Taking Stock

 A few months have passed and I thought it was a great time to take stock.

In these months of being shutdown, wearing a mask and adhering to social distancing mandates, I feel just fine. I've altered my life to fit the circumstances. And, it was not all that difficult to do. Granted...

• I do not have school-aged children to care for while working from home.
• My elder parents passed in 2018, so those concerns were no longer present.
• The company I work for has promised to let us work remotely until this pandemic has ceased.
• My customers are also working remotely, so there's no pressure to make in-person calls in their workplace.
• I live in a neighborhood where we have plenty of open space and can walk safely.
• My house is on a wooded lot, so I can enjoy nature without dealing with other people.
• I have a great life mate who takes good care of me (does the shopping!)

In other words, I am very fortunate!

This pandemic has given us the opportunity of a lifetime to reexamine our lives and the choices we make. Because of the shutdown, we have more time to reflect and yes, deal with the impacts this situation has forced upon us. I feel for the small business owners who are struggling to stay in business and am so sad for those who lost the battle. I am grateful to the people working in health care who are on the front line helping the sick and for those who are working to keep the rest of us healthy. I am amazed at the fortitude of parents and teachers embracing change to make learning work for our children while keeping them safe. 

On the other hand, I am dismayed by our national response. As Americans I would have thought we'd pull together to deal with these difficult and life-threatening circumstances, finding ways to make things safer and even better when we emerge from the pandemic. I always believed what made our democracy the model for the world was how much we cared about each other and how we found ways to work together. Sadly, this threat has only proved we are not the people I thought we were.

I have no answers except one... Vote! 

If you are unhappy with how things are today, you have the power to change them! And, the chance to do so is less than a month away. Anyone who choses to not vote has forfeited their right to complain.

I don't know how things will turn out, but I do know it all depends on how many people turnout!