We’re living in odd times right now.  This virus isn’t going to be the end of mankind.  I promise.  But it has changed just about everyone’s way of life.  At least for the time being.

Restrictions on social interactions.  Restrictions on travel.  Nearly every sporting event cancelled or postponed.

And school closings.

When this thing first kicked in I predicted it would hit both of the U.S. coasts.  I told several people that the Pacific Northwest would get hit first, but California would follow soon after.  New York was an easy prediction.  I also thought Atlanta would get hit hard but so far they either haven’t or they’re lying.  And then from there it would move in both directions toward middle America.  Then Chicago and Tejas would go down.

I was mostly right.  West Virginia was the last holdout.  Kinda surprised by that.  But they got it a coupla days ago.

But even as bad as it is, I am extremely pleased that it hasn’t gotten any worse than it has.  Illness and mortality wise that is.  There is still a lot unknown about how this could go.  But for now it’s much less worse than I thought.  At least so far.

However because of the hysteria which is still firmly in place, and apparently will be for at least weeks if not longer, there are social and economic aspects to deal with.  Cities shutting down.  Businesses closing which may never be able to recover.  People who have to figure out both how to make ends meet because of lost employment, while also figuring out child care options while they try to find new jobs.

Here in North Carolina they have closed the schools until at least May 15th.  That’s a big deal for a couple of reasons.

First, the child care issue I already mentioned.  But it’s more than just that.  A lot of these kids are from underprivileged families.  They live paycheck to paycheck, and even just barely that.  Their children get their food, their meals, at least breakfast and lunch, from assistance.  Meaning they don’t eat unless they go to school.

The choice of closing the schools may or may not be the right thing to do as far as the virus transmission is concerned.  We’ll see.  But to a hungry kid that distinction doesn’t matter.

Here, they have begun handing out “meal packs” no questions asked.  I personally have donated to the cause, both monetarily and non-perishables.  Dave and meself went to the store (which fortunately wasn’t yet cleaned out at that point) and drove them up ourselves.

If your area is doing the same thing, I challenge you to do the same if you’re able.

If you can help, please do.  It doesn’t take much.  Every little bit helps.

And I promise that if you do, you’ll feel pretty darned good about yourself.  And putting food in a hungry kid’s belly is never a bad thing.  It’s worth the effort.

And if YOU need help for whatever reason?  Be it medical or otherwise?  Don’t be too proud to ask someone.

The world can be a shitty place.  But there are a lot of good and decent people out there nonetheless.  Find them if you need to.  There’s no shame in that.

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