It's incredible to think I made it through the entirety of 2020 following almost none of the rules, save for wearing a mask when I entered a store or establishment and that first dreaded 'Fifteen Days To Slow The Spread' that turned out to be rather interesting, to say the least. But it's true. I spent most of 2020 as if the whole thing wasn't happening. I took my daily walks along the beach (while most times they were empty and desolate). I worked at the park and pretended not to hear those people that mumbled stuff at me for being out in the open sun and air nearly a hundred feet away from them un-masked.
This does not mean I did not take the pandemic seriously. Oh, I did. I researched. I read papers. I tried my damndest to share the information I was finding, all the while sensing that something else was at work during 2020. Something that was using fear to make such information scarce, but actually trying its best to silence anyone that might confront such measures with logic. And it was during that time I started to understand the polarity that was taking place. I cannot say I was immune to the tactics, except to the extent that I participated in it.
2021 was a decided turn to actually mean what I say, and I took in shows. I did them all through 'Delta' and the 2nd wave of scares and regulations aimed at people that question things. The narratives changed, but only in the direction that all people further loathe each other and be dumped into their respective lanes. I'd never been privy to anything quite like this. But once again, I made it through an entire tour without so much as a sniffle. My precautions seemed to not only work, but they seemed to defy the scientific logic for being couped up in the first place.
I hugged people. I wanted to be among them. I did shows. I let people lean in and speak in my ear. I let conversations fly backstage and onstage. Nothing. I began to think perhaps I was one of those lucky people who are simply not able to catch "IT". Or so I thought.
The 2021 tour ended. And I was set to go to Vegas for a few days of just hanging out and doing little to nothing. And that's when it happened. Go figure though, it was in Vegas where I wore a mask nearly 24/7 due to the rules, and it was in Vegas that they did not ban smoking inside the casinos while everyone indulged in their cigars, vaping, and so forth while all stuck indoors. Utter stupidity. There's no logic in it of course. And that's where I got it. Finally. There, among the vastly vaccinated people smoking all around me as I fidgeted with a mask that I could not remove (I was told twice by guards to not let my mask down while I was in the casino).
Not at a show, not from a fan hugging me, not from being exhausted after leaving the stage, but in a smoke-filled sealed-off environment designed to drain you of your funds in the hopes you will pull a lever or a lucky number. I keep asking myself why I went. But alas, it's over with. Right? I can lay claim to having survived IT (although I have many reasons to believe I was among the early birds in late 2019-2020 that got it. But whatever. I'm feeling pretty good right now, although a bit pissed off at myself for that last trip to Vegas. But it's almost over. This too shall pass.
The only thing that really pissed me off was not doing a stream on the first week of 2022. I aim to fix that this week and do something. Maybe I won't speak any more on the subject. Why give it legs? But yes. Friday at 8PM, I will stream.