It has almost been a year since I have written anything. I have just been loving life and taking so much for granted, then the Virus HIT and did it ever hit. It started out just a discussion the first of March. We heard about it in Italy and China. Spring break came and so did the virus to Texas. We knew it would effect Jenna, being the Supervisor of two ICU units in a major Dallas hospital. But we didn't think much about us in rural Gunter, Texas.
Rick and I went on our Spring Break Mission trip to Lake Lavon for three days. When we got back on Thursday, that is when our world as we know it, started to change. Discussions of grocery shortages and toilet paper shortages were the topic. Friday it all became a reality when we went to Sherman for the first time this week. We went to Aldi, Walmart, Dollar Tree, and General Dollar. At General Dollar I finally found a bag of dried Pinto Beans to cook for the weekend. Toilet paper was at the Dollar Tree. The other stores were low on many items or out. On Friday our school announced "No school" next week and UIL said not events until March 29.
On Saturday, large churches started canceling services for Sunday. First Baptist Gunter said we are going - just spread out, no passing of the offering plates, and no shaking hands or hugs. It was sad at church, where we couldn't hug our church family.
Monday and Tuesday, Diana and I made the rounds. The stores and shelves were empty. No one was smiling or talking. It was an eerie feeling in Walmart and Sams - like someone had died. The meat, eggs, cheese, milk, and paper good shelves were all empty. We made out second trip to Aldi to pick up a few items we passed on, not knowing that these were not going to be available anywhere else.
The Governor (Abbot) made first a statement of no more than 50 people in a place and then came back and said 10 people. Restaurants have been hit hard. Each day there are fewer people eating out.
Our school personal met on Monday to start discussing online learning and how to carry it out. Monday morning Abbot also stated no STARR testing this year.
Wednesday we rode to Prosper with Brenda Lampe to find out that stores are shortening their day or not opening at all. On Thursday, Abbot declared the state of Texas in a disaster situation and closed
all schools, bars, gyms, and restaurants can only offer carry-out or drive through meals. UIL sporting events are now canceled until May 3.
It is such a strange time. I am doing a Psalm 23 Bible study which is so relevant to the time. We will "walk through the valley" which means we are not stuck here; we will be moving forward. We know that God is in control and has a reason for letting us go through this. As I told Brandi earlier today- and this to shall pass. Our goal is to keep the faith and learn from this.
At night Rick is racing and I am on my electronics, until it is time to watch the Netflix series, "Longmire." Sheriff Walt Longmire, his deputies, and Indian friends have been our entertainment through this crises. It is a great distraction at night. All high school, college, and professional sports have been canceled at this time.
Friday night at 10:25, we lost one of my favorite singers of all times, Kenny Rogers. He was one of the first concerts Carl and I went to in Dallas in our early married life. I have tickets and pictures where he was performing with George Strait in one of the first concerts. I did not realize I had seen King George in concert until I was looking at concert tickets and pictures. I believe we also saw him with Barbara Mandrel, not for sure about Dolly. We saw him several times in Reunion Arena, which is gone today. Then when Choctaw and Winstar started doing concerts, we saw him numerous times there.
Sunday night we got the message that Dallas county was going on lock-down Monday night at midnight for 10-12 days. All non-essential businesses will be shut down. So Monday morning early, Diana and I decided we better go stock up on what we could, in case this comes to Grayson county.
We did score big! Who would ever think that we could excited over toilet paper, wieners, smoked sausage, chicken breasts, and ground beef? I spent $100 on groceries - just in case!
During this time I am learning to use two new kitchen gadgets - an Instant pot and an Air Fryer. This gives me something else to research and do - the search for new recipes. Rick came home for lunch several days. Diana and I did venture out to Van Alstyne to get plants for the garden and a few flowers.
On Friday March 3,1 Rick, Peyton, Brandi, and I mended the fence along the railroad tracks at the Barbee place. I did have a horrible fall with bloody legs and bruises. Rick got cut up and scratched pretty bad. We looked like we both had been in a fight and lost. When it was bed time, I thought I was having a blood clot. It scared me to death. I thought I was dying. I had severe leg/thigh cramps. I took two baby aspirins and made it to bed, where I elevated my leg. Then I laid as still as I could. I thought if I laid still, the clot would not go to my heart. While I was praying, that this was not "the big one", God showed me what the people with CoVid 19 are thinking- am I going to die? WOW!
I did wake up Saturday morning, just scarred and sore from out afternoon of fencing. Our only excursion was to Lowe's this weekend for lights for the garage and a ceiling fan for the game room. I did make masks for the hospital since there is a major shortage of these.
