D
Deleted member 5866
Guest
So, things are starting to reopen, slowly. That's what everyone wants, for things to reopen and start getting back to as close to what we called "normal" as possible. We all know when this is all over, things are going to be different. There will be changes. Yet even now, when things are starting to cautiously and slowly be permitted to reopen, which is what we all want, people are still bitching and complaining about it. Why? Is it because very specific things we want open, aren't yet open ie some launches, piers, beaches etc? Is it because for some, none of this should ever have happened? Is it because of the initial response, and the decisions that were made, or not made that maybe should have been? Is it because of all these restrictions and inconveniences that are being lifted for some, but not yet others, including businesses aren't happening fast enough? My guess is, it's probably a lot of all of those things combined. We're all frustrated. But........consider this.
For some of us, this "new normal" the politicians keep saying is coming, is not going to be "new" at all. For people who have disabilities, some of these things that people are bitching and complaining about, they've never been able to do them. For people like me, whose disabilities developed and came later in life, do you know what has changed for me during all of this? NOTHING!!! Stay at home as much as possible? Ok, I've been doing that for the last 6 years. I rarely leave the house and when I do I have something specific to do, and somewhere specific to go to do it, and once I have completed that task, I return home where whether I have had an errand to run or not, I am isolated by myself for approximately 10-12 hours every day while my wife is at work performing her duties in her job that has been deemed essential. That is no different than it was before Covid 19.
As you all know, I "hibernate" every year from October until mid to late April or early May. (That's hockey season right) In the spring summer and early fall, (you know fishing season) I try to get out fishing once a week, providing I can afford to do it, I feel up to doing it, and the weather cooperates. BUT, there are times when I can't afford it, I'm not feeling up to doing anything, and the weather isn't cooperating, so although I try, I don't always get out when I want to.
Businesses are getting financial supports and boosts. Day cares are getting financial supports and boosts. BUT..... there are people right now who have invoked their right to refuse to work in an unsafe working environment in businesses and those sectors of the economy deemed essential who are receiving the CERB, a $2000/month payment ($500/week) from the government IF they have applied and been deemed eligible and therefore approved for that funding. Some of those people are making more by invoking and refusing to work than they would have remaining at work doing their job. The provincial gov't has announced that for some, but not all, still working in those essential jobs, a $4/hr pandemic pay is being given. My wife is still working. She's going to work every day, and doing her job. BUT, her job, although deemed essential, is NOT one of those jobs listed by the government to receive this $4/hr pandemic pay, and so her employer, since they are not being forced to give it, won't.
Do you know what people like me who are disability pension recipients, or those who have retired and receive old age pensions are getting? NOTHING. Not one penny extra!!! We've been forgotten or intentionally left out of those discussions when they took place to determine who would and who would not receive this kind of benefit. I contacted my local MP and asked some questions regarding the CERB, and do you what the response was I got back? SILENCE. Not even an acknowledgement that I had contacted them, which only reconfirms why I didn't vote for that person.
As I have for the past 6 years, I get less than $1000/month. It's my only income, and after I've done my part to contribute to our home by paying the bills I pay, putting gas in my truck (if and when needed) and buy a few groceries, I'm left with $100-$150 to last me for the next 4 weeks, (6 between pays in December and January) I have no other benefits, so any prescriptions I need are paid out of pocket, at full price (which is why I always try to get the slightly cheaper generic brand IF I can) IF I could change places with any of you, knowing if I did I could once again do all those things I once could but no longer can, knowing that if I did, I'd have the kind of money I used to have, if not more, first off, none of you would change places with me, and even if you would, I wouldn't change places with you because what I have been enduring for the past 6 years, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It's very frustrating, and it's very painful. Some days are better than others, but I am in pain all day, every day, and for that pain I have over the counter painkillers, and for those days when the OTCPK just don't cut it, I have prescription strength painkillers to take as necessary, when needed, but not only do they put me to sleep, they are highly addictive, so I only take them if absolutely necessary.
Do you know what's going to change for me when this is all over? NOTHING!!! I had no money when this started, and I'm not going to have any extra when it's over. The things I couldn't do yesterday. The things I couldn't do last week. The things I couldn't do when this all started 6-8 weeks ago, the things I haven't been able to do for the past 6 years that I once could but no longer can because of the health issues I have, guess what, I'm STILL not going to be able to do them.
