"Hanging by a Shoelace" or "Tied Up in an Emergency"

I went to the Neighborhood Walmart last night. Susan always buys milk on Saturday, but when I got home the realization hit that the recent run on supplies might make that difficult. So, I volunteered to go. Besides, I enjoy watching train wrecks, tornadoes, WWII bombings, and other devastation.

Milk was gone ... except for the 1%. It was low, but there was 1% milk to be had. Maybe they had extra 1% milk? Or, is it not a cool thing to buy when grabbing emergency supplies?

This morning, I filled up the car and also went through a McDonald's drive-thru and asked for a coronavirus-free sausage muffin and drink. The lady taking my order laughed. Traffic was light, so I stopped at the big Walmart near my Riverton Office Building to get the oil changed. I walked in and asked for coronavirus-free oil. The attendant smiled and told me he had some. Things were looking good!

I went in to the store while I waited. The sliced bread shelf and the canned goods were ransacked and gone. I wandered over to the bakery. All of those bread products were plentiful.

Because of this, and my 1% milk experience, I started making mental notes of what is needed for an emergency and what is not. I know this is not scientific. It is just kind of fascinating. My conclusion: sliced bread is a necessity, rolls and buns and muffins (and donuts) are not.

I realized I was out of Excedrin. At the pharmacy section, the analgesics and other pain relievers are gone gone gone. Cold medicine, gone. Allergy medicine, gone.

But vitamins and supplements are plentiful. Hmmmmmm.

I also remembered that I need shoelaces. I headed to the shoe section and immediately noticed that large spots of the shoe section are bare. That has to be a coincidence, right? 

And, the laces? Only a handful of long ones are left. Nothing for shoes with fewer than seven rows of eyelets are available. Again, a coincidence, right? Or should I have made mad dash for the shoelaces a couple of days ago? I feel soooooooo unprepared!

Rudy Gobert has ruined everything.

In all seriousness, though, I hope you all are doing well. If you are around Sunday, you are welcome to come by and worship with us if you'd like. But, we do seem to have an outbreak of Influenza B at our house, so you might not want to.

Enoch tested positive for it, and Susie and Esther seem to have it as well, and Joshua may be at risk now, too. But, it was not coronavirus. I'm almost disappointed. 

As bad as the illness seems to be our children's disappointment at the activities being canceled that they have been looking forward to. Rachel's history fair project went to region, but the region competition is canceled. [UPDATE: it will be a virtual competition, which is nice.] (Her orchestra got a 1 from all three judges though before everything was nixed.) The musicals they have worked so hard for are at risk. Field trips are canceled. Andrew had a beautiful solo planned for the choir concert Monday. And, what about Andrew's scheduled trip to San Diego over spring break?

I can imagine the disappointment of all the college athletes, performers, etc. And, I am sure there is a lot of anxiety for the bottom rung workers who do jobs for transportation and theaters and event productions and all of those things.

Which reminds me: the production of The Music Man at the Centerpointe Theatre I bought tickets for are also at risk. All of March's performances have been canceled. But, so far, April's performances are still a go.

Last and whiniest of all, I find it truly ironic that, of all industries, mine is exceptionally well-built for stay-at-home work -- in fact, we are required to be able to work remotely -- but my managers want us working in Riverton as usual. 

I really don't mean to complain. I just find it very ironic, and quite baffling, too. I'm sure there are political "don't cause panic" reasons for this. But when I think about this decision, my brain cannot help but repeat a phrase I learned from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?: "dumber than a sack of hammers". 

That isn't very charitable. I'm sure management's intelligence is about on par with that of a sack of hammers. And they put hand-sanitizer near the elevators for us. A sack of hammers wouldn't do that.

I love you all! Hang in there. I know these aren't your only trials. But, let's do our best to appreciate our blessings and even enjoy these interesting times. We will always remember this! And, let me know if you need anything.