A Little Patience

As more and more of us become vaccinated and feel the world reopening after more than a year under the weight of the pandemic, there is a sense of freedom and a desire to see life return to the way it was.

However, the reality is that recovery from the pandemic will come in steps. Here, at least, the news offers more positives than negatives when it comes to COVID-19. New York State has a vaccination rate of 70 percent for eligible adults and teens, and Suffolk County is comfortably keeping pace. Regardless, while one person might feel elated to toss away a mask, belly up at a bar or enjoy live music for the first time in many months, others might still feel most comfortable in their own homes. As we all hope to return the simple joys of life that were stripped away from the summer of 2020, patience and empathy will be required across the board during the summer of 2021.

One recent example is the Sag Harbor Yacht Club’s decision to cancel its Fourth of July fireworks display for the second consecutive year. It was an easy and necessary decision last summer. This year, it might frustrate some — it was disappointing to see some in Sag Harbor launch into tirades on social media — but those who enjoy watching fireworks may not understand that these events take months of planning, and the landscape in early spring was very different than it is now.

The Sag Harbor Yacht Club, at great expense, has given the community fireworks every year since 1996. We should be expressing gratitude for their endeavors, rather than criticizing them for deciding not to take the responsibility of packing thousands into downtown Sag Harbor at a time when discretion is still warranted.

We all want to see life return to normal. We all want fireworks. But we all need to have patience — with the limitations of individuals and groups — as we feel our way out of this pandemic and come together as a community once again.