A VIRUS JOURNAL May 1
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-3,342,146 Deaths-235,318
Kansas: Infected-4,449 Deaths-130 Negative Tests-28,585
Cloud County: Infected-4 Recovered-3 Negative Tests-71
ON APRIL 30, 2020, KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD LIFT THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER AT MIDNIGHT, MAY 3, AND BEGIN A FOUR-PHASE PLAN FOR REOPENING THE STATE.
Anonymous: we're all going to have to deal with a new type of 'normal'. My hope is that even after the virus passes, people continue to practice safe distancing and good hygiene. It seems to me that too many people had to be told how to properly wash their hands, which just seems absurd. One good thing to come of this virus is that proper hygiene will maybe cut down on people passing on other common illnesses to each other, like colds and the flu.
Cloud County resident: I was not born in Kansas, but I've lived here a good many years now, and I just hope everyone here realizes how fortunate we are to be isolated from the truly horrific aspects of the virus. I have friends who live on the East Coast, and what we're going through here with our stay-at-home order really pales in comparison to what other Americans are going through, especially in big cities. We have food here and access to needed medical care, and we don't have to wait days or weeks to get it. I guess nobody really likes being told what to do with their life, but staying at home in Cloud County is a lot different than what a majority of other Americans are going through, and we should be thankful for that.
Chuck Lambertz, city commissioner and therapist: As we anticipate modifications in federal and state guidelines as we prepare to re-open America, specifically here in Kansas, while still monitoring the spread and impact of COVID19, I’m having a lot of conversations regarding what getting back to normal will look like.
Our new normal. Normal is a word, for me, that often elicits an internal reaction akin to nails on a chalkboard. Normal is far too often an ambiguous and arbitrary qualifier and quantifier clients I serve use to negatively compare themselves or their life experiences to; If I were ‘normal’, I would do more of x or less of y, be more like a and less like b. I often remind folks with the reality there really is no normal. There are averages, means and medians as well as generally accepted thoughts and goals which can be healthy to aspire for, but there really is no normal, only what is normal for them.
There are a lot of conversations going on about getting settled in to a new ‘normal’ or questions as to when we can get back to our old ‘normal’. Whether engaging in or dissenting from social distancing, essential vs. non-essential workloads, working at job sites or from home and trying to embrace the online educational platforms, etc. there remain a lot of differing ideas as to when we should/could open America back up as well as debates as to the physical and fiscal consequences of going too soon or waiting too long. I try to gather my information from people who are respected in their fields, or generally respected period, and avoid social media.
I appreciate and understand there are families who are, and most likely will continue, experiencing a great deal of stress with a large portion of the economy on hold and slowly getting up and running as their finding ways to juggle work/childcare/other obligations with limited resources as well as many families missing out on the activities and engagements they receive a great deal of value in and experience enjoyment from.
But, I’ve also read several articles identifying this as an opportunity for us to take the time to identify what a healthier life might look like for us to live; for our families to live. We have seen images of how clear the air and water are with the reduction in traffic and industry. I’ve heard from clients and friends who are saying they are enjoying spending more quality time with their families aren’t feeling as stressed from bouncing between so many scheduled obligations and the usual daily grind. They are realizing how little they really need and what and/or who is more important to them. The benefits our planet and we as people are experiencing are real and quantifiable.
All that being said, I believe the opportunity we have in our present day and moving forward is for each of us to find some sort of balance for what gives us the greatest chance to live the best life we are able; taking care of ourselves and our spaces, investing in ourselves and one another on a more local level and in a more purposeful way; to find the healthiest state of ‘normal’ for each of us.
Norma Campbell Price---Courage and Compassion: Thoughts from a Depression Kid born on a Kansas farm in 1929 with blowing dirt, drought (few crops), economic losses, unemployment, and hunger. We were lucky.
We had cows (milk), hogs (pork & lard), chickens (eggs). We ate well. Others did not, one woman told me that all they had to eat at times was water gravy. Paste.
Then came World War II. Rationing, shortages, family members in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, with an uncle dropping bombs on Germany from a B-24. All came home. We were lucky.
Then it was Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf War, farm losses in 1980, Recession in 1987, 9-11, Recession in 2007, now in 2020 Pandemic.
Life happens: Wars, disease, birth, death, gains and losses, happiness, sorrow. Life is awful. Life is wonderful. Laughter and tears. After the rain there is the rainbow.
History books will tell the story.
We will be sadder, wiser and more compassionate when this ends. We will count our losses, bury our dead, and hug our children.
Be kind to yourself....to others. And pray.
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