Do any of you have any idea how it feels to have to look at your spouse in a public place and ask them, "can you please tie my shoe for me? I can't bend or kneel down to do it." Do any of you know how it feels to look at your spouse and say to them, "if it weren't for you, I'd be homeless and possibly starving because I don't get enough from my small disability pension to adequately support myself?" Do any of you know how it feels to have to ask your spouse to help you do something as simple as putting on your own socks, because you are unable to do it? Well, I DO know how that feels. It's incredibly embarrassing. It's demoralizing and it's dehumanizing. I KNOW because I have said those words to my wife. I'm just lucky and will forever consider myself to be, because I have a wife who loves me for who I am, not my money. I have a wife who loves me and knows I will and want to do as much as I can on my own, but there will be and have been times where I need a little help to do something as simple as putting on my own friggin socks. Yet there are people bitching about not being able to put their boat in the water and catch a few fish. There are people bitching that things aren't opening up fast enough OR should never have been closed in the first place.
There are 68,848 families in this country right now who have someone in that family who has tested positive for Covid 19. There are 4,870 families in this country who are grieving the loss of a loved one to this illness. I don't think any of those families really care whether people can launch their boats, catch a few fish, use their homes away from home, or any of the many other things being complained about. They're just hoping their loved ones will recover, and for those who have tragically lost someone to this illness, they're just trying to grieve and come to terms with their loss. Some of those families may be people on this forum.
Let's try to remember, we're all frustrated. We're all to varying levels, bored and sick of being stuck at home. We all want things to reopen and go back to being as close to what they were as is possible. BUT, there are always people out there who have never been able to do what you're bitching and complaining about, or who once could, but no longer can.
I just happen to be one of those people, so please forgive me if I don't and can't feel bad in any way that you can't launch your boat when you want to, that you can't necessarily go fishing when you want to, where you want to. (neither can I) Please forgive me that I can't and don't feel bad that you can't do the things you want to do because of the restrictions that were legally put in place, whether we like it or not, because when this is all over, you can, and many of you will go back to doing things you could before any of this happened, but for people like me, NOTHING has changed. This was my every day normal before Covid 19, and it will be my every day normal when it's over. There are people who have been dealing with limitations, and restrictions to what they can or cannot do, some for their entire lives, and others, like me who suddenly found themselves unexpectedly in that situation who cannot "go back" to doing what was once "normal" because life stepped in and knocked us on our asses. We picked ourselves up, and then adapted to what life belted us with. Do the same please. I'm tired of all the bitching and complaining about you not being able to do what you want because you feel you are being wronged. You're not being wronged. You're facing the same thing the rest of us are. You're facing restrictions and limitations to what you can do, just like those of us with disabilities have been enduring in our every day "normal" lives. The only difference, when this is all over, those restrictions and limitations you are facing, will be gone. The ones those of us with disabilities have, will still be there.
For some of us, this "new normal" the politicians keep saying is coming, is not going to be "new" at all. For people who have disabilities, some of these things that people are bitching and complaining about, they've never been able to do them. For people like me, whose disabilities developed and came later in life, do you know what has changed for me during all of this? NOTHING!!! Stay at home as much as possible? Ok, I've been doing that for the last 6 years. I rarely leave the house and when I do I have something specific to do, and somewhere specific to go to do it, and once I have completed that task, I return home where whether I have had an errand to run or not, I am isolated by myself for approximately 10-12 hours every day while my wife is at work performing her duties in her job that has been deemed essential. That is no different than it was before Covid 19.
As you all know, I "hibernate" every year from October until mid to late April or early May. (That's hockey season right) In the spring summer and early fall, (you know fishing season) I try to get out fishing once a week, providing I can afford to do it, I feel up to doing it, and the weather cooperates. BUT, there are times when I can't afford it, I'm not feeling up to doing anything, and the weather isn't cooperating, so although I try, I don't always get out when I want to.
Businesses are getting financial supports and boosts. Day cares are getting financial supports and boosts. BUT..... there are people right now who have invoked their right to refuse to work in an unsafe working environment in businesses and those sectors of the economy deemed essential who are receiving the CERB, a $2000/month payment ($500/week) from the government IF they have applied and been deemed eligible and therefore approved for that funding. Some of those people are making more by invoking and refusing to work than they would have remaining at work doing their job. The provincial gov't has announced that for some, but not all, still working in those essential jobs, a $4/hr pandemic pay is being given. My wife is still working. She's going to work every day, and doing her job. BUT, her job, although deemed essential, is NOT one of those jobs listed by the government to receive this $4/hr pandemic pay, and so her employer, since they are not being forced to give it, won't.
