Post 138 Never going back to my old school

This is not a knock on my job as a high school teacher. But I wonder when are we/ the kids going back?  The mayor says April 20th, but who really know for sure?

I guess this is the new normal. My friend Bart told me that his daughter took a book out of the library a few months ago about the Spanish flu.  She asked if it was happening again.  He couldn't really answer. but in many ways she's right. Back then there were no vaccinations for this virus, and we are dealing with the same issues.

I just hope it's not going to be as bad. Surely our medical treatment is state of the art now at least in most places.  But if there can be toilet paper shortages, there could also be glove shortages too. In Africa during the ebola outbreak some hospitals ran out of gloves.  We also need to build more hospitals like they did in China.

What is the answer though? I keep imagining that I have come up with a solution, but I'll leave that to the professionals and just support my loved ones and my neighbors the best I can.

I worry though for the people who rely on day to day wages to survive: Waiters, busboys, dentists, etc.  and will my city run out of money to pay the municipal workers.  who really knows.

How long will this last???  I heard it may take one year for a vaccination to be tested.  I hope we can wait that long.

There has to be a silver lining. Right? One positive is that I heard pollution levels are lower and that may help with global warming.
Also since restaurants are closing people may be doing more outdoor exercise, calling people instead of texting.  and maybe since we are avoiding people maybe STD rates will decline?
Maybe we won't spend money on non-essentials.  I don't know.

In some ways its like the turn of the century or maybe even Depression times.  (I hope not) I hope this wont last.  I am worried about my mother she's turning 87 soon and is coming back from Florida.  Everything is shutting down there and people are leaving.  Snowbirds coming home.  She needs a safety net if you know what I mean.

Post 137 Confessions of a toilet paper hoarder

I'll admit it.  I've been hoarding toilet paper and water, but I wasn't always a hoarder. what is it about Covid 19 that's making people crazy? I guess it's the big what if? Sometimes I feel like we are living in the TV show The Walking Dead.

Recently we were down to three rolls. I went into every store I could: Trader Joe's.  (Should be called Trader who knows?) my mother is coming back from Florida soon and I was running out of options.  I found some tissues in CVS and thought that could be a good substitute in a pinch.

Then I googled toilet paper near me.  A local store that sells office supplies said they had toilet paper in stock. I went over there and bought a scanner while I was there too to help with my job as a teacher.  We are starting remote teaching soon, and I figured it could help me do my job better to create handouts for my students.

After I bought the scanner, I asked the manager if he had any TP coming in.  He gave me his card and said call back after 12. I did so, and he told me he set aside 2 large rolls for me. It felt like I was doing a drug deal. 

I was very appreciative and stuck out my hand to shake his.  He was very surprised and remarked, "You shook my hand."

"Sorry" I said, "force of habit." and with that walked out of the store.

A happy ending in more way than one.