One bit, 2 bits, 3 bits, a dollar.

If you’ve been fully vaccinated, let me hear you holler!

And 60 million Americans take their masks off and yell, “Yeaaa!”

Yes, thank God I’m one of the cheering 60 million. And I’m cheering for everyone else to get their ‘I’ve been vaccinated card.’

Okay, vaccinated troopers, we’re still in a war against the virus. Keep the enthusiasm but put your masks back on. I repeat., “Put your masks back on.”

We’re not out of the woods yet! The big bad wolf, the virus, is still on the prowl.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are fully vaccinated if it has been two weeks or more since the receipt of the second or single-dose vaccine.

Are you there yet?  I’m praying we all get to that safer sanctuary of being fully vaccinated.

We’re all in this together.

The science says fully vaccinated and naturally immune people need to comprise 70 to 85 percent of the country in order to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity would significantly decline or stop the spread of COVID-19, where we live, work, worship, and play. The significance of achieving herd immunity is there wouldn’t be enough people left to infect.

Our hope lies in the science of God-given wisdom and knowledge. And we thank God for the vaccine.

“Now what?”

I’m fully vaccinated; are things going to be different? What mid-pandemic habits do I have to maintain? A better question is, what pre-pandemic behaviors can I resume?

Everyone is itching to get back to normal.

My top priority is a reset to pre-pandemic hugs and kisses! Before COVID-19, one of my faves was chasing my grandchildren to plaster them with bunches of zurbitts. People who watched the Bill Cosby Show know all about zurbitts.

But just in case you weren’t a fan, Zurbitts are noisy, sloppy, blowing kisses.

Zurbitt Demonstration

Close your mouth and place your lips on your arm and blow short breaths in succession. If it doesn’t sound like a series of innocuous farts make the proper adjustments between lips and skin.

Got it? Now, you’re ready to surprise a willing or mildly unwilling loved one with zurbitts. Administered correctly, toddlers and tweens will break out in uncontrollable giggles and ask for more. I must say, the fun is mutual.

I use to plaster my kids’ cheeks with zurbitts. Maybe that was several years before the pandemic. My girls are big girls now. And they’re not as catchable. Besides, I don’t think I can do zurbitts with a mask on.

Anyway, I’m definitely going to give them Panda hugs.

This virus has prohibited zurbitts, cheek pecks, hugs, handshakes, and other taken-for-granted affections between family and friends. In many instances, we can’t understand the words coming out of each other’s mouths.

How well are you communicating with a mask on while standing six feet away from the other person?

Being fully vaccinated, I can visit my grandchildren, and they can disregard the long-time-no-visit restriction to my house. This is definitely progress toward the pre-pandemic way of living.

The CDC says fully-vaccinated people can gather indoors together with no masks. We can also assemble indoors with unvaccinated persons from one other household without masks. But they must not have an increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness. It’s important to stay abreast of the guidelines because they can keep us from getting sick and from making others sick (cdc.gov).

I use to really enjoy the concerts at the UAB Alys Stephens Center, the occasional movie, the weekend eat-outs, and so much more. But these pre-pandemic activities will have to wait. According to the CDC, fully vaccinated people should continue cautionary efforts in public places. These efforts include wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

We must constantly remind ourselves that the war isn’t over. So, no mask burning yet.

No one could’ve imagined how we would redefine and redesign living, working, and educational spaces in the war against COVID-19. But we adjusted and made necessary changes thanks to the FDA, scientists, doctors, CDC, and everyone who are still studying the virus and creating guideline to keep us safe.

The human impact of this virus has been devastating, but we may be rounding the corner. Better days are ahead, even though my zurbitts days may be over.

But I’ll be happy just to reach out and touch friends and loved ones.

We live for it!

Be safe.