For all the tears I have ever shed for a single person... I have never shed as many tears as I have over this Christmas break through this past week. My Dad, who had lung disease, came down with Covid after my family tried so hard to avoid it for so long. It was a domino effect, with one day going to the hospital, the next the ICU, the next diagnosed with Bilateral Pneumonia, and tumbling on and on. He was taking from his home state of AR due to not a single hospital having what he needed and was air flighted to Mississippi.

I got one phone call with him before he flew.

He was there for about a week before he just couldn't fight anymore and we had to call and say goodbye over the phone. He couldn't talk back and all I could hear was the sound of vents keeping him going for the time being filling the empty silence. I was told by the nurses he made them laugh, gave them a smile with his goofy stories and upbeat attitude.

I hadn't seen him physically in over a year. Given him a hug in over a year. We live 4 hours apart. This, above missing him, not getting to hear his voice again, having him make me laugh over the stupidest of things... that will haunt me for a long time.

He was only 62. He concurred the disease that took him down from work and managed to keep working at home. My solace in this is that he is no longer in any more pain.

I am no preacher... I am not political in these times to preach at others but I stand in my beliefs but I have one thing to leave with you if you read this.

Please do the right things. He got sick because one -single- nurse didn't do the right thing. Didn't follow what was asked of her in her field during these times. She got an entire nursing home facility sick, along with my Mother who works there and my Brother. She not only lost her own life, but my Dad and many other residents and many workers there because she decided to go and do traveling and other unsafe procedures.

This isn't a government thing... this is for the safety of people like my Dad, like the worker in the laundry facility who is also leaving behind a wife and children... for the various families loosing loved ones they can't see before they go... and can't see to rest them peacefully to sleep.

Just please to the right thing, even if you don't believe in it. Just for those moments that you are being asked to do so.