The Easter Comeback
The sunrise at Sanibel island (Dr. Pfister’s favorite place to vacation) elicits thoughts of resurrection and rebirth.
Several weeks ago, to get a pulse on how the Medina area was returning to normal, I started surveying my adult patients and parents of patients, as to whether or not they were hosting Easter this year…
My results the first couple of days seemed a bit unusual, but I figured the closer we got to Easter, the more the results would change. But as of the end of last week, the answers seemed to fall into three categories:
1) The most obvious and blessed answer was “Yes, we are.”
In this case, either the adult questioned (or another sibling) was hosting Easter. Or, even better, “We are all getting together at grandma’s house.” This was the result I was hoping for in my survey and yes, there were more answers in this group than last year; but it was a meager one third at best.
2) The next group answered with, “I don’t know. We are trying to decide if we should get together or not.”
Nobody was particularly pinning not-getting-together directly on Covid, but it seemed that they had gotten out of the routine of getting together and it was just easier to stay home.
3) The third group just dumbfounded me. When asked if they were hosting Easter, they said “OMG, we really haven’t thought about it. When again is Easter?”
And when told it was in two to three weeks, the usual response of this group was, “Wow, really snuck up on us this year!” This was the actual answer in at least one third of those surveyed in my conversations! I could understand if it were all dads I was speaking with, but a large number of moms had the same response.
This got me to thinking, as we distance ourselves from the quarantine period of Covid, approximately 18-24 months ago, what are some of the residual effects of this period on our lives today?
It’s just my opinion, but I think each of the groups in my survey actually represent a segment of the current population in Medina and probably most of mainstream America.
Let’s look at each group closer to see how Covid’s lasting collateral effects have disrupted the normalcy in our society and in our lives…
My extended family of cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents includes some 75-plus individuals. I have several family members in each of these three groups. My data and opinions come from closely watching my family and then, surprisingly, seeing in my surveying of patients the exact same individuals.
The first group, those with definite plans on getting together, probably had a large percentage of individuals who received their vaccines and boosters, wore their masks for a defined period of time, and then said, “Enough already. My family and I are getting back to normal.”
I would also surmise that at least a third of this group never received even a single vaccine and wore masks only when forced. I’m not making a judgement call — several of my friends are in this group. As we know from high school, there are mavericks in every group who defy the establishment and authority. They live by interesting rules! This first group, I don’t worry about them — they have put Covid behind them and have placed family and tradition in the proper priority in their lives.
The second group has a few more scars.
This group just wasn’t sure of what they wanted to do, even though they were aware that Easter was rapidly approaching. I feel this group is most affected by commercials and can be swayed by a strong general consensus. When I asked a few if they had volunteered to host, the answers ran the gamut from, “No way” to “Not my turn” to “I’m thinking about it!” This is not the leader group. It has a strong follower mentality and, if given any reasonable excuse (i.e. Covid), will decline invitations and stay home. I like this group because you can point out the benefits of getting together and, as long as they don’t have to host, they can be turned around and will attend (and actually have a good time).
I just hosted my family last Saturday of Palm Sunday weekend and I’m hosting my wife’s family this Saturday for Easter weekend. This group will attend if you are flexible with schedules (yes, that means sometimes bending way over backwards). They will actually hug and kiss you when leaving and thank you for helping to pull them out of their shells! I have several of this group in my family and they never cease to amaze me, so much like hermit crabs stuck in their shells. But when shown what love and fun exists in get-togethers, they almost become the life of the party.
Now as for the final group… this is the group I worry about in our society today.
These are the individuals who will bear long-term emotional scars from the pandemic experience.
This group has been celebrating Easter for their entire lives, yet two years of dealing with the Covid experience has turned their fragile world upside down, to the point they weren’t even sure when Easter was this year! This is the group that really needs family and a continual reassurance that life is good and this is our new normal. Which is ok.
This is the group that orders all food and necessities of life and has them delivered. Going out to dinner or shopping is beyond their comprehension! I have watched them as patients or parents of patients and have felt sorry for them, as they never seem to reach their potential in life due to always being afraid or concerned about something happening in the world that just might affect them in some way, always negatively.
We have one in our family and this year they drove over for Christmas, stood outside and waved, and then drove off. We haven’t seen them in person for over two years!
This group always had a withdrawn potential, genetic or environmentally-produced. All it took was the negative consequences of Covid to push them over the brink. This group needs significant emotional support from the first two groups. They say time heals all wounds. This group may push the envelope of that concept!
I had so much fun hosting last week and having my family all together (for the first time in two years) that I’m writing this blog sort of tongue-in-cheek, pun intended, to help families reassess their roles in getting other family members involved and back into the mainstream of life.
We need to move on. Biblically speaking, we need to roll back the stone of Covid and have a resurrection of our lives, as our Creator intended. Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, so that we should not fear death. We need to take precautions if Covid returns, but we can’t live our lives perpetually afraid of dying due to the virus!
Each of us can be a leader in our family and in our community, to help those in the second and third group who may still be overwhelmed with the pandemic aftermath. Set an example for those around you. Covid can suppress some individuals, but I feel it can energize others to be true leaders who will go out and make a difference in our town.
This weekend, I hope all my readers have a meaningful weekend with friends and family and feel the invigorating power of Easter, as we put winter and Covid behind us.
Easter is my favorite holiday because I have always seen it as a rebirth of Nature, as each bud unfolds into a leaf or flower with the anticipation of greatness. We thank our Creator for the ability to enjoy life and help us live and discover our true potential greatness that lies in all of us.
Have a happy, healthy Easter Medina County!
- Dr. P