At the rate 2020 is going, I’ve got my snacks and drinks by the door for when the aliens land so I can invite them in to binge watch Criminal Minds with me. There have been periods in previous years that make you scratch your head and say, “Wow, that’s odd” but that’s been our mentality this entire year and the craziness is just continuing. At the end of every month, we’re are crossing our fingers, hoping and praying the next month doesn’t bring more bullshit to the table for us to deal with because, at this point, what more could there actually be? We near the end of the month and start to get a little sense of peace knowing that the worst has passed and there might once again be a semblance of normalcy but the next month sees it as a challenge while saying,
and destroys any sense of calm only to replace it with more stress and anxiety than the previous month. Grab yourself a spirited beverage, you’re really going to need it, as we do a quick recap of late June thru July thus far since we’re only halfway thru the month.
We are still in the midst of a pandemic but somehow wearing a mask ceased being about health and safety and turned political which somehow then turned religious when people began protesting that it is their GOD given right not to wear a mask. Now, I’m not a bible nor political aficionado so, if someone can show me where in the bible or constitution it states such, I’d greatly appreciate it. There is an uproar on social media about wearing a damn mask saying they kill because, apparently, people don’t know how breathing works.
Racial tensions are at an all time high, statues are being removed whether it be by government or just a fed-up mob. The president decided during a pandemic is the ideal time to shut down Obama Care® but we couldn’t even focus on that because we then learned there was a massive dust cloud coming from the Sahara Desert which, at the rate this year is going, no one would have been phased if the ghost thingy from the Mummy ® were in the middle ready to unleash all holy hell upon us.
Did you hear about the discovery of flying snakes? Yep, they were found in June and here I am being held hostage in my home due to a preying mantis that’s between the screen and glass doors that leads out to my patio. And, please, PLEASE, let us not forget that Kanye West decided to announce he was running for president and then dropped out as quickly as he announced it. The subject everyone is currently talking about now is Will & Jada Smith and learned a new word: Entanglement. To some, they are the epitome of black love but the reality is, they’re also human beings who are just in the spotlight having their flaws and imperfections in their relationship and lives put on display for the entire world to see and judge. Due to companies trying to soothe the feelings of Black people, they are now removing Aunt Jemima from syrup and pancake mixes and we’re terrified as to what it will taste and look like. Most parents learned this week that their children would begin their 2020-2021 school year virtually which I’m sure will increase liquor sales to ease the nerves of their ‘new’ teachers. I know I’ve probably forgotten something but damn, isn’t that enough for 30 days?! SHIT!
Wait! I forgot about the good news for the past month: the murder hornets somehow vanished and are no longer a threat! And, Europe opened back up…………just not to Americans. We are currently not welcomed nor permitted to visit there but some entitled folks decided this rule didn’t apply to them since they were entering the country in a private jet and Europe told them to turn that shit around and go somewhere else.
Okay, let’s start with what feels like an eternal pandemic (such a first world feeling) we’ve been held captive by for about 4 months now. While it was dreary, rainy, and chilly, the cases stayed lower because people had no urge to leave the house but as soon as it warmed up, it seems as though society has just determined this virus no longer exists. My birthday was back in April and I had some making fun of, as well as having sympathy for, me since I had to celebrate via a video chat with my girlfriends. Those same people made statement such as, “I’m gonna flip all this shit over if we’re still on lock down for my birthday in May/June/July”
and, guess what? They are celebrating their birthdays in the same manner as I did. I’ve been telling my daughter since they first began online classes in early April that there was a high probability she would start her senior year virtually as well. She laughed it off and thought I was joking but cried when it became a reality. Trust me, I shed some tears and fixed myself a nice strong drink at the reality of being her teacher while working full time from home, pray hard for all of us: the teenager, me and my liver. Does it suck to not be able to go to the movies, a club or even a restaurant and hang out with friends and loved ones? Yes, it does but we’re alive and the more we ignore the recommendations, the longer we’re going to be on punishment.
Onto the whole ‘entanglement’ which seems to have captivated 85% of us. Personally, I don’t care because I’m not married to either of them. However, I have noticed quite a bit of double standards being displayed on social media; you have men acknowledging Will’s pain and some of those same men have seen that pained look on their partner’s face and done nothing about it. How is that a man can recognize pain on the face of another man they’ve never met but can’t see the same pain on his partner’s face whom he sees every day and shares a bed with every night? I have voiced my opinion and disgust for so-called ‘open marriages’ and, again, to each their own but this recent development shows the hypocrisy in the rules of said relationship. How many times has it been the woman who suggests marriage with the freedom to build intimate relationships with someone other than their spouse? I feel that, nine times out of ten, the woman agrees to it because she believes in her heart of hearts that: 1. It’s not really going to happen; 2. If he does try it, he’ll realize he loves her more and will be more dedicated to their union; or, sadly, 3. As long as he comes home to her, she can live with it. I’ve discussed the double standard of males having multiple side chicks for the duration of their marriage/relationship and expect their partner to be okay with it because they come home every night but get butt hurt and refuse to forgive her for having coffee with a childhood friend and this is no different. He did what he wanted to do with the expectation she would understand and get over it, she tolerated it but was broken inside and found solace in another man and now all hell is breaking loose because he’s hurt because he learned the hard way that two can play that game.
It’s as simple as this, if you have found someone you want to build and spend your life with, spend it with them and them only. If the time comes that you are no longer fulfilled by that relationship, have a conversation with your partner, seek counseling and make an adult decision from that moment moving forward whether you’re going to stay or go, don’t drag others into a situation which already isn’t stable, that’s when it becomes a total and absolute shit show.
This year feels like there’s a time traveler who goes back to fix things and screws things up even further because they step on a bug, drink from the wrong glass, move a couch cushion or go left instead of right which keeps altering our present state.
So much has occurred in the year that was supposed to be everyone’s year to travel more, start a business, build a stronger relationship, or just get their shit together and experience a roadblock at every turn. This is uncomfortable for a lot of us and we want to rebel, protest and just get back to normal without realizing our ‘normal’ no longer exists. Whew! Just thinking of all we’ve been thru in 6.5 months is exhausting but I need to find the strength to get my snacks ready for E.T. and his folks because I’m sure they’ll be here next month.
Y’all be safe and do what it takes to maintain your sanity. Smooches my lovelies!
