We had no comprehension of what was coming. None.

So as not to retraumatize my readers, I will not recount all the ugly details that plagued us during lockdown but suffice it to say, the emotional, social, economic and political damage is still being experienced. This makes the total calculations a challenge.

I’ll move to what we learned about ourselves as individuals and as a country. And what are we going to do about what we learned?

We learned that when we don’t get what we want when we want it, we are some cranky, impatient ingrates.  Take for example the negative reaction of fans to the NBA’s cancellation of the season. Milwaukee Bucks’ fans who were interviewed at the time of the decision could hardly contain their disgust. The decision was “made too soon” and was “silly.” We saw video footage of shoppers fighting over the last package of toilet paper. We burned through first responders, hospital workers, teachers and others because we refused to wear masks and get vaccinated, which helped to skyrocket the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

We also learned that we can be kind, disciplined and creative. We heard and saw countless incidents of humans bringing food, medicine and joy to others — masked up and socially distanced. We found ways to use Zoom beyond the dreaded meetings for the job and set up musical concerts with people around the world. In times of isolation, we tapped into unexplored realms of our being and discovered new hobbies and new careers. We learned how essential family, friends and nature are to our overall well-being.

We knew there were unaddressed racial disparities in health care prior to the pandemic. Black, Brown and poor communities were predisposed to the ravages of the virus. We saw the cracks in the healthcare system become gulfs as we witnessed accessibility to treatment. We saw who received the COVID tests and vaccines first, and we followed where the resources were going to support families and their communities. We saw that companies readily put profits over the safety of their workers, often forcing them to work without adequate protections from the virus.

COVID-19 has faded from the headlines. The virus is still with us — not like it was in 2021 or 2022 — but there are still cases and deaths. These mean something to somebody. Heroic acts don’t get reported any longer nor does the irrepressible grief of a family who lost a loved one (or loved ones) to a finality that probably was preventable.

I would like to see multiple symposiums on how we shape communities in a post-pandemic world. Bring all the stakeholders together to appreciate what we endured and how we can be better prepared when the next pandemic rolls around. I suspect some are already engaged in such, but I fear that with no real leadership from our government or civic leaders, we’ll continue to muddle along until the next big “thing” comes along.

Families have figured out ways to stay in touch with one another during a crisis. Some are making financial provisions for future catastrophes, realizing they could’ve been better prepared to deal with some of the different and additional expenses incurred. Families — they represent the hope for being ready to take on the next big thing with more insight, more tools and more determination. Their unconditional love for family will be the impetus.