Russia’s war in Ukraine is starting to scare me. The United States has declared that it wants Russia to be weakened to the point that it cannot threaten Ukraine and its other neighbors any longer. If Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to take action against this declaration, we could end up plunged headfirst into World War III. Europe would probably be the main battleground, but if nations like China and North Korea get involved on Russia’s side, there could be a scary conflict in the Pacific as well. And if the conflict escalates into nuclear war, the end of civilization as we know it could be upon us. Intelligence from Russia continues to announce Putin’s plan to play the long game in Ukraine, which means that if the United States does end up involved in World War III, I could be old enough to be eligible for a military draft. I don’t think I ever want to go into the military. It’s fascinating to think about the plans that are made by the generals, but I hate the idea of killing people, no matter what cause I’m fighting for. I don’t like that war exists in the first place, and the idea of having to actually participate in it makes my head spin.

That so much can happen

In such a short time

In the world

And in mine

Is insane

In the world

A global pandemic

The threat of world war

Complete social upheaval

Political differences exploding into violence

But also

Healthcare heroes saving lives all around

Vaccines being developed in record time

Kindness being spewed by those who can do so

Every single day

In my world

A sister with cancer

Three moves

Complete mental upheaval

But also

Family and friends supporting me more than I ever could have expected

Awards galore

And someone who means more to me than

Anyone else

So much can happen

In just a few years

Are the differences between my world

And the world at large

Really that big?

The masks work. It’s completely confirmed. If they didn’t, my sister would be in huge trouble. In early December 2020, her immune system was still at zero, and if she contracted COVID-19, she may not have been able to fight it off. One morning, a doctor came into her room and said that someone who worked on the floor -  and had been in direct contact with Charlotte - had tested positive for COVID. At this point, Charlotte was so sick that if she wore a mask, she’d throw up because of the smell of her breath. However, the hospital staff told us not to worry. The person who’d gotten COVID had never taken her mask off while in Charlotte’s presence, so Charlotte was going to be okay. All of this time later, I’m still advocating for the use of masks. When they were required, I was always the person who would make sure that people wore them correctly. And even though they’re now optional, I still always wear mine. And what do you know, I have yet to contract COVID-19, over two years into the pandemic. Masks are an excellent way to stay protected from COVID-19. They’re quite possibly the best way to do so. They are convenient, easy to use, and they have the added benefit of hiding my ugly face from those around me.