Star Date: March 15, 2020
Life as we knew it on March 1st…just fourteen days earlier, no longer existed. A global pandemic originating out of China was swiftly sweeping the world. Hundreds, thousands were falling ill to what we know as the ‘Coronavirus.’ Nicked-named COVID-19, the virus is out of control with no end in sight, and now it had reached the United States.
America was not prepared.
Overnight, America was transported back to the 1940’s – 1950’s. While this was a harsh dose of reality, it honestly wasn’t bad!
Shocking. Life changing. But not altogether, bad.
The busyness of the family came to a screeching halt. Mandates were put out at the local, state and national levels about quarantines and shelter-in-place orders. Businesses were shut down. Schools were closed. Daycares were closed.
And toilet paper couldn’t be found. Not. Even. Kidding.
With schools and daycares closed, the responsibilities of raising and educating the children were now on the parents. Many parents were forced to ‘work from home’ allowing them to home school their kids. No longer did we hear complaints from parents about ‘how bad the teachers were…how horrible the teachers were treating ‘my’ kids…my kids don’t do no wrong, the problem is the teacher.’ Immediately, parents understood just how valuable those teachers really are.
Not only were many parents packing up their offices and moving home, but a multitude of people were out of a job period. With business of all shapes and sizes closed, unemployment went through the roof. A small stimulus check from the government was sent out to most families, with the intention of helping with daily expenses since there was no income arriving other than the ‘much-less-than-needed’.
That didn’t work.
People blew right through that in no time flat. You have to forgive me, but I would much rather use that money for rent and groceries instead of new flatscreens or a pair Air Jordan’s.
For the next 4 months, corporations learned real quick that high-dollar office complexes and corporate expenses have been wasted for years. They learned the hard way that productivity was exponentially greater by allowing as many positions as possible to work from home instead of covering that added expenses.
Due to the inability of keeping the facilities clean, restaurants also closed. That eliminated THOUSANDS of fast-food meals. Now, meals were cooked…and served at home. This was a revelation to many.
The family unit had been put back together. Something that hadn’t been seen in decades. Generations of people seriously had no concept that ‘THIS’ was what family ‘SHOULD’ look like.
Big box stores that had taken over the retail landscape of America were now suddenly opening later, and closing earlier. Much, much different than what was their normal 24/7 availability. Mom and Pop establishments were once again seen as the bedrocks in community. ‘Shop local’ became the town cry.
It was actually refreshing…in a chaotic sort of way…to see the past begin to somewhat repeat itself.
But this thing was far from over…….
…to be continued.
jwm 
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