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8 / April 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
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Reflections on Two Years of Pandemic By Willa Reed
W
e all remember those initial constant adjustments that characterized feelings of mere annoyance the pandemic, and the importance of unity: toward staying inside for what “My wish is that people would be more we thought was a temporary quarantine. accepting of current life circumstances As the lockdown dragged on, and work better together, rather than against each other.” slightly longer and then slightly Scotts Valley Mayor Donna longer each time an emergency Lind believes that, despite the alert pinged on our phones, we setbacks, COVID has had some watched what appeared to be positive effects on the coman apocalypse take root in our munity as a result of individual lives (toilet paper shortages, introspection. “COVID has gloves and masks everywhere). helped me develop a different We slowly watched as people Willa Reed sense of purpose, being able to lost jobs, experiences, and loved ones, these losses becoming higher and encourage and be a shoulder for those that are hurting,” she said. higher with each passing day. The desire to help others through I remember the days of Facetime calls with my friends, trying to reassure them such a difficult time was a common theme that this would all be over soon (and trying among community members. Gail Pellerin, former Santa Cruz not to cry in frustration myself). I’ll never forget the night when I found out that my County Clerk and a candidate for state senior year would be online. Life changed Assembly, remembers when she was the so quickly, so drastically, and in a fashion only County Clerk’s office open in the state that was so out of my control that I wanted who was issuing marriage licenses and performing weddings as the pandemic to scream. Two years later, the pandemic is still was in full swing. “I was so honored to be able to be there present, though not raging. The storm has quieted for the most part, and we sub- for so many couples seeking some semsequently find ourselves in the position blance of normal in a global pandemic,” to process and reflect upon a multi-year Pellerin recalled. Danny Reber, executive director international crisis. Despite the pain and struggle of the past two years, there are of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Comlessons to be learned, lessons that can merce, reflected on how local businesses empower us to redefine a more intercon- gave back to the community during COVID, even while they were suffering nected, mindful notion of normal. The pandemic affected lives every- themselves. “What’s special about our community where, internationally, nationally, and locally. Scotts Valley community leaders is that people came together during the were kind enough to share their COVID pandemic and fires in a way we had never experiences, and how the pandemic has seen before,” Reber said;. He recalled how Bruno’s Bar and Grill shaped them and our town as a whole. We never realized how much we served $10,000 worth of food to the Moose needed interaction in person until it was Lodge during the CZU fires, or how locally owned Togo’s restaurants refused to lay stripped from us so suddenly. “COVID reinforced my opinion off employees, despite the drastic drop in that technology has its limits and people business. Instead of letting trauma divide need to be around others for society to function,” said Scotts Valley Police Chief us, our community united in the face of Steve Walpole Jr. “A video chat with hardship. COVID has forced us all to change the friends and family is fine, but you miss out on something when you aren’t in the same fundamental ways we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Through grit, space with them.” I certainly remember the happy tears unity, and self-reflection, we stand two that were shed at hugging my grandma for years strong from COVID, and can take the first time in a year after the vaccine came pride in and glean hope from the more to fruition. It’s safe to say we’re all glad to welcoming, positive community forming see Zoom take a back burner as face-to-face before us. n ••• communication becomes normal again. Willa Reed, who grew up in Scotts Valley, Scotts Valley School District Superintendent Tanya Krause reflected on the is a freshman at UCLA.
