Return to "Normal?"

My Facebook memories reminded me that one year ago today (after historic election results were announced over the weekend), safety and efficacy results were announced for the first COVID vaccine. Now that same vaccine has been approved for emergency use in children as young as 5, and I've been enjoying seeing the pictures of all my friends' kids who are so excited to receive theirs and get one step closer to returning to normal.

There's also been some announcements of antiviral drugs and treatments. The first at-home, oral treatment was just approved for use in the UK. And 3rd/booster doses of mRNA vaccines have been approved for certain populations in the US, though I see all sorts of people getting them, and there's talk of just recommending them for all adults.

For the most part, it feels like people are living like "normal," but there are still places that are enforcing restrictions and precautions. Every place has signs about distancing 6 feet that everyone ignores. Going to stores is still kind of a 50/50 mix of wearing masks or not. Doctors offices are requiring masks. My office is still not fully open, requiring pre-registration to work on site to ensure a limited capacity (though they've loosened up now to where you can register same-day or for a month in advance), with masks required unless eating or in a room by yourself (and also all staff must be vaccinated).

Some of my usually very cautious and conservative friends are planning large(ish) family gatherings for the holidays. My family is still planning to have a socially distant Thanksgiving and Christmas at our respective homes. I've been sitting out this season, but my band returned to indoor rehearsals this fall and just put on a fall concert in their usual indoor auditorium - it was about half the length of a usual concert, with no intermission, vaccine cards checked at the door (so no children under age 12), and masks required at all times unless playing an instrument with your mouth... but I did not feel comfortable attending. The band and audience were both very large and I wasn't interested in sitting in an enclosed room with that many people for that long.