An eerie neighborhood-
I walk daily through my small town, so I’m attuned to changes, like totally empty public parking lots that should be filled with the cars of shoppers and diners, and how cars are now parked in the typically empty lots of apartment and rental building. The two playgrounds in our city park are taped off and empty; just a few weeks ago they were filled with children. It seems as if people here are finally taking social distancing seriously.
As well they should. The Free Press reports that in Oakland County, Michigan, deaths from coronavirus doubled in one day. Right now, my county has nearly the same infection rate as Detroit. Federal officials are looking at Oakland University in Rochester Hills as a possible makeshift hospital.
Good signs
It was cold and quiet on my afternoon walk today, but I noticed a few things that cheered me, like rainbow posters in windows, part of the Rainbows Over Michigan project, and signs on doors thanking postal workers, and goodies left on porches for delivery people.
Saying thanks
I just ordered gift cards for our UPS carrier, mailman and trash collectors.
I don’t know the name of the tall, red-haired UPS driver, but he delivered the box packed with my first book five years ago. I’m sure he felt my excitement. He smiled and asked if I was a soon-to-be famous author. I told him, “You bet,” and gave him a book. His daughter read it and posted a review on Goodreads. Our mailman, Matt, has walked the same beat for years. He once left me a note of apology because he forgot to pick up my package back when I was shipping book purses to Etsy customers.
I have new appreciation for the people whose jobs are directly responsible for keeping our society running during a pandemic: mail carriers, delivery persons, grocers, bag packers, cashiers, stockers, trash collectors, cleaners, truck drivers… What would we do without them?
These unsung heroes are vital to our survival. We owe them our gratitude.
Stay safe, everyone, and sanitize!
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is the author of the award-winning novel In the Context of Love, a story about one woman’s need to tell her truth without shame. Discovering who you want to be isn’t easy when you can’t leave the past behind.
2017 New Apple Book Awards Official Selection
2016 Sarton Women’s Fiction Finalist
2016 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist
2016 Readers’ Favorite Finalist
2016 USA Book News Best Book Finalist
“…at once a love story, a cautionary tale, and an inspirational journey.” ~ Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of National Book Award Finalist, American Salvage, and critically acclaimed Once Upon a River,and Mothers, Tell Your Daughters
“With tenderness, but without blinking, Linda K. Sienkiewicz turns her eye on the predator-prey savannah of the young and still somehow hopeful.” ~ Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of the #1 NY Times Bestseller, Deep End of the Ocean
Buy now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Linda, thank you for the Michigan news. It is wonderful to see how kind people can be. I appreciate the grocery workers and Amazon people as well as USPS so much more now that life is stripped down to essentials. Wow. OU being turned into a hospital.
It is incredible, amazing and scary all at once. I’m glad Michiganders are stepping up, including GM (despite 45 ranting at them)! Hugs to you and Al.
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Important words for important people, Linda. Thank you, everyone.
Indeed! They are the workers who keep our society functioning!
Great post, Linda. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Hope you and your family are doing well!
An excellent reminder. Without the people who keep our essential services humming, where would we be?
It’s truly the people behind the scenes who keep society humming along.
I liked your photos, especially of the basket filled with snacks for postal workers and other delivery people. What a nice gesture.
It truly is. I love my small town neighborhood.