• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

  • HOME
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT

Same Time, Last Year: Braving the Outdoors

April 28, 2021 by WendyB

One year ago today, I ventured out of my neighborhood for the first time in six weeks. New York City had locked down for COVID-19, but I decided activism couldn’t wait any longer; I didn’t want the former guy to become a lifetime dictator with the help of a pandemic. I met up with activist friends to do several banner drops around town, but I was nervous! This was back when surgical masks couldn’t be found, so I made due with various scarves, bandannas, neck gaiters, as well as heavy-duty reusable masks I found on sites that sold motorcycle gear. The top hat was added by request.

Photo by George De Castro Day.

The streets were deserted, meaning I had nothing much to be scared of. Even Wall Street was empty.

Photo by George De Castro Day. Click for April 28, 2020, post.

My accidental resemblance to the Babadook probably frightened other people though.

I felt so cool in my top hat until I saw this.

Even though I was obviously safe, I was still jittery about taking public transportation. So, shortly after the Babadook photo above was taken near Mt. Sinai hospital, I walked home instead of proceeding to our final stop at Times Square. That’s how I missed this moment.

Photo by George De Castro Day.

Last April, I didn’t imagine we’d be fortunate enough to have a COVID-19 vaccine in under a year — nor did I imagine people would decide a deadly disease was a hoax while the prevention of the disease was the true danger. For the record, I got my second Pfizer shot this March 26, while wearing the same cold-shoulder top I wore for the first shot.

Click for my original Instagram post.

Everyone reacts differently, but I had no negative response to the second shot at all, after having a few days of sleepiness from the first injection. I’m a big fan of vaccines! I had my childhood vaccines, of course, and get a flu shot yearly. What can I say? The likes of polio, measles, and double-lung transplants don’t seem that fun to me. The COVID-19 vaccine is free, and it is now easy to get in New York City no matter what your age or profession — you can even walk into any state-run vaccination site without an appointment starting tomorrow. (The state-run sites include the very efficient Javits Center, where I went.) You can also schedule appointments here.

That said, don’t be surprised if you still see me out and about wearing a mask. I’ve gone a year without catching a cold, and I’d like to keep that up. Turns out I’m not nostalgic for my pre-pandemic exposure to other people’s gross germs!

You might also like
Time for R. Kelly to Face the Music
Throwback Thursday: Vienna Back in the Day
Activism Inspiration: White Rose Leaflets of WWII

Filed Under: About Wendy, Fashion, health, In the News, pictures of me, Throwback Thursday Tagged With: COVID-19, face mask, vaccines

Previous Post: « My Best Dressed at the 2021 Oscars Is …
Next Post: Jewel of the Month: Black Diamond for Purrkoy »

Primary Sidebar

MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ARCHIVES

CATEGORIES

Facebook Pagelike Widget

POPULAR TOPICS

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe for Email updates.
* indicates required

Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

© 2016 · FOODIE PRO THEME COPYRIGHT BY · SHAY BOCKS GENESIS FRAMEWORK · BUILT ON THE WORDPRESS