My dad enjoyed a hobby/side-venture of writing (under a pseudonym) articles for survival magazines. I am sure some of our family "vacations" were simply a way of testing out equipment or information he learned over the years for the benefit of writing from experience.
In particular, I recall many trips out to the California desert. In the heat of summer. With no shade trees--or cacti even, sometimes! We three kids whined a lot out there, mournfully, like the desert coyotes. Dad would talk to us about where to find snakes, what to do if you got bit by one, what to do to gather water out of the arid air, how to shelter during the heat of the day--I could go on and on. All we wanted to do was eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that Mom prepared ahead of time. We could never understand Dad's desire to go to the out-of-the-way places. We just wanted to go to Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm.
Suffice it to say that I have felt well prepared to handle life's unexpected crises. If you get lost, look for moss growing on trees, which tells you which way North is. Put a stick into the ground to tell time by the shadow. Put your hand up next to the horizon to tell about when the sun will go down (and it will be dark). Always carry a whistle so that if you are lost, you can blow it like crazy until someone finds you. Pine nuts are edible. If you get stung by a jellyfish, pee on it. You get the picture.
Last week began somewhat normally, but by the end of the week, the crazy had hit an all-time high. Because of a new strain of virus infultrating our country and the nations of the world, people thought the best thing they needed to stock up on was toilet paper. That, and tissues, paper towels, disinfectants, wipes and such. So I thought I would lay low for a few days, stay out of the community mix of people and illnesses and then go shopping for the necessities.
The picture of me looking bewildered was taken on my first foray to my local grocery store. I was shocked. How could people be so...so...panicky? So I went home without a few things on my list. But I knew the stores would get restocked in a few days--right?!
Silly me. My second trip to the store was today. This is what I found in the toilet paper aisle:
Seriously. It hasn't changed. Maybe it was partially restocked this morning, but I guess the old folks got it all. And I'm okay with that. The store now offers special days/hours to shop so that they won't be as exposed to everyone else's germs. Great idea. But I know what crazy looks like. This is crazy. I mean, this isn't like going through the Great Depression or a World War. There are just too many people hunkering down with their pile of toilet paper, waiting for...I'm not sure what, exactly! But I can conjure up some funny pictures in my mind.
So, I am going to try shopping online for some things that have been missing in the stores lately. Like sticks of butter. Fresh meat. Canned tuna. Rice. Pasta. I'm snickering as I think about this. It's just too funny. And I'd rather have some laughs during hard times, wouldn't you?
Right now, Daniel and I are enjoying reading a chapter each night of Mike Rowe's latest book, "The Way I Heard It". I am using my adult coloring book "Whatever is Lovely" for reflection and worship. Daniel is meeting with his small group, going through his discipleship book "Every Man Jack". We will be enjoying our local church service online. I am having fun getting more creative in how to do life, every day. It is a new normal, for now. But not forever. Hallelujah!
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