We’re starting to see the term “post-pandemic” a lot lately. But nothing seems to have changed, at least around my house. It feels the same as it did during the pandemic, except now I only have to wear a mask if I want to. 

And I want to. After two years it’s become second nature. I enjoy the anonymity at the supermarket. And it keeps my nose warm in cooler weather.  

Nothing seems to have changed because in this “post-pandemic” world, if that’s what it is, almost everyone I know has recently had or is currently suffering from COVID-19. My son and his family just went through bouts of the disease for the first time, and here we are over two years into the pandemic. 

Naturally the members of my son’s family did not get COVID at the same time. That would have shortened isolation times. Instead, they passed it among themselves like laterals of the football in rugby, so each one had to isolate on his or her own schedule.

So on it goes. Family and friends with COVID. More time apart. 

But change might be on the horizon. As things loosen up, it is my thought that we will see more and more people vie for Darwin awards. (If you are not familiar with the Darwin Award, it is given to someone who, through their own actions, “improves the breed” by removing themselves from the gene pool. Darwin awards are almost always given posthumously.) Two recent news reports offer glimmers of hope that things will someday return to normal.

One sign of normal is people traveling for vacations — and doing dumb things.

Just a few days ago a 25-year-old woman from Ohio was visiting Yellowstone National Park. She was near the “Old Faithful” geyser when she, against all the official advisories and warnings issued by the…