Rona and Me

RIP Theresa "Teri" Ellen Pickin (1961 - 2023), the oldest among us seven siblings, who I only met when we were both adults in 1992. She was admitted to the hospital in Marianna, Florida for a skin infection, where she contracted the 'Rona and died alone, isolated from her husband and family.

***

In 2021, everyone in the home of the previously free and the brave closed down schools, businesses, and public parks, including our beloved local softball fields. Many I knew piously demanded that anyone who wished to see them in person again receive a suddenly released dubiously tested medical treatment, that in September 2021, necessitated the literal redefinition of the word "vaccine." Believing in humanity's universal God-given Freedom of Choice, I made no such demands upon my loved ones and refused to live my life in fear. Goodbye, intolerant former friends.

All but bootleg nightlife in Florida's capital disappeared for a year as most I knew cowered in place, variously complaining and joking about masks and personal space violations. Social media was ablaze for months and anger was in no short supply -- at those who refused to share in the fear, or worse, appeared in public without wearing masks. I still chuckle when seeing the occasional compliant mask-clad motorist driving alone.

***

In early 2021, everyone in my department except me became eligible to "work from home" for the duration of the emergency, leaving me isolated and forgotten by everyone more important than me, which had recently become everyone. Two years earlier, my supervisor "Dagwood" breezed by my office, announcing, "Good news, Mitch, you're now a systems administrator!" Dagwood lied. After 25 years with great performance reviews, I'd been demoted to the department's lowest position, but my duties remained the same, of which no one else was made aware. Co-workers found glee in my predicament, emailing me, "LOL, Mitch, a customer had been looking for {a service I still provided}, but LOL, we thought you didn't handle that anymore." It became up to me to reactively notify customers that I still continued to perform the same work for them after my "good news" demotion. Colleagues of whom I regularly asked questions began asking why I needed answers. When I lamented of humiliation because of these interactions to my boss, "Milquetoast Mike," he invariably simply told me, "I'm sorry, Mitch." When I repeatedly asked what I had done to deserve this, 'Mike said he didn't know, and repeated his apology. He never seemed interested in knowing why and agreed when I remarked that no one demotes a valued employee but told me he valued me. Big whoop.

For more than a year, I was left alone to put my advanced college degree to good use for the first time in my primary occupation. I formed and led a diverse team from other agencies, achieving great public successes during and after the 'demic, which have been thoroughly documented here. 

In Spring 2022, the Chief Information Officer gave the department's annual pep talk to hundreds, telling us all what a great job everyone was doing. He especially emphasized employees being in charge of their own careers, exhorting all to discuss personal plans for progress and success with their supervisors. I thoroughly documented all my recent achievements in email to my boss and asked for a well-deserved raise and promotion. 'Mike personally visited me and told me it was impossible because, "We pay you too much money already, and every systems administrator deserves a raise before you." 'Mike failed me spectacularly.

Then my team and I won three annual State of Florida productivity awards in the next three years. I personally won another in the same timeframe. Correspondingly, I was twice demoted annually, and then on Oct. 30, 2024, 'Mike told me I was required to remove my hat. I'd worn my hat every day on the job for the past ten years. Just a year before, I had complained to 'Mike that I'd felt that my every achievement was being specifically punished by the department. I believed it was to send a message to all in the department that I would never be rewarded for any achievement. "Please don't take this personally," 'Mike told me.

"It's always personal," I replied. 

I called Human Resources and after weeks of consultation on Nov. 21, signed and submitted a formal complaint detailing and reporting all offenses by each party who had publicly belittled, demeaned, and gone out of their way to hurt me. It had taken a dedicated team of high-level department personnel working together to effect their malice, and I cited examples for each offender. I was told to expect a response within six to eight weeks and continued my team's and my valiant service. 

I was ignored for three months and quit with a short month's notice served on February 21, 2025. I left quietly and on my terms after 32 years on March 21, 2025. I liked the work I'd been so successful at and would otherwise been happy to have continued working, so refused to check RETIREMENT on my presumably public exit interview. I checked "Other," and specified:

Bullying; Humiliation; Multiple demotions; Continuous punishment for achievement

My department's insincerity was only exceeded by its dishonesty, and I don't miss the discriminatory application of any of their "values." Good riddance to bad rubbish.

***

Family outings were difficult though not impossible to achieve, if we were willing to travel outside City limits, and not be too particular about meals served outside in Florida's heat and humidity, without paper products. If health inspectors were locked down "working from home," then what's a few violations among friends? 

My youngest grandson was not yet grown, and we regularly sought out adventures around town, traveling to the Rusty Trucks monument in Crawfordville, canoeing on the Apalachicola River, and horseback riding with his 7-year-old niece, also my own very first riding experience.

***

While standing in line to renew my driver license during 'Rona, I was treated to the voice of an officiant at the next window telling a young first-time driver, "I will not be present in the car with you during your driving test..." Fortunately, those people have now been driving for at least a few years now.

***

Halloween 2020 was in doubt all year. I'd enjoyed great success in 2019 dressed as Greg with Lofty Pursuits and his iconic green ice cream truck and needed something universal for 'Rona. I methodically disassembled the body of my ice cream truck and using most of its original materials, rebuilt it as an ambulance, complete with electronic siren and flashing lights. My grown granddaughter allowed me to use her baby doll Phoebe, which we had named together, on a gurney inside, viewable by opening the rescue vehicle's back doors. 

I found and won a very few costume contests around town in October, and during my online searching for more, discovered virtual costume contests, held online. They required at least a photo and online description, but unlike local events, no physical attendance.

I have a large family, all of whom were living with me at the time and ideated including the children for Halloween. I suggested to my six-year-old great-granddaughter that I'd be happy to include her in my costume, and she was very interested. She dressed as a zombie nurse and I wielded a knife and wore a Jason mask. As the Vorhees Family EMS, we won more than a dozen costume contests across the world, in Canada, the United States, and Israel. 

"Those were the best {and worst} days of my life."