COVID-19 Testing through the 2021-22 School year

My name is Sean Claes. 

I am a high school teacher in Texas.

I teach at a district that required masks for the 2021-22 school year.

Beginning in August 2021, I decided I would take a COVID-19 test each week and write about it.

This is much more than a weekly test, it's something to help me cope with the things I see and experience as being in the world surrounded by the pandemic. 

It is a diary. 

It is a mission.

It is a historical document.

It is a first-person report from my perspective of what I see, experience and have loved ones experience dealing with COVID-19 on a daily basis.

My blog is called "Love Moves First"

I believe if one leads with love, they are moving forward with the intent to help not harm.

This is where I'll keep the links to the different weeks.

My Journey:

Week 1 - link
Week 2 - link
Week 3 - link

Week 4 - link

Week 5 - link

Week 6 - link

Week 7 - link

Week 8 - link

Week 9 - link

Week 10 - link

Week 11 - link

Week 12 - link

Week 13 - link

Week 14 - link

Week 15- link

Week 16 - link

Week 17 - link

Week 18 - link

Week 19 - link

Week 20 - link Week 21 - link

Week 22 - link

Week 23 - link

Week 24 - link

Week 25 - link  

Week 26 - link

Week 27 and 28 - link

Week 29 - link

Week 30 - Missed

Week 31 - link

Week 32 - link

Week 33 and 34 - link

Week 35 and 36 - link

Week 37 - link

Week 35-36 of school (33 and 34th COVID-19 test)

 The United States is nearing 1 million people who have died from COVID-19.

For every 100,000 residents, 303 people have died from COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. 

1/3 of those deaths are of people who got sick and passed away AFTER the vaccine was available and they were not vaccinated. That means many those deaths were likely preventable if people would not have politicized taking preventative measures... and those who weren't able to take the vaccine because of medical reasons could have had a much greater chance at being here today.

I tested last week and the week before. 

Week 35-36 of school.

My 33 and 34th COVID-19 Test.

I was negative both times.

I continue to mask.

My family and I are now one of the last in the room masking.

I continue masking in crowds.

There have been 3,015 cases in Travis County in the last 2 weeks.

There have been 414 cases in Hays County.

I wear a mask so if I come into contact with someone who is sick, I don't carry it on to my loved ones, you or your loved ones.

I do it because I love you.

#lovemovesfirst

2 more weeks of school left. I will wrap up my "COVID-19 testing through the school year" weekly posts. Thank you for reading these. I hope they have informed, educated and perhaps helped you feel seen and heard.

Week 32 of school.
31st COVID-19 test 

I was approached at a meeting this week by a person in their 70s. She thanked me for wearing my mask inside as she was feeling like she wouldn’t because none of her friends were wearing theirs and my wearing mine gave her the courage to put hers on. 

How sad is that? Someone who is at risk wasn’t wearing a mask because she thought someone would point her out and make a comment. 

I’ve had that experience too. Comments (In a sarcastic tone) like “Oh, you don’t HAVE to wear a mask in here.” “You can take that thing off in here.” Or “Oh, you’re still doing that?”

I calmly explain that I’m a high school teacher and I am just taking extra precautions to do my best to protect the students and their loved ones as well as my own family who are immunocompromised. At this point, you do what makes you comfortable, and I will do the same.

I will continue to choose to attend or not attend meetings and events based on the protocols in place and my general feeling of safety. When I do, I will be masked inside and while in crowds. 

I do it because I love you. 

I do it because you should not feel pressured to “unmask” before you’re comfortable.

I do it because your health and safety is more important than me being slightly uncomfortable with foggy glasses. 

I do it because I am getting back out into the world and want to make sure I don’t get anyone else sick.

I do it because #LoveMovesFirst
I tested last Saturday. I was negative.

Transgender Texans, You Are Loved (Thoughts on Governor's 2/22/22 "Order")

Texas, We Are Better Than This.

This is my reflection on this news:

Texas Governor Pushes to Investigate Medical Treatments for Trans Youth as ‘Child Abuse’

In a letter on Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate gender-affirming treatments for transgender adolescents as “child abuse.” (from NY Times 2/23/22)

 

It’s 2022. Texas, we’re better than this. 

In a time when self-care and mental health is more important than ever, for a leader like Greg Abbott to come forward with an “order” on 2/22/22 to criminalize medical treatment for trans youth is at best confusing and at worst deadly. 

It is staggering how many people he is willing to hurt to appeal to his ultra-conservative constituents in an election cycle.

I will continue to affirm and love.

A human has the right to seek medical care to allow them live the gender identity outwardly they are internally. 

Transgender kids… you are seen. You are believed. You are loved. Please know you are loved.

Texas… it’s your job to voice your love for our kids with your vote. It’s time to remove Abbott from office in November. 

Lead with love. 

#LoveMovesFirst

The Bible is not at the core of Christianity

Been thinking about faith and church lately. 

 It occurs to me that so many, even clergy, get the whole premise of Christianity wrong. 

The Bible is not at the core of Christianity. The resurrection is. 

 The Bible is man made and is fallible. 

 Jesus is infallible. 

Jesus died for our sins. 

Jesus rose. 

Jesus loved. 

Jesus is love. 

The Lord’s love is unceasing. 

Love moved first. 

Love moves first. 

#LoveMovesFirst

P-38 Can Opener

This is a P-38 can opener.

Those who are former military may recognize these - they were included in canned field rations from 1942 - 1980s. I was in a church meeting today (1/23/21) for

Kyle United Methodist Church

. The church has had a blessings box food pantry on church property for the last few years (thank you to those who have and continue supported it) and, with the help of individuals and groups in town it has stayed fairly stocked. The need is still there and the canned goods inside tend to get picked up and refilled several times a week.

Anyhow... while talking to someone who was picking up food, Pastor

Stella Burkhalter

learned that, while it's not something most think about as essential because most of us have several of them lying around, there are some who are experiencing a change in housing, homelessness or have left a bad situation and don't have a can opener. It's not something you think about needing until you're looking at a can and don't know how to open it...

So.. P-38 Can Openers.

While looking for inexpensive items I could find in bulk I came across $50 for a pack of 100. They are also on Amazon for $169.96 for a pack of 500 (photo below).

Why else did these jump out at me?

It says "U.S. Shelby Co." on the piece.... Thats' because P-38s were produced at the Mallin Shelby Hardware Inc in Shelby, Ohio.

Shelby Ohio. That is where my Grandparents are from and where my father grew up. My grandfather is 95 years old and on February 3, 2020 my grandmother passed away in Shelby). It was just 13 days shy of what would have been their 75th Anniversary,

SO...to help me honor them... if anyone would like to pitch in with me to buy 100 or 500 P-38 Can openers with "U.S. Shelby Co" stamped on them that will be used to hand out to folks who are in need... Donate what you like to me at my PayPal.

FYI:

This post was adapted from a post I made on Facebook on January 23, 2021. I'm posting it February 19, 2021... but post-dating it so the story of this Journey is captured from the beginning. When Love Moves First, amazing things can happen.

#LoveMovesFirst