COVID Convos — We’re Three Years In and This Thing Is Here To Stay

By Michael P Coleman January 20 marked the third anniversary of the first diagnosed case of COVID-19 in the United States. That’s “diagnosed” case, as data suggests that the virus was here months before that. Many will recall the fall and holiday season of 2019, when several suffered through wicked cases of what we thought …

COVID CONVOS – The Pandemic Is Over! Except It’s Not

By Michael P Coleman If you had told me over two years ago that I’d still be writing about the virus as we careen toward the end of 2022, I’d have said you were out of your mind. Last week, North Americans (I always blanch when people use the term “American” — there are several …

COVID CONVOS — With The Easing Of Mask Mandates, Is Anyone Else Feeling Like A Sneetch?

By Michael P Coleman When I coined and launched “COVID Convos” over two years ago, I never thought that we’d still be talking and thinking about the coronavirus this summer. Looking at traffic in and out of my local grocery story just now, I’m beginning to think that I’m one of the few who still …

COVID CONVOS — Baby New Year Is Headed Into The Pediatric ICU

By Michael P Coleman Late last week, as I began thinking ahead to what New Year’s Eve would look like and began pondering the year ahead, I read a sobering article about the number of COVID-19 cases that had just been recorded. According to CNN, just a day after the United States reported its highest …

COVID CONVOS — This Christmas, Give Yourself The Gift Of Freedom From The Calendar

By Michael P Coleman I just read an article about those who are in COVID-induced isolation from family for Christmas this year. It included a heartbreaking quote from a young woman who, having just tested positive for the coronavirus, will not be able to spend time with her family, as she’d planned, in keeping with …

COVID CONVOS — Maybe Mary Poppins Can Help Persuade The Vaccine Slackers To Get A Jab

“Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…” By Michael P Coleman As of this writing, just over half of the eligible US population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While “fully” is a moving target — there’s talk of an additional booster shot being recommended not that far down the road — it’s …

COVID CONVOS — Vaccines, Passports, and a Measured March To Normal

By Michael P Coleman I’m fully vaccinated. That’s a phrase I never would have anticipated using a year ago. As I think about it, I’ve never used it. Well, I probably would have uttered it as a little kid if I had been able to pronounce “vaccinated.” I stumbled over the word back then. I …

In An Abundance Of Caution, Vote!

By Michael P Coleman “Out of an abundance of caution” is, without a doubt, the catch phrase of the year! At the dawn of 2020, the phrase would have sounded odd, and other words and phrases like “social distancing,” “coronavirus,” and even “viral pandemic” weren’t ones that often rolled off of our tongues. But as …

COVID CONVOS — Face Mask Mama Is Serving It

By Michael P Coleman If you can manage a social distanced shopping excursion, and you want to make sure you’re looking good during your next one, you may want to check out Face Mask Mama at Arden Fair in Sacramento. Perched at a kiosk just off of the mall’s center court, near the entrance to …

COVID CONVOS — Self Advocacy May Be As Formidable A Protector As Masks and Social Distancing

By Michael P Coleman When the Covid Convos series launched back in March — and that seems like a lifetime ago — we all thought it would be short-lived. We believed that we as a country (if not a world) would do the right thing (thanks, Spike Lee), wear our masks, and distance ourselves physically …