Letters to the editor | Sunday, March 22, 2020: Coping with coronavirus

Hoarding is just selfish, people

I embrace the “70 is the new 50” philosophy, even though my body doesn’t always agree. I take care of myself and keep up with younger people. That is, until last weekend. The government told me to stay home and let others take care of me. Now, younger people see me differently. They see me as an old person needing help.

The government has been encouraging us for years to be prepared for a disaster by inventorying a couple of weeks’ worth of necessities. The disaster is upon us. Many younger people weren’t prepared and are making matters worse by cleaning out stores and hoarding necessities. Those seeing me as an older person needing help are the ones who need help.

A thank you to our farmers

The speed with which our life has been changed, hopefully only temporarily, has been a shock. Suddenly, travel and events are curtailed. Suddenly, grocery store shelves are empty. Suddenly, the stock market is locked in a pattern of wild gyrations, but net always lower. And we are all struggling to understand what is happening and why, and what may come next.

For the life of me, what I cannot understand is the lack of fresh eggs and dairy products in our usually well-stocked local grocery stores. These are perishable items; they cannot be stockpiled. And, those cows and chickens keep producing, every day! What is going on?

I pray for a quick end to this madness, but in the meantime, I am very appreciative of our local farmers who have provided so much for us and the rest of the world. I know this too will pass, hopefully soon.

Schedule shopping like watering

Store shelves emptied of toilet paper, hand soap etc. makes me wonder why we don’t take the same system we use to ration when people can water their lawns during drought and apply that to shopping days. Your address ending in an odd or even number determines which days you may shop.

Does anyone remember long gas lines during the oil embargo in the ’70s? Immediately upon the designation of a pandemic, the restrictions would go into place. Stores would limit necessary items and adjust hours so that employees can restock shelves. One of the most important things that we should have heard from our government leaders was the fact that this is not a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake. Supply chains are not disrupted, but stores need the ability to restock.

Most importantly, reach out to one another to supply support and assistance. It is during times like these that our true character will come through.

Consider pooling your errands

To limit going out, talk to your neighbors. If you are going shopping, ask if you can pick up anything for them, and vice versa. If each neighbor did this it would reduce people in the store by a good percentage. This also will reduce traffic and save gas money.

Restaurateurs: Let’s do our part

As owners of several local taverns, we made the extremely difficult decision to close and lay off our employees at our establishments on Monday, on recommendation from the governor’s office and various health agencies. It has created a tremendous hardship for our nearly 40 dedicated staff but we all agreed to do our part in being responsible. It is out of safety and concern for our employees, valued customers and community that we put the priority for their health first, not profits.

It is concerning, to say the least, that other operators have not followed suit and continue with organized events, music acts and in-house dining. As incredibly difficult as it is, if we all do our part on a hopefully short-term basis, we can overcome this virus and resume operating sooner rather than later. I implore other operators to heed the state’s recommendation and look around at what is happening in other counties — complete shutdowns — and other states, most notably Nevada with mandatory closure of all casinos.

I applaud Mark (Harvest Moon) and Tye (Bauer’s 66 1/2) for doing their part; now let’s all get onboard.

Who provides food to go?

It would help those of us self-isolating — and the hard-hit restaurants — if there was a list of restaurants with curb-side pick up. I have enough food, but I miss eating out.

Young can be disabled, too

I commend the stores that are allowing the elderly to shop at a different time due to COVID-19. That is a fantastic show of American values and support during this historical event.

On a darker note, it seems as if a whole section of high-risk individuals are being forgotten. I feel I must advocate in some way for us who have pre-existing conditions. We also run the risk of severe or fatal illness.

Why do I feel we are not allowed? Because I was turned away (from testing) for not appearing elderly. I am 42 years old, and I have heart disease and mixed connective tissue disease. Although I am unsure if MCTD puts me at a higher risk, I do know heart disease does. I explained my situation. I was told that the employee was doing as they were told. Even with proof of my heart issues I was denied. Being 42 doesn’t make me immune to a severe reaction.

It’s a good plan. Just needs tweaking, to include everyone who falls under the criteria of “vulnerable.”

No payout for greedy airlines

We must bail out the airlines! Minus 25% per checked bag, minus 25% for advanced seat selection, minus 25% for a crappy bag of snacks, minus 25% for extra legroom. You get the idea. Any elected official who votes for this should face an immediate recall.

An expression of faith

During this time of Lent, my faith will always be tested from the evil forces that be. It’s up to me as a Christian to be vigilant and stay strong in my faith, especially during the Lent. The evil powers that be would like us to live in fear, treat one another with disrespect and forget our faith in troubled times.

To my fellow Christians and all of those who practice their positive faith, this public testament is to you and to my God: I will continue to trust in my Lord, I will not live in despair or fear and I will continue to love one another as Christ loves me. My faith is strong because I know our god loves us, I trust in him. My mind, body and soul is strong for it is a temple of Christ and I will continue to treat it that way because I can do all things through Christ who straightens me.

We’ve come a long way

Re “It’s time to say ‘sorry’ for excluding women from American politics” (Page 7B, March 18): Garth Stapley’s column reminded me of the small things that surprised me when I moved to Oakdale with my husband and three children from the Bay Area in 1971.

The dress code for my daughter stated girls and women teachers had to wear dresses. During the coldest months I put long pants on my daughter under the dress, but I had to sit on the floor teaching kindergarteners while trying to keep my dress over my knees.

I was a delegate for Shirley Chisholm that year, and delegates were told to gather in Oakdale. A reporter from the Oakdale paper came to the meeting and asked us our names. When I gave him mine, the reporter said he needed my husband’s name. I said my husband was for a different candidate. The reporter said they only put women’s names in the paper as “Mrs. Man’s Name.” When I said my husband and I were separated (I didn’t say he was home with the kids), the reporter allowed my name to appear in the article.

Show appreciation to teachers

I have worked in the education system for over 43 years and I am very concerned with where our education system is heading — under-skilled, under-staffed and overloading our teachers.

Every school district is a little different, but the ones I work in as a paraprofessional have an allotment for teachers to get the basics for their students to use. If they want or need more, they have to take it out of their own pockets. I feel we are going to lose gifted, loving teachers because of cuts in pay and benefits. They are preparing our future leaders.

When, for example, our garbage collectors earn more than most of our teachers, who are forced to take a second job to support their families, something is wrong with our system. We need to speak up and let our cities know our teachers need to be paid more and we need to support legislation that will give our teachers a break, better benefits, and extra monies to buy the necessary things to run their classrooms with creativity and excitement, the way it used to be. It will ease their burden and lighten their load.

This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 10:07 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor | Sunday, March 22, 2020: Coping with coronavirus."