basket of people who end up on a ventilator, and I don’t believe that’s a winning strategy for me. With the information available, I made my decision. I am now fully vaccinated.

Maybe I’ve made a mistake, time will tell. If you refuse this vaccine maybe you are making a mistake, and once again time will tell. I believe also that there is a number of folks that would have, completely on their own gotten the vaccine by now if it weren’t for the pressure to do so. Anyone who knows me, knows that you can’t make me do anything, so I understand you. I understand government overreach. I understand personal freedom. Right about here is where the other side would inject feelings into the conversation and tell you that your love one’s need you vaccinated, and that you have a responsibility to others to be vaccinated, and right here and right now, I reject that thinking. I will tell you that at this time you are playing Russian roulette with a lot of empty chambers. Exercise your personal freedom as you see fit. If I could influence you in any way, I wouldn’t try. I am confident however, that I have made the right choice for me.

God bless, and my prayer is that we all come out the other side with a smile and a story….

ws