Family and COVID

My family donning masks in a store on their way 
to visit me at UK two weeks ago.

We live in turbulent times, our lives a wash of ever-evolving restrictions, and the no-visitors policy currently enacted in the University of Kentucky's residence halls perhaps illustrates this evolution better than anything. I knew college life would be different, difficult, and at times, a seemingly endless struggle; it was my longest trek away from home, and though I would be less than a two hour drive away, it was still a frightening prospect. One that was mitigated ever so slightly, however, by the illusion that my family would be able to visit regularly. After all, with them being so close by, and Lexington being a trip we had taken together often, surely this change wouldn't be too major. Right? I was very wrong. 

Instead, the pandemic has forced us to alter our plans. Originally, my dad spoke of grand times together in Lexington, exploring some of the famous sites that I hadn't had the chance to visit previously, going to book signings and comic cons like we did together before, and finding new places to eat. But right out of the gate, things took a turn. Before I moved in, we learned that only my parents could come with me, due to the restriction placed on the number of individuals allowed to accompany students. That left my younger sister and my grandmother to stay behind, despite their plans of joining us. It seems like a small thing to be upset about, but it was my first move-in day of college; of course they wanted to come. The day went smoothly, and pictures sufficed for those who couldn't come, but it was still a let-down. Even worse, however, was the fact that my parents couldn't stay long, due to another restriction placed on the amount of time they could spend in the residence hall. 

My sister in a grocery store
during the pandemic, helping
pick out groceries for
my family and I.

Despite this, my introduction to college went as easily as one might expect. My mom cried, my dad wished me well, and I found myself alone, putting my room together as efficiently as a newcomer could. I had almost two weeks before my classes started, and so my family decided to visit me after a few days of settling in. I didn't bring my car for my first semester, so they took me out to eat, bought me some groceries, and then we said our farewells once more. Unfortunately, thanks to the pandemic, many restaurants and stores are closing earlier than usual, cutting their visits shorter than we all would often like. 

And each return trip has gone this same way, with little fanfare, exploration, or journeys to events. When I visit home, which has been several times, the same is true there. We carry our masks with us and try to avoid stores as much as possible, as the mask mandate is more lax in small towns, and I have little desire to be quarantined on my campus. Though are lives have begun to return to normal, they are far from returning wholly. One has to wonder if they ever will. I have little hope for that, but I can't say for sure that it's a bad or good thing. Perhaps it just is. 

As far as my familial relationships go, some have grown stronger while others have been shaken. With my parents, sister, and grandparents, my relationships have gotten better. I value them more than I did when I had them around constantly, and I find myself genuinely enjoying talking to them on the phone and in person. We're closer than we used to be. With my first cousins, aunts, and uncles that I used to be close to, however...I've barely seen or talked to them since my move to college. Some I haven't even talked to at all. It's an interesting dichotomy, and a saddening one, too. Time seems to get away from us all sometimes. It doesn't seem like there's ever enough of it anymore. Even when I visit home, I'm stressed trying to get to see and spend time with everyone. It's a weird time, and while the pandemic isn't the main cause of it, it's certainly a stressor on top of everything else.