was one Full Year Ago to the Day.

This was the 2020 Kansas City Super Bowl Parade Celebration. The Kansas City Chiefs had won the Super Bowl on Febraury 2nd, and the entire city was filled with major celebrations during both the days before and to follow.

This celebration was the biggest group celebration of all of them. It drew a crowd of hundreds of thousands of fans: all packed in together like sardines. Although I used a Canon Pro Body DSLR for this particular shot, there was little room to move your arms to hold a big camera up. So like many of those, who were there just to watch the celebrations, I also used my Cell Phone Cam for many of my images that day. With everyone crowded in so close, that way to at least get something.

As we now face the 2021 Super Bowl on Sunday, I cannot even begin to image that there will be any after the game, big scale, celebrations; by whichever team wins the Super Bowl. During a pandemic, you cannot exhibit the above behavior & remain “safe”. I cannot imagine any 2021 Super Bowl celebrations; resembling anything like the above scene. But what "I" can or can’t image doesn’t mean that massive, people packed celebrations aren’t going to happen. We’ll know more in a few days as people do whatever they do.

Back in February 2020 (as in my photo), no average American was wearing a mask. Well, one guy in the photo does have a garter pulled up over his face because it was that cold outside. But in general, this photograph represents America’s “old normal” and how all people got together back then. Last year, in our town, people also could somewhat safely pack tightly in together to celebrate(without masks or worries). After celebrations were over, no one feared going home with a virus that could later kill them. That was the beginning of February 2020. February 2021, however, is now an entirely different matter.

When this photo was taken, a first case of COVID had not yet been detected in our part of the USA. Very few people knew or cared anything about the pandemic that had escaped from China was beginning to make its way around the world. We were so innocence last year at this time.

For my job, I’ve been squeezed into many different crowds like this over the years. Not my favorite situation, but no big deal either. People together celebrating always has alluded an aura of excitement; even if you do sometimes end up feeling like a sardine. That was the old normal. People are herd animals, and sometimes the herd would pack themselves together super, super tightly.

However,IF we (as a society) are ever able to reach a true “post COVID-19” normal again, I don’t know if I’ll ever again really be brave enough to get in the middle of another crowd like above. This past year has changed me and the way I now feel about things. These days, anyone (be it one or 100 strangers) coming too close (especially without a mask) now seems scary. I don’t know for how long , but I’m sure some PTS will remain in post COVID times..

But in times of the “old normal”, celebratory crowds were fun; not scary. I miss those times. Being squeezed together too tightly could be a tad annoying, but it never set off a fear response. I feel fortunate that I have been able to participate in so many really, really big celebrations (like above) in my lifetime. I now feel sad that my outlook on things have changed so much.

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Meanwhile, this week in 2021:

“The Chiefs got a Covid-19 scare a week before the Super Bowl when it was learned that a barber giving members of the organization haircuts had tested positive for Covid-19, according to multiple reports.” A barber's positive Covid-19 test causes scare for the Kansas City Chiefs, reports say - CNN

Local Note: After just 5 days, those players have been cleared today to go to Tampa Bay to play in the Super Bowl.

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Additional local COVID News for today February 5th, 2021

"All Disney on Ice performances at the T-Mobile Center have been canceled, the production confirmed. The Kansas City Health Department said they asked Disney on Ice to cancel its shows due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

"'To protect Kansas City families and residents attending the event, the health department asked Disney on Ice to cancel the Kansas City tour. On Friday, the health department issued an order revoking approval of gathering,' a health department spokesperson said in a statement. This is the first series of shows at the venue since the beginning of the pandemic began about 10 months ago. The Big 12 Conference basketball tournament, canceled last March, was the last public event held at the T-Mobile Center." FOX News