Somehow this nasty virus had slipped through the cracks of security and was now intent on destroying our country. We were told that it will kill our older, weaker, sickly population. We were ordered to stay home to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We were only allowed out if it was absolutely necessary. Many hurried to grocery stores to stock up on milk, bread, and toilet paper. Oh yes, toilet paper! It was to become as precious as gold.
Schools closed! Preschools, Elementary, Middle School, High Schools and Colleges. Teachers and Parents had to learn how to teach online. School lunch programs had to figure out how to feed kids that depended on them for their breakfast and lunch. Students were isolated from their classmates and friends.
Families found themselves together more often than ever before. For some, this was wonderful but for others it was a living nightmare. Struggling marriages were falling apart at the seams, tearful children were getting on each others last nerve, and to top that paychecks stopped coming. Let's not even start talking about unemployment and stimulus checks.
In the beginning we thought that all would be back to normal in a couple of weeks. Well 2 weeks turned into 8 weeks and we are just now starting to breathe the fresh air of freedom. Freedom to get out and meet with our friends and family (with 6 feet of Social Distance between us and masks on!)
We have 3 phases here in Pennsylvania: The Red Phase is where we were. The Yellow Phase is where we are and the Green Phase is where we want to be.
I think we will all be changed by this. We will all have a "New Normal." For some it will mean appreciating their home, job and family more. Some may feel the need to get out and explore, not put things off because who knows what tomorrow will bring. Some may hoard and save things just in case this happens again. I hope that we will be kinder and gentler to each other when we all come together again. I'm looking forward to long hugs and longer conversations.
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