Friends,I have to get this off my chest with less than 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. I’m scared.I’m actually very scared.  Let me first say this. Social connection is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to good health.That is a large part of the reason the last 8 months have sucked, so bad.Sucked in ways that no one else can even begin to understand.With COVID, elections, economy, etc. – my family, friends, patients and neighbors are stressed and anxious.Most days, I think we all are. Our WWAD Mission Statement, that we LIVE by every single day is to: ‘Inspire communities through movement and conversation’. Conversation = Social connectionSocial connection this year has been out the window.With the Kilimanjaro Challenge, you are buoying us and we love you for it.Thank you. Here’s the nasty stuff: In my opinion, the COVID positive tests, hospital admissions, and tragically, deaths will be obscene in December and January. They’re already horrible today. They are going to be disastrous because the perfect storm is coming. We can prevent the storm. Here are the WHO’s recommendations.  This is what I hear from many of my Ohio patients:“This will be over ‘after the election’.” Nope. That was never the case and actually It’s much worse since.It cannot be explained by ‘more testing’.Yes, the percentage of people dying has improved but the numbers are increased overall due to the sheer volume of positive cases.And, unfortunately many are suffering long term even if they had mild or no symptoms.This is not ‘fake news’.Wearing a mask is NOT political. It is lifesaving.This is science.This is 100% real.I have no skin in the game to try and scare you, I want to make you laugh and enjoy life.Now, I want you to survive. I hate saying this next sentence, but it is true. In 2020, sitting down, inside, across from loved ones without a mask (even for a meal) is, unfortunately, dangerous.  I love Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday. Family, food, friends, football – it’s the best. Surveys are showing that 40% of us are planning on gatherings greater than 10 people and many will not be wearing masks. No one will be wearing masks while they are eating. There are some good recommendations in this article from our local paper.Here is what the CDC recommends. Now, finally to the subject line, please make me the bad guy. Feel free to forward this email.Feel free to say the jerk cardiologist said it was a really bad idea.Whatever you need to do, use me. I’ve had some patients share they are absolving their kids/grandkids from guilt by saying ‘not this year’.  Their kids, to a person, appreciated that immensely. They’re scared about transmitting it. There is plenty of internet advice on how to have a creative alternative Thanksgiving.None of them approach the real thing. The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Is it worth it?”“Is it worth the high risk?” I fully understand that this will not change many plans.But, if it changes just one family’s plan, it’s worth it. The vaccines are right around the corner; they literally are.Monoclonal antibodies are right around the corner.I want to guarantee the next 20, 30, 50 Thanksgiving’s and not sacrifice them for this year. I love you guys. That is the reason I felt I had to send this.David

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