By Joyce Vance 

Dear Listener,

I know lots of people have already written “coming out from Covid” pieces. I haven’t, until now. I didn’t think I had anything to say, largely because my experience has been relatively benign and, in some regards, pleasant. But now, I have something I want to get off my chest.

I’ve realized that when I talk with the friends I’m starting to see in person again about what my year has been like, I always apologize for how fortunate my family has been. Neither of my high-risk kids got Covid, something I lived in fear of until we were all fully vaccinated. My mom, who is in her 80’s and in a nursing home, tested positive at one point, but never developed symptoms. Beyond that, I had a year that, in many ways, was enjoyable. And I feel guilty about it.