Today is a sobering anniversary: It is a year since the coronavirus pandemic was declared.
I still remember it vividly; the pandemic was declared the day I traveled back from Las Vegas after covering the West Coast Conference tournament. That night, the Jazz-Thunder game was canceled after Rudy Gobert tested positive, with the NBA suspending the season moments later.
It was a momentous event, but the severity of the virus didn’t quite start to penetrate until the next day, when BYU (along with numerous other college programs) canceled all sports activities — as well as the NCAA Tournament being canceled the following day.
Yet, people still believed it would only be a two- or three-week inconvenience. We’ve learned that wasn’t the case.
We’ve all had to adapt, whether is was to figure out how to safely play sports or simply how to get through a day at a time. It’s helped to put a focus on what’s truly important, but also has devastated individuals and families.
Personally, this last year has been the hardest of my life — y’all wouldn’t know, but that means a lot considering how much I’ve been through in my 31 years. March 11 also marks exactly a year and a half since I moved to Utah.
But as hard as it’s been, there is light on the horizon. With vaccinations becoming more available, not just in Utah, but throughout the country, we’re nearing getting back to normal — whatever that is now. I received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine last week and can’t even begin to describe the sense of relief I had as I waited my 15 minutes before driving back home.
We have to remain vigilant for a while longer and then we’ll be able to get back to hugging and hanging out in large groups.
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