We were down to the last leaf of lettuce, no juice, and getting low on canned goods and meat.  The stores in my neck of the woods have been open for seniors from 6-7AM each day, so we ventured out into the dark, world of CoVid19.  Paul waited in the car while I made my way into the zone – the twilight zone.  My gloved hands consisted of mittens which still did the job, but by the time I was done, my hands were sweating. I know they’d be sliding out of latex gloves if I’d been wearing them.

I grabbed a cart and proceeding through the aisles.  I was pleasantly surprised to see an abundance of fresh produce. I thanked one of the stock boys for what he was doing for the rest of us.  He thanked me for my patience.  Now I knew I was in the twilight zone.  People were actually smiling and nice to each other – something I haven’t witnessed in some time.

I wove through the maize of cardboard boxes, being unpacked by healthy young men.  Shelves were being restocked, but there were shortages of things you wouldn’t imagine to be in short supply.  There were no bags of sugar or flour. Cake mixes were pretty much wiped out. Eggs, butter and milk were not to be found. I can understand the lack of chips, pretzels, cheese puffs, etc., because of all the kids being confined to their homes.  I wonder what we’ll all look like when this is all over.  We’ll undoubtedly have extra chubby bodies and eyes that can’t focus on anything other than a computer screen.

Many of the customers (of which there weren’t many) were garbed in gloves and masks, while others walked brazenly pushing their carts with bare hands and uncovered faces.  We were all old, but for a change we weren’t being push aside by someone in a hurry. We all seemed to be going at the same pace – slow.

I got the things I needed, but immediately thought of something I’d forgotten when I got home.  After spending $120 I wondered how that happened.  Well at least I shouldn’t need to go out again for another week or two.  Hopefully I won’t be quarantined by then.

Our lives have all been changed by this.  Since my husband and I are relying only on social security to get us through, and our part time jobs are out of the picture right now, we’re going to have to see how this all plays out.  We’ve been poor before.  Actually I guess you could say we still are, but we are rich in blessings.  We’re still alive and healthy and have the ability to go shopping.  We have family nearby.  Our work doesn’t stop, even though there isn’t a paycheck.  Paul continues to paint daily and I write.  These are not hobbies for us.  It’s what we do to survive.

I thank God for our church family too. We receive daily devotions and sermons via the internet. Our friends check on us frequently.  We stay connected through Facebook and my blogging family too.

We need to lean on each other in crisis situations.  We need to turn to our God and ask for His protection.  We need to pray for our governing officials and those who put their lives on the line each day so we can lead almost normal lives.  We also need to trust that God is still in control of our lives.  We will get through this, because we must.  We’ll hopefully learn from it too.

The younger generation, those who would be graduating this year, were born at the time of the terrorist attacks of 9/11.  They are now facing another terror of sorts.  They’ve been witness to school shootings, violence everywhere and yet they are strong.  They’re the future of our country and they will be the heroes of tomorrow.