According to John Hopkins University January 9, 2021 at Midnight ET
The United States of America has 22.2 Million total Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
plus an additional 3895 new Deaths for only the one day

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Just as feared, 2021 seems to be Worse than 2020:

“More than TWO MILLION new Covid-19 cases and 25,000 additional deaths have been reported in the USA during just the first nine days of 2021 alone, according to the Johns Hopkins University Covid tracker.” CNN

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Fortunately, there is some GOOD news for us personally.

Today my husband received his first COVID vaccination. He is a hospital worker. Following his first shot, he also already has an appointment to get his second shot. So unless something goes wrong, he should then be protected against the worst of the virus by mid February. That will be a big relief.

However, I probably won’t be eligible myself to get my own first shot until sometime in the Spring.
A lot will depend on how fast our State rolls out the vaccine. Right now, the state where we live is still debating things. Even people of my husband’s older age aren’t yet being given the vaccine. Ditto for some hospital workers in our “home state”. Fortunately, he was able to get his shot in the state where he works. His job put him ahead of his age. His age would have also put him ahead of me in the vaccination line no matter where we lived or worked.

I assume our “Safer-at-Home” social isolation will more or less continue until after I can get vaccinated, too, whenever that will be. Probably Springtime if things go fast; late Summer if they don’t… Hopefully, our government continues to stick to the vaccine manufacturer’s and Fauci’s recommendations of giving two shots; properly spaced.

No matter what happens with my eventually getting vaccinated, I know my husband will soon be fully protected; to whatever degree the vaccine can protect. Hurray!!! Meanwhile, things have become so “scary out there” that I seldom leave home now. The virus is totally out of control. The last time I was out was before the New Year.

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We all need a safe and effective vaccination to save us from this horrible disease. Masks alone are not enough; especially when one lives in a high infection state (like we do) that refuses to put in a mask mandate. I have stopped going out because too many "out there" refuse to wear a mask and/or don't respect social distancing with others: from family to complete strangers. A lot of people in our area are merely continuing on as usual as if there is no pandemic. That is what the virus wants. Many in Kansas (which does have a mask mandate) and Missouri (which doesn't) also still believe the severity of the pandemic nationwide is nothing more than a "hoax" by "the other side"; as was told to them by the out going president....

Unfortunately, as the virus mutates to be more contagious, the more dangerous the lack of even the very basic control measures have become. Going anywhere lately has become quite risky: far more now than any time before in the pandemic. Politics has nothing to do with matters. The virus just wants hosts. The more people who catch the virus, the more people spread the virus.

This week prominent Kansas City architect, Ted Seligson, has been added to the list of those who have died needlessly from COVID-19. He designed iconic Bartle Hall and was responsible for restoring Union Station: two major landmarks and two of the main tourist & social hubs of the city. The virus doesn't care who you are. It is very real, and it can destroy lives.