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Hunker Down with Kes

Be Still, And Know...

Posted

I’ve never seen so much hand sanitizer in all my life!
Of course, the same can’t be said for toilet paper. Talk about a sign of the times!
Americans can be the silliest people, even in the worst of situations. It seems to me there are way more important things to be hoarding right now, other than paper products; like maybe home cooked meals, penicillin, gas masks, Ivory Soap and hazmat suits.
My fourteen year old grandson summed up the entertainment menu. “KK, we can’t go to the movies. There is no baseball, golf, basketball, hockey, spring football or Olympics on TV. If something doesn’t change soon, we’re going to be down to nothing but the Hallmark Channel.”
Congress is “negotiating” some help. That would be comical in normal times! What is there to negotiate when lives are at stake?
Bless Congresses’ collective hearts; it’s how they have been trained. If the Republicans want a bridge over the Delaware River, they’ve got to pony up an increase in Medicare to secure the Democratic vote.
If the Democrats want a much needed prison reform bill passed, they’ve got to add an additional wing to the Pentagon in the legislation to pacify the Republicans.
They don’t know any other way!
You’d think in such a national crisis they’d all raise their hand immediately for the “best” plan and get to it!
Don’t hold your breath for such a deal. They took the easy way out, again, by voting to throw tons and tons of money at the problem. It’s a familiar refrain...
And if this plan fails, or doesn’t turn things around immediately, we’re going to see some epic political finger pointing...from sea to shinning sea!
But here is the good news.
Life has been slowed for a moment. The hustle and bustle of living has hit the pause button. We can kick the dog, curse the moon and the stars, blame the Chinese...or we can avail ourselves in the quietness to do some deep, soul searching and heartfelt “reflecting”.
On things past, present and future.

What an opportunity to tell my grandchildren about life before TV. They wouldn’t have sat still for such mundane stuff a month ago. But hey, my stories about chasing rabbits through the snow and swimming naked in the big ditch might not have a chance against Southeastern Conference Football...but I CAN compete with the Hallmark Channel!
It has given me pause to remember my Grandfather. How quiet he was. And thoughtful. He never spoke without a fair amount of consideration as to how the words would land. He loved us unconditionally. And he’d lean down and listen—even when we were children! He’d take our side every time over any and all other grownups in the room.
Listen, if God spares me though this morass I’m going to be a different grandparent.
Maybe it’s not more money that we need...
I have wondered in these latter days if this whole plague is not my fault! Maybe I have not humbled myself. I thought of those prideful and disdainful Israelites in the days of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. I remembered that Egyptian Pharaoh who hardened his heart against God...and paid an awful price for it!
I have worried about Pam Collins this week. And Betsy Dinwiddie. John Ingram. Ricky Hale. Ruth Ann Wiley. Jackie Burns. James Hastings. And countless other “boyhood” friends that meant so much to me in another lifetime. I realize this morning—they are just as important to me in this lifetime!
And they are worth more than silver or gold.
Cathy and I are calling our older friends, especially those that live alone, just to see if they need anything. We should have been doing it long before now...
I hold my wife’s hand a little more these days. We talk about the swimming pool where we met in 1966. We laugh (now) about Josh and Jess tearing up the backyard on that old four wheeler. She will cry again just remembering the day each went off to college.
We thank God a little more ardently than we did a few weeks ago.
You can not believe how often those two boys call these days, “Y’all OK, Dad? Don’t go out for anything! Wash your hands. If you feel sick, get some help immediately. Do you need anything?”
I reassure them with each call, “Son, I am doing my part down here. I am not going to kiss any strangers in the foreseeable future...”
Respectfully,
Kes