All the wonderful, mundane things I'm going to do after I'm vaccinated

Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY
·3 min read

My husband got his first vaccine shot on Friday.

Now that I've had both and he's begun his, I am starting to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Five weeks from Friday, that is, two weeks after his second dose, we'll both have a strong degree of protection from COVID-19. And I've started thinking about what we'll do.

We have been the most cautious with COVID protocols in our family and social circle, and that won't change. But we will adhere to CDC guidelines that allow more freedom to vaccinated people.

The first "normal" thing I'll do is get a haircut. I haven't had one since January 2020, and while I enjoy long hair I need someone professional to get in there and deal with the split ends, the uneven layers and all the wisps poking out from my ponytail. My husband really needs to go to the dentist. And we plan to have my in-laws over for dinner.

These are small things, tiny moments in our lives that we would have taken for granted pre-pandemic. But now even the thought of sitting down in front of a hair dresser and trying to make small talk is bringing me joy.

Celebrate Earth Day on Thursday

Our planet's very own holiday is coming later this week.

And in a year in which a deadly pandemic has had the globe in its grip and climate change helped spark a cascade of calamities from raging wildfires to a ferocious hurricane season, the focus of this year's Earth Day couldn't be more timely.

“At the heart of Earth Day’s 2021 theme, Restore Our Earth, is optimism, a critically needed sentiment in a world ravaged by both climate change and the pandemic," said Kathleen Rogers, president of EarthDay.org.

Most of the official Earth Day events will be virtual again this year due to the pandemic, my colleague Doyle Rice writes.

Despite the pandemic, "there's lots of excitement around this Earth Day," Rogers told USA TODAY. Overall, more than 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in each Earth Day "to build environmental democracy and advocate for sustainability," according to EarthDay.org.

Earth Day is the most widely observed secular holiday across the globe.

John Oppermann, executive director of the Earth Day Initiative, said that “with each passing day, the urgency for climate action grows, and we are running out of time. This is a pivotal year for our global community to acknowledge and respect the science of climate and COVID."

You can read more about Earth Day, and how you can pitch in, here.

Local experts will share short stories about environmental issues and problems that affect people both nationally and locally during Earth Day Stockton: A Virtual Experience, which takes the place of the city’s traditional annual celebration.
Local experts will share short stories about environmental issues and problems that affect people both nationally and locally during Earth Day Stockton: A Virtual Experience, which takes the place of the city’s traditional annual celebration.

Today's reads

"Hot Stew," by Fiona Mozley.
"Hot Stew," by Fiona Mozley.

Today's pet

I love seeing the range of pets you guys have. We have another guinea pig today!

Look at that smile! What an angel.
Look at that smile! What an angel.

"Mr. Carrot our pet guinea pig has been a wonderful comfort friend," says Judy Tanner.

I've never seen a happier guinea pig in my life. Good for you, Mr. Carrot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The wonderful, mundane things I'll do after I'm vaccinated