My brother Johnny and I used to share so many memories, growing up in our home with our mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather. We were very close, like twins, and we often knew what the other was feeling or thinking.

My elderly mother is still alive but her memory is extremely poor. I now am the only one with all these memories since I have no other siblings to share them with. It did not have to be this way. Our country’s lack of preparation for a public health emergency such as Covid was shameful and in my opinion criminally negligent. I should still be sharing so many wonderful memories and moments with Johnny.