When I was in college I took a class and read a book in that class that changed me forever. The book? Hard Times, by Studs Terkel.
The book was basically a collection of interviews with people who had lived through the Great Depression and how they had coped. I found it so much more compelling to hear the voices of real people, recalling real events, and how they managed their lives in a terrible time.
I learned a lot from talking to my parents about events they had lived through, like the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
I wish they had written down their recollections, or that I had taped or filmed them.
Right now we are living in history -- a global pandemic. People all over the world are dying. The ones of us not sick are going to great lengths not to get sick, or get our older family members sick.
Here's a tip: write down what it's like to live through this crisis. Save it somewhere. Or video yourself talking about it, if you don't like to write. We are living in history but one day, these days of quarantine will be a distant memory. Let's leave a compelling account for the generations to come.
I've never in my life had the government telling me not to leave my house. This is unprecedented.
As of 9 pm tonight my county [DeKalb County] will be under a "stay at home" order. As I understand it, that means we can go to the grocery store or to get gas or other "essential" activities, but that's it. I was a bit irritated until I was watching the news and I saw that Atlanta will be the next "hot spot" for Coronavirus. Seems oddly poetic, since we are the headquarters of the CDC.
Not all the news is bad.
All of us with kids at home are teaching our kids how to weather tough times -- something this generation needs to know. The kids are being forced to get their heads away from phones and ipads and x-boxes and really pay attention to the world. That's actually a great thing.
One of my favorite journalists, Steve Hartman, posted a wonderful video about kindness. Kids learn decency and compassion and kindness mostly from their parents.
I can't really do much to help anyone, but I have been trying hard to stay positive, and post things on social media that are funny [see below].
I've heard there is an alarming rise in suicides these days. USA Today published an article about this last week. This is difficult to hear. I have two friends who lost their sons to suicide [several years ago, not recently], and that heartbreak will never leave them. Yes, the world is very screwed up right now. Yes, it's hard to cope. No, suicide is not the answer. It solves everything for the person doing it, but creates so much pain for those left behind.
Faith helps. I have faith that God will see me and my family through this. It will not be easy, but then so much of life isn't easy. Asking for an easy life is a waste of time. Life will always be hard.
Even if you aren't a believer, think about this. Everything goes in cycles. Right now we are in a down cycle, but it won't last forever. Good times will return.
I pray every day that this pandemic will end soon. I pray that our leaders will lead wisely.
I just ordered flower seeds from Amazon. As soon as they come in I will plant them, along with some veggie seeds I have saved.
My favorite proverb: "The cure for dirt is soap and water. The cure for death is LIFE." Go out and live. Take a walk. Cook a meal. Hug your loved ones -- the ones in quarantine with you, of course.
LIVE and LOVE and know these times will pass.
