This...

This is what the lady and I call this corona virus 19 that has the world at it's feet. It is the master of the supermarkets, the hospitals, the churches and of course, the schools. "This" is shutting down our way of life as we have known it all of our natural lives. Never ever, have I in my wildest dreams or imagination would I have thought that a virus would disrupt my train of thought, let alone my way of life. It's called worry. I worry about my family and the economy. I find myself worrying a lot nowadays.

I am a caregiver to a lady that is only three years older than I am, but has some health issues that calls for someone to be with her to provide assistance with most things. We eat together and watch television together. She likes political stations. I do not like that kind of thing. Give me a Notebook or a Bambi movie and I am set for the evening. However, nowadays, I am tuned in at least to the audio of the channel that she watches. "This" (she points to the television) is this going to make it so I can't go to the beauty shop? Does "this" mean that I shouldn't go to the doctor for my test?

My husband called me in the midst of some of these many questions to tell me that our little store now has toilet paper. The price is $10.00 for four rolls. What? "This" is ruling our fundemental right to care for ourselves and others.

Yesterday I watched church services via the internet. The service was from the little town where I lived with my husband and small children years ago. It was sad to see the minister sitting on the floor in an empty church visiting with us sometimes shaking his head in disbelief as he also could not believe the effect of this new master that has so many defeated and sick and terrified.

"This" has me thinking of the stories that my mother told me of the days of the Great Depression which she and my father lived through. No one hoarded then; they moved. They moved for a nickel an hour more for their pay. They lived in coal shacks, they painted with calcimine paint or whitewash. They fixed and patched and shared their food with others. They went on picnics which consisted of bread and butter sandwiches and cold water. There was a trick to keep that water cold. You wrap a burlap sack that was soaked with cold water around a glass canning jar. There were no Igloo coolers.

My mother also told me of another time. A time of whooping cough which caused so  many deaths of children. Tiny babies that were children of their friends. A baby of four months old, for one that was our neighbor. She told me that I had whooping cough, but she had me vaccinated so it wasn't deadly.
Then there was polio. Polio the killer; iron lungs which helped people breathe, but they could only see their visiters with a mirror. Now this new Master is causing visitors to have to visit with their family or friends through the windows of nursing homes. Thank goodness for cell phones so they can actually talk to each other. Of course, some folks are unable to talk....

"This", like the Great Depression, is going to have lasting effects on future generations just like the horrible things that I have just mentioned. Them being just a few I might add. I have a small inner smile when I hear folks collecting things like Depression glass, iris pitchers and glasses. I know for a fact that the iris pitcher I have of my mother's cost a dime; a dime. Will there be things for future generations to collect from "This"? I can't even imagine what it would be.

I love children and writing little stories in my daily blog. I love to see them share and be kind. "This" has caused many acts of greed and unkind deeds and words to be said. However, this morning I was reading some Facebook posts. Guess what? Familys are watching church together on their computers, the children are in the kitchen baking and cooking with their parents. And snuggle time has hit an all time high. "This" may have caused unmeasurable acts of unkindness towards others, but I am seeing a family unit once again begin to knit a closer relationship that will create memories for a lifetime.
Stay safe and be kind to one another. Don't let "This" be your master, we will overcome this as did other generations their own "This".