I guess right about now is a good time to address the 800-lb gorilla in the room. Like everyone else, I have been dealing with the inconveniences with this COVID-19 thing. I don't speak of this lightly, I do realize that, so far, it has been merely an inconvenience. There are people who have lost loved ones to this virus and my heart does go out to them. For those people, and others, this goes far beyond an inconvenience.
There have been a couple of things that have struck my mind about all of this. One is the reaction so many people have had to this situation. I suppose that closing schools and the cancellation of sporting events could be the prudent thing to do. I have no doubt that any of the people who have lost loved ones would gladly give up a baseball game in order to have their parent, grandparent, husband or wife back with them. When thinking of those events with a bit of perspective, I don't suppose it's the end of the world to forego a ball game, a parade or sitting down in a restaurant.
Another thing that I have seen that causes more than just a little bit of heartache for me was the image of people literally fighting over toilet paper. Last night, I went to two different stores looking for toilet paper. Not because I'm one of those folks with a room temperature IQ who feels they have to hoard toilet paper, but I went looking for toilet paper because I'm down to the final roll at my place. I always make it a point to replenish my supply whenever I get down to that last roll. I understand the importance of having an ample supply of the necessities. What I don't understand is a person getting into a violent altercation over buying an 18-month supply. It makes me wonder just how much pooping that person was planning on doing before the store restocked the shelves.
But just as I have seen the worst in people, I have seen examples of people looking out for their neighbors. I saw the story of a young woman in Bend, Ore. who responded to an elderly couple who was frightened to venture into a grocery store. This young woman took the couple's grocery list into the store and did the grocery shopping for them. I saw another example of a young person in New York who volunteered to simply run errands for elderly people who did not feel comfortable going out and about. This same young person had gathered a group of about 75 others who volunteered to do the same thing for others in the community. I'm sure there are dozens and even hundreds of other examples that never make it to the evening newscast.
I have no doubt that before long, this pandemic will pass. Most of us will get through these difficult times okay. On the way to that point, we have a choice. Will we be the person fighting over another roll of toilet paper when we already have plenty? Will we be the person who sees an opportunity to spread kindness to another? In the end, I pray that kindness will become the most contagious condition of all.