Do you know what people like me who are disability pension recipients, or those who have retired and receive old age pensions are getting? NOTHING. Not one penny extra!!! We've been forgotten or intentionally left out of those discussions when they took place to determine who would and who would not receive this kind of benefit. I contacted my local MP and asked some questions regarding the CERB, and do you what the response was I got back? SILENCE. Not even an acknowledgement that I had contacted them, which only reconfirms why I didn't vote for that person.
As I have for the past 6 years, I get less than $1000/month. It's my only income, and after I've done my part to contribute to our home by paying the bills I pay, putting gas in my truck (if and when needed) and buy a few groceries, I'm left with $100-$150 to last me for the next 4 weeks, (6 between pays in December and January) I have no other benefits, so any prescriptions I need are paid out of pocket, at full price (which is why I always try to get the slightly cheaper generic brand IF I can) IF I could change places with any of you, knowing if I did I could once again do all those things I once could but no longer can, knowing that if I did, I'd have the kind of money I used to have, if not more, first off, none of you would change places with me, and even if you would, I wouldn't change places with you because what I have been enduring for the past 6 years, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It's very frustrating, and it's very painful. Some days are better than others, but I am in pain all day, every day, and for that pain I have over the counter painkillers, and for those days when the OTCPK just don't cut it, I have prescription strength painkillers to take as necessary, when needed, but not only do they put me to sleep, they are highly addictive, so I only take them if absolutely necessary.
Do you know what's going to change for me when this is all over? NOTHING!!! I had no money when this started, and I'm not going to have any extra when it's over. The things I couldn't do yesterday. The things I couldn't do last week. The things I couldn't do when this all started 6-8 weeks ago, the things I haven't been able to do for the past 6 years that I once could but no longer can because of the health issues I have, guess what, I'm STILL not going to be able to do them.
Do any of you have any idea how it feels to have to look at your spouse in a public place and ask them, "can you please tie my shoe for me? I can't bend or kneel down to do it." Do any of you know how it feels to look at your spouse and say to them, "if it weren't for you, I'd be homeless and possibly starving because I don't get enough from my small disability pension to adequately support myself?" Do any of you know how it feels to have to ask your spouse to help you do something as simple as putting on your own socks, because you are unable to do it? Well, I DO know how that feels. It's incredibly embarrassing. It's demoralizing and it's dehumanizing. I KNOW because I have said those words to my wife. I'm just lucky and will forever consider myself to be, because I have a wife who loves me for who I am, not my money. I have a wife who loves me and knows I will and want to do as much as I can on my own, but there will be and have been times where I need a little help to do something as simple as putting on my own friggin socks. Yet there are people bitching about not being able to put their boat in the water and catch a few fish. There are people bitching that things aren't opening up fast enough OR should never have been closed in the first place.
There are 68,848 families in this country right now who have someone in that family who has tested positive for Covid 19. There are 4,870 families in this country who are grieving the loss of a loved one to this illness. I don't think any of those families really care whether people can launch their boats, catch a few fish, use their homes away from home, or any of the many other things being complained about. They're just hoping their loved ones will recover, and for those who have tragically lost someone to this illness, they're just trying to grieve and come to terms with their loss. Some of those families may be people on this forum.
Let's try to remember, we're all frustrated. We're all to varying levels, bored and sick of being stuck at home. We all want things to reopen and go back to being as close to what they were as is possible. BUT, there are always people out there who have never been able to do what you're bitching and complaining about, or who once could, but no longer can.
I just happen to be one of those people, so please forgive me if I don't and can't feel bad in any way that you can't launch your boat when you want to, that you can't necessarily go fishing when you want to, where you want to. (neither can I) Please forgive me that I can't and don't feel bad that you can't do the things you want to do because of the restrictions that were legally put in place, whether we like it or not, because when this is all over, you can, and many of you will go back to doing things you could before any of this happened, but for people like me, NOTHING has changed. This was my every day normal before Covid 19, and it will be my every day normal when it's over. There are people who have been dealing with limitations, and restrictions to what they can or cannot do, some for their entire lives, and others, like me who suddenly found themselves unexpectedly in that situation who cannot "go back" to doing what was once "normal" because life stepped in and knocked us on our asses. We picked ourselves up, and then adapted to what life belted us with. Do the same please. I'm tired of all the bitching and complaining about you not being able to do what you want because you feel you are being wronged. You're not being wronged. You're facing the same thing the rest of us are. You're facing restrictions and limitations to what you can do, just like those of us with disabilities have been enduring in our every day "normal" lives. The only difference, when this is all over, those restrictions and limitations you are facing, will be gone. The ones those of us with disabilities have, will still be there.