The virus is still spreading with more cases daily. The story of New York City is devastating with 5000 new cases per day. Grayson County is now up to 7. Now it looks like it may go through the end of April on Shelter-at-home. My new theme song is "wasted days, and wasted nights."
Welcome to my "Sweat Shop." After all the wasted time, I decided to start sewing masks, since now there is a major shortage of them. Jo Ann's Fabric store is giving away two yards of material for those people willing to make masks. I got mine and started sewing, only to find out that there is no elastic available. I found one package at our local General Dollar store. My first 10 masks went to Roxie Miller with her home hospice unit. I then made a few with ties. Wow! It took way too long. Rick ordered me some elastic off the internet. He thought he bought 144 yards times three for $50. It turns out he bought 9 yards times three or 27 yards for $50. We were scalped, but I did have enough elastic for 100 masks. So for the next several weeks in my time, I sewed masks.
April 5, Sunday, started Holy Week. This week without the churches opened, I decided to make a more conscientious choice to experience this special week. Each day I read what Jesus did on that day. I continued to make masks this week and pass them out. Rick took off work on Thursday and Friday. We repaired the fence around our home place, we trimmed trees, worked in the yard, planted the garden, and washed vehicles. No family time, no egg hunts, no Easter clothes, no Easter meals, and no face-to-face church. However, I did do some more reminiscencing of Mom and Dad's anniversary on April 11, Good Friday's in the past, and Easters.
Easter 2020 - We watched our church service on-line and First Baptist Dallas with Robert Jeffress. Rick and I went to Taco Bell drive through for lunch. We took our food to the Brookshire's parking lot and ate under a tree. We piddled around the after noon, then we went up to Pottsboro to the lake to fish in the boathouse. I caught one, Rick two, and JB four. We brought our catch home and Rick filleted them. We then fried them for our Easter meal. We Face Timed the all the kids. I have now made about 130 masks and passed out about 110.
Week 5 - It is like Ground Hog day the movie. Another day the same thing. Jerry did come in on Tuesday from the valley. On April 14 was the anniversary date of when Daddy passed away. It has been 30 years. As if this day wasn't kind of dreary, Chad's telephone call made it worse. He lost his job today. This is when it became real. The virus is really hurting our economy. Gas is $13 a barrel; and it is $1.10 at the pump. We have not seen this price since the early 80's.
Week 6 - We worked on Rick's house the weekend. We made 4-5 trips to Lowe's. People are out and about. You have to stand in line to get in the store. The roads and fast food businesses are busier. It is like it is coming back to life slowly. President Trump says we will be coming back soon.
Week 7 - My new theme song is "wasted days, and wasted nights." This week at the grocery stores there were no cake mixes and yeast. Every week it is something different. Rick has started cutting hay, and I am just hanging out. We did finish the Netflix series, "Hart of Disie." We have started Michael Jordon's "The Last Dance." I am watching the Hallmark series, "Where Home call the Heart". April 27 was Rick F's birthday. He did come to Sunday meal for Social Distancing. April 30 was Fitz's second birthday. We just did FaceTime throughout the day. May 2 was Jackson's third birthday. I did go with Rick, Diana, and Jerry to Jenna's for a Social Distancing birthday party. May 1 was the first phase of opening back up. Restaurants could open up with 25% capacity as well as a few other stores. Still no beauty shops or nail salons.
Week 8 - On Suday we did have a Social Distancing get-together at the Hinds with church people. We kept our distance outside around a fire pit.
Week 9.... Slowly things started getting better. The kids never got to return to sports or school.
Graduation - May 29. Peyton did get to graduate on the Gunter Tiger football field with one of the most memorable graduations ever. The students were spaced 6 feet apart on the field. The kids were allowed to have 10 tickets each with the families sitting in groups of 5 each with assigned seating. The graduates entered the field by walking through the large tiger head one last time. The kids got to wear shorts with no dress code under the gowns. After the ceremony and the throwing of the caps, Davis and Miller did a firework show. All left the stands by groups at the end.We went to Brandi's for a family get-together. It was a great ending to a crazy school year.
June 14 our church opened back for the first time with about 60 percent of the people. The next week we had a case of CoVid so the numbers declined. We started Firework season with grandchildren, so we missed the next three services. We still only eat out occasionally, and our shopping is mainly just Aldi and Walmart.
I kept telling people not to rain on my parade that July 4 was coming and it is "the most wonderful time of the year."
