I remember going to a family gathering a few years ago, and with all the great memories we made, we also got sick. It was Christmas, and my sister brought her three kids to our annual potluck dinner that no one wanted to miss because we’d been doing it since we were kids — even though she wasn't feeling well.
“I didn’t want to just stay home on Christmas, I wanted to see everyone,” she said as she sat under a blanket with a greenish tint to her skin.
Then, her 3-year-old son, who had recently gotten over the stomach bug she was currently battling, sneezed in the taco dip. I didn’t see it, but my husband did — and he wasn’t too happy about it. On the way home, he went on and on about how he was sick of people in my family showing up for these large gatherings and being sick.
He was right
And for the love of god, if you're sick, don’t go shopping
Don’t go out to eat. Don’t try and rally to make it to that party. If your kid has a low temperature and a runny nose, keep them home, as inconvenient as it may be. Think of others — not just yourself — and realize that if you do go out and dismiss your symptoms, you could very well be infecting someone else who may not recover as easily as you can.
So when the day comes that this virus isn’t an issue anymore, if you aren't feeling well, stay the hell home. There are enough resources out there now, like online shopping, curbside pickup, and Zoom, so we don’t totally miss out on everything.
I think most of us have come to a place where we realize that when we're sick and contagious, going out in public is a lot bigger than just getting some fresh air or meeting a work deadline — and I hope that's something we never forget after all of this.
