Seems like old news now to talk about the crazy scenes in grocery stores. I have never seen so many men in a grocery store line.
It took me by surprise. Because I was focused on what we were gearing up for health-wise. How would that affect our volumes in the hospital? How would staffing be affected? What about co-workers with ill and aging parents? Or school aged children? As I pondered how I was going to need to gear up for work, it didn't occur to me that I couldn't continue on with my after work hours life. Duh.
Whether or not I would be able to get toilet paper or basic groceries was not a huge concern for me. I knew the grocery stores would be busy last Friday, but I did not expect this. I kept thinking: something bad must be happening.
I had a reasonable list but that was definitely not the norm. I walked through the store gingerly dodging the HEB Curbside folks filling giant rolling carts, employees desperately trying to off-load pallets, and so. many. people. Many of whom had this "deer in the headlights" expression.
I just don't get it. You aren't being quarantined right now unless you are sick, just follow the current guidelines. You don't need enough groceries or dinner napkins for the zombie apocalypse. The grocery stores right now are short on employees and time. They have plenty of food in warehouses, it just needs to get here faster than they sell it. They have to close the stores earlier to get it stocked. And their employees probably could use giant raises. And a break.
After all, they have families, too.
I think we should all unplug from the news outlets on the internet, turn off the TV after the first 5 minutes of a newscast, and try to stay calm. For your own sake, limit time on social media. Spend time outdoors, taking a walk with your dog or simply unwinding with a glass of wine on the patio. We are whipping ourselves into a frenzy of fear that will have much longer-lasting and wide-ranging effects than a few weeks of social distancing. Is this the Millenial's new 911? Is it everyone's?
