A VIRUS JOURNAL April 6
A COMMUNITY'S THOUGHTS - CONCORDIA, KS
The Blade-Empire is publishing this community journal as an ongoing record of the thoughts of our citizens as we embark on this journey through the coronavirus crisis.
Tell us what you think; your thoughts, fears and hopes for yourself, loved ones, and your fellow Americans. You may use your name; or you may submit anonymously.
When the pandemic is over, the Blade-Empire will publish the journal as a book. The thoughts of Concordians will become a time capsule and historical record for future generations to remember.
CORONAVIRUS TOLL
Worldwide: Infected-1,289,820 Deaths-70,680
Kansas: Infected-845 Deaths-25
Cloud County: Infected-2
Mrs. Clarice Pruitt: I was born in 1926, so in my 94 years I've seen many changes. I lived through dust storms, two floods, and worked hard my whole life. Of all the disasters, this disease is the worst. It affects rich, poor, young, old, fat or skinny, tall or short. The whole world is going through this. I have not been to a store since March 9th. We live 16 miles from the nearest grocery, so I always kept a supply on hand. I do not have a stash of toilet paper or food products.
My concern is for the ones keeping this country going.
I say God Bless, nurses, doctors, truck drivers — all the people who have a job they must go to every day. I have been home 20 days as of today, and will do whatever I'm told to do.
I have a granddaughter who is a dialysis nurse on call 24-7. Her job is vital to the lives of many.
I pray each day for family, friends, daily workers, with concern for all. Looking forward to when this is over.
May God Bless each of you. 94 years of Blessings.
P.S. To all the dedicated farmers who grow our food. Thank you. Thank you.
A Cloud County farmer: Am I concerned about the virus and taking precautions? You bet I am. But no matter what, cattle have to be fed and crops planted.
Are we setting a precedent? In the future, anytime there is a sickness, are we going to shut down the whole country?
Lora Watson: English instructor at CHS, retiring at the end of the current school year: During the two weeks before spring break, I washed my hands incessantly because I had been reading the news about the spread of the coronavirus. As I locked my classroom on March 6th, I remember thinking, “Good, we can go home for a week, and this will blow over.” But then things escalated, and I spent spring break checking the US Covid-19 map, watching it creep toward Kansas from both directions. It was like watching an interactive map of WWII.
When Governor Kelley announced that public school buildings would be closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, I was conflicted. I didn’t know how to feel. On the one hand, I felt relief. Since I am over 60 and in one of the high-risk groups, I was glad that I could stay home and avoid infection. I was also relieved because I wouldn’t have to live through the inevitable high stress of the last few weeks of school and that I wouldn’t have to (once again) hear the moans and groans of senioritis. On the other hand, I felt an even greater disappointment.
I am disappointed that I don’t get to “graduate” with this group of seniors. This class is special, not just because they are my last class of seniors, but because they have wrapped themselves around my heart like few groups have. I won’t get to tell them the stories that keep them engaged at the end of the year. I won’t get to give them my final life advice that usually leads to tears, theirs and mine. And I won’t get to implement our plans. Oh, we had plans! Private jokes to slip into graduation speeches! A brilliant senior prank! Now it is all so anticlimactic, so deflating.
I am also disappointed that I lost that last nine weeks with my co-workers, my friends. Online meetings are informational, but there is no in-person ambiance. Online classes are necessary and effective, but they aren’t much fun.
Now, I fluctuate between terror and boredom, but I am thankful for technology that keeps me connected. I am thankful that I live in a community of good people, people who take risks to provide me with groceries and people who take risks to provide healthcare. I am thankful for the people who keep the water coming out of my faucets, for the people who keep electricity in my sockets, for the people who keep the internet working, for the people who drive the trucks and deliver the packages, for the people who answer 911 calls, for the spiritual leaders who provide hope and prayers, for all the people that I too often take for granted.
Although denial and disappointment are difficult, they make me more appreciative of what I have. This isn’t the way I thought my last year of teaching would end, but I have to admit that it’s memorable.
A Concerned Citizen: This is an actual quote that I’ve heard twice recently, right here in Concordia – “I don’t watch TV anymore, I only watch Fox News.”
Dylan Thoman, CHS student: I never thought that the Coronavirus would become this serious, but I will keep my experience on a lighter note. Social distancing has been fantastic for introverted people like me. At this point, I almost have a spiritual connection with my dogs because of the amount of time spent with them. Rolling out of bed and getting to the fridge as fast as possible is now down to a science.
In an attempt to stay sane, I have played through every video game twice, and I’ve even tried to rock every hairstyle imaginable. I have actually put on an outfit and looked into the mirror imagining that I’ll wear that when this whole situation is over with. I’ve even attempted to challenge boredom with questionable exercise. For example, the max speed that I can run on the treadmill backward is eight, and I can do 85 push-ups in one minute. I think I’ve gone up the stairs in my house in every possible variation, from sprinting up them like a track star to skipping four steps at a time like a giant.
When I’m not in the basement doing what I have listed above, I’m annoying everyone else in the house. I particularly find joy in annoying my sister, Zaide, who can’t escape back to college. I find new ways to push her buttons every other day. On a bit more serious note, this time of isolation and social distancing has brought my family closer together. By the way, my bountiful supply of toilet paper is better than yours.
Nona Hedstrom, 95 years of age: “Pandemic.” I looked up the word the other day. One meaning “widespread” the book did say and spread it did with cases galore across the whole world, each day there was more. Doctors and nurses work long hours each day some giving their lives for very small pay. Supplies are short and hard to procure which makes their jobs much harder I'm sure. Each day there's always more deaths reported. The news is full of all that's recorded.
But some of it is good news. I swear people are helping each other out there. Maybe in all this we'll make a new friend. We know we are all in this to the end. Sometimes we've been testy and want our own way. But hatred and jealousy never does pay so let's love one another and for each other pray that we remember each horrific day.
We hope this pandemic will soon come to an end and our UNITY can help our world to mend.
Sheridan Hamel, 13 years of age: Covid-19 has affected me by not being able to play softball this year. It has affected me because I can't hang out with friends or family until it's all over. We can't go to school due to Covid-19 so we all have to do online school for the rest of the school year. I can't go to many places in town so I don't catch the virus and so I don't spread it to my family. It's hard to work on group projects that we got before all this happened.
Ed Brummett: I have lived in Concordia all my life. I was born just before WWII was over. Growing up in Concordia back then reminded me of this new crisis. I grew up in both ends of this city. If anybody got sick or down on luck people were there to help. Why don't we think that way without a crisis? We are thinking of others now, why not every day? STAY SAFE.
Please email your thoughts to russell@nckcn.com. In the Subject Line type "Journal Entry'
Or you may write down your thoughts and mail them to:
Blade-Empire
Journal Entry
510 Washington Street
Concordia, KS 66901
Please email photographs of you, your family and friends coping with the crisis. Humor is always appreciated. Email the photos to russell@nckcn.com