I’m so sorry to both of you, Barry and Cinnamontwist, for your losses. My parents are in their sixties and I’m grateful everyday to still have both of them. Having worked with the adult and elderly population in community programming and rehab for over 10 years, I can say, without a doubt, no one is ever prepared to lose a parent. It is jarring at any age because these were our role models and their loss represents the end of an era, the formal or informal passing of the baton and responsibility of matriarchal or patriarchal roles. To go through this transition without the closure of saying goodbye is beyond me. My heart is broken for the millions of stolen goodbyes the pandemic response is responsible for. I’m also enraged. Furious that fear overtook common sense. Furious that our fears were created and then taken advantage of.
I’m so sorry to both of you, Barry and Cinnamontwist, for your losses. My parents are in their sixties and I’m grateful everyday to still have both of them. Having worked with the adult and elderly population in community programming and rehab for over 10 years, I can say, without a doubt, no one is ever prepared to lose a parent. It is jarring at any age because these were our role models and their loss represents the end of an era, the formal or informal passing of the baton and responsibility of matriarchal or patriarchal roles. To go through this transition without the closure of saying goodbye is beyond me. My heart is broken for the millions of stolen goodbyes the pandemic response is responsible for. I’m also enraged. Furious that fear overtook common sense. Furious that our fears were created and then taken advantage of.