APRIL 12 & 13, 2020 – Took a day off of blogging/podcasting April 11 and focused on some long overdue projects. FINALLY got to that building. It felt really good to empty it out and fill up a trash can. Of course, we still have a few things that should be gone through with a fine tooth comb, but the bulk of things that needed to be gone IS GONE! Logic and life has changed in the building layout. Before when you walked in, the back wall was covered in baseball/sports equipment, front and center sort of. The yard tools were off to right, hard to get to and always a mess. Well, we no longer have a need for sports equipment, and while we don’t really need yard tools, it made sense to move the yard tools to front and center. We dwindled down the abundance of baseball/softball and soccer gear. Found an old ladderball game in the bag that was literally disintegrating. Every time we moved it we would find fabric in a pile of powder where it had been laying. It’s amazing what time and heat can do to things like that.
While that project was being done, hubby had his hands full doing an upgraded exhaust on his wheels. From time to time, we would stop and lend a hand. By 3:30, our projects were done and we recovered inside. It was perfect timing, as the rain that had threatened us all day finally hit. It was hard and steady for a few hours. I took a journey and did my CorelDraw lesson and tinkered with some personal projects. I drove the 16-18 miles and noticed how empty everything looked. Sure, it was nearly 5pm on Easter Sunday but I know for a fact that any other Sunday holiday would have had parking lots full. Sure, it isn’t “any other Sunday holiday”…we are in the midst of a pandemic. There is a new normal unfolding out there. After a few hours with CorelDraw, I made my way back home. Never coming in contact with anyone. Strange. I mean, I’ve done this before but it felt stranger this time. I decided to take a chance and see if another Kroger was open…it was just after 7 and I couldn’t recall hours. As I made my way to Brannon Crossing, I noticed immediately that things were shut down. I have NEVER seen the parking lot(s) that empty before. It is so hard to put into words. My first thought was, as a kid on a bike or skateboard, this parking lot would be awesome! Not a single car in sight. No traffic, unless you counted me, in and out. No pedestrians wandering aimlessly. No buggies dotting the lots. It was eerie. So, I made my way back to the safety of my home. Again, not stopping and engaging in any person-to-person contact. Not that I needed or wanted to, but if I had, where would I have gone…everything was shut down!
Grabbed a little snack and made my way to bed a little earlier than usual. Was woken during the night to storms. Unbeknownst to me, those storms that woke me was nothing compared to what folks had down South! WOW.
April 13, 2020 – Woke up to the news of tornado(s) and loss of life down South. I checked around on a few friends/family. Stayed glued to social media for most of the morning. Several had checked in via text and that was nice. Though they won’t have power restored for some time, they seemed to be hunkering down and riding it out in the safety of their homes.
Then, I made a quick supply trip. I had placed a pickup order at my local SAMs club the day before…forgot that detail. Anyway…the pickup window was suppose to be 3-4pm. I woke to an e-mail & text that it was ready, but kinda got sidetracked with the news back home.
Now, I’m going to explain my experience here as best as I can because folks, this is some strange times we are living in and strange things happen. I arrived. Parked. Finished my phone call with a friend while checking in on the app. The app said for me to park in the pickup location and they will be out to greet me. I couldn’t find a clearly marked pickup location anywhere. Finally, I called. Got through the menu and got a voice. I simply asked “am I missing the sign or am I suppose to go in?”
She said, “well, you can or you can just put up to the door and if you get me your name and what car you are in we will send someone out”.
Of course, the idea of pickup is to avoid going in so I said, “I’m at the door now”. Described my vehicle and waited. FINALLY. After sitting for about two or three minutes watching people around me…a lady came out, asked to see my driver’s license. I had my SAMs card in hand..but OK. Then she said, “I’ll be back, I have to go pick it”!
I was like, “um..wait a minute. I got an e-mail and text this morning saying it was ready and the app said it is ready, but you have to go pick it??”
She said, “yeah. We don’t pick it until you arrive, in case you don’t show”. Off she went leaving me sitting…sitting where the only clear marking was “NO PARKING”. OK.. I will sit and wait.
While I waited. I noticed some interesting things. Now, it turned cold here today, high was like 46F. People had on jackets, hoodies, sweaters and the like. Added to that attire was coverings over faces. It was probably easier to count those NOT covered. I saw bandanas (put on as people approached the door), typical ‘surgical’ masks and the obvious home made masks. I did notice, that in most cases when a man and woman were walking together, only the woman had on the mask. I also witnessed a very interesting take on the mask use. In front of me, the liquor store. Inside, I could see a customer with what appeared to be a surgical mask and latex gloves. As she exited in front of me, the cashier came out from behind the register, walked in front of the doors and back to the register. She had on NO mask or gloves. Then, another employee walked in the doors… stopped, talked to this lady for a minute and then out walked the cashier. As she walked out, she finished putting on clear latex gloves and her face mask… AS SHE WALKED OUTSIDE FOLKS!! I don’t get it! The purpose is to avoid contamination from others INSIDE and OUT?!?!?! Right !??!
Oh well. I did come to the conclusion that I am NOT ready for this ‘new normal’. Everyone walking around with designer masks and gloves. Like Michael Jackson! I just cannot do it. I cannot. I simply cannot be treated as if I am the type of person who sneezes or coughs all over society with no respect. I DO NOT DO THAT. If this or any other virus is airborne, it will require us to be in bubbles soon. I cannot live like that. The mumbling beneath masks will be enough to drive me insane. You know you can NEVER hear anyone when they have on a mask…think about dentist visits! The gloves. Don’t even get me started on that. They are pointless! To be effective, you would have to change them after you touch something EVERY TIME! Because if you don’t you will transfer the germs to your wallet, purse, phone, car, purchases etc. Think about all the germs over the years we have ALL come in contact with when you touch a keypad at the grocery store. Do you REALLY think they are going to be cleaned after EVERY customer touches them? NO! That means those gloves you wore all through the store may have gotten infected and if by some miracle they didn’t, they will at the keypad!
I sat there waiting on my purchases and realized that sitting in my car was where I needed to be. Other than watching a society before me covered in masks and deadly gloves, I saw the normal stupid and selfish members NOT place their buggy in the storage corral, pushing it just a scooch away from their fancy truck as they pulled off from the handicap spot – that they clearly were NOT suppose to be in!
Once I got my goods, I left. I made the trip straight home and unloaded what I hope is NOT contaminated goods. We will be okay for another week or so and I bet the next outing will pretty much the same.
I close and ask that folks give my hometown some positive vibes, prayer or whatever. #SenecaStrong They are dealing with cleanup and thousands without power and this COVID pandemic on top of it all. I wish I could lend a hand.
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