It is another Monday of the “New Normal”. Today marks two weeks since Harris county announced the order closing all of the bars in Harris county, and allowing only take out or delivery from restaurants. Take a second to let this sink in. In an instant, through no fault of their own, so many people lost their livelihoods. Mortgages, rent, car payments and bills have not stopped being due, yet these folks are without an income. The hardest part is the uncertainty around when this will end.
This morning, I have already gone for my run, and I am sipping my perfect cup of French press coffee. Joe Diffie’s, “Ships That Don’t Come In” is playing. We learned last night that Joe Diffie has passed away from complications related to the Coronavirus, he was 61. Ships That Don’t Come In is one of my favorite songs of all time. I only had a few CD’s back when CD’s were a thing, and I had a Joe Diffie CD because I loved that song so much.
What is new in today’s news: Trump has extended the “social distancing guidelines” through the end of April. I am pretty sure that this means that all of our schools, bars and restaurants will remain closed at least through the end of April. While we were all expecting this, this is still a swift punch to the gut for everyone.
Challenges with present situation: For many the mental health challenges of the present situation are starting to sink in. Uncertainty is the most difficult aspect of all of this. Speaking from experience, the day that you find out you might have cancer is worse than the day that you find out that you do have cancer. So many people are stuck just waiting, thinking they may get sick or that they may lose their jobs or that they may lose their homes. This sort of limbo is the most difficult to deal with from a mental health perspective.
Update on the Birds: The birds are back home, and the only sound in the house early this morning is me typing away on my computer, and Little Chirp popping his knuckles while he is studying. This is a habit that drives his older brother nuts. Funny, I have never noticed the sound without Brainy Bird pointing it out, until today when it is just that quiet in the house. I am looking forward to my first conference call at 8:45 this morning to hear the sound of people’s voices.
As the person in charge of the little Storey ship, I have declared this week the week of Brainy Bird. Brainy Bird’s actual birthday was the first week of February. Our lives were moving so fast that we did not have time to cook dinner together, or even go out to dinner for his birthday. He was swamped with robotics. This was not even two months ago, and it all seems like a very long time ago. There are some restrictions around what Brainy Bird can choose for us to eat this week because we have to use up the last of our fresh food, but I could tell that he was still pretty excited about his menu options. I am happy to report that we have zero food waste here in the Storey home thus far.
Things I am grateful for: I have so much to be grateful for. It is a cool morning; it was especially cool before the sun rose, I spent my morning run thinking about all of the amazing people and amazing opportunities in my life. I feel grateful for virtually everyone that I know. I am grateful for my career and my home. I am grateful for all of the yummy food in my refrigerator. I am grateful for my health.
Shout out to a friend: Today’s shout out goes to my friend Laurie. She is among those that have had their businesses shutdown on a moment’s notice. She is not at all concerned for her own well being; instead, she is completely focused on the well being of her staff. Being that she owns a bar, not a restaurant she is faced with a complete shutdown of her business. She has focused her energy on finding ways for her staff to continue to earn money.
First, she sold tickets to a party, which she will be throwing entirely at her own expense, when our world re-opens. This is twofold in that she is giving the money to her staff. Secondly, in a time when people are feeling a wide spectrum of mental woes, this future party gives everyone something to look forward to. The people buying tickets are a community of friends that miss one another during this time. Of all things, I am most looking forward to this gathering of friends when we get back to our lives as we knew them before the “New Normal” began.
Second, she held a drive through steak night, which gave folks an opportunity to at least see folks even if it was at a distance, and this again has helped her staff earn a bit of money to get through these times.
Laurie does not need a world crisis to be kind or generous. She is one of those people that always checks in on me when she has not heard from me in awhile. It is always that I am crazy busy with work, and I have not taken the time to reach out, but she still checks in just to be sure.
Laurie loves cats and dogs, and they love her. She is one of the few people that Potatoe is happy staying with when I am gone. She is always taking care of someone’s dog or rescuing stray cats in the woods behind her bar.
Laurie is a master at finding thoughtful gifts. She loves to celebrate birthdays and happy times. No one ever feels forgotten or left out on Laurie’s watch.
Laurie hosts a huge fundraiser every year to provide canines for our local sheriff’s department, and she donates to our Tomball schools, despite not having a kid in the school. She donates much more than most other local business owners, who have kids in the school district. Laurie is also a HUGE supporter of local musicians. She has the best live music in town.
Laurie is the most successful bar owner of all time. She planned opening her own bar carefully after spending years learning the industry inside and out. She knows how to run a business, and hard work and customer service are at the heart of her successful operation. She has the best trained staff in town, and she treats them like her own family. She has fostered a sense of community of people looking out for one another among her regulars. There is no place that I would rather be than steak night at Sportin’ Woody’s.
Of all of the things that I miss right now, I miss watching the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon with all of my friends at Laurie’s bar. It is the little things in life…
Positives with present situation: On my seven mile run this morning, I set a record for the most miles that I have ever run in a month. I plan to break this record again in April. I will be ready for my next half marathon for sure.