Happy Birthday to me?

Ohio’s first “shelter in place” driven by the COVID-19 outbreak went into effect on March 23, 2020. It was the strangest birthday I had ever had. But what a long and strange trip around the sun it turned out to be since then. Sometimes it feels like only days have passed, other times it feels like decades. We’ve all felt the hardship in different ways and we’ve all managed our way thru it. Nobody has enjoyed this. Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

So instead of candles, I’m celebrating with a needle. Administered in a Giant Eagle (shout out to the Burgh), surrounded by stockpiles of Fiora Ultra toilet paper, getting a shot that will save my life and countless others. I’ve never been a fan of the phrase “new normal” – because this scene will never be normal. We can all play a role in beating this, and there’s no better gift to give yourself this year.

This post originally appeared on Instagram.