My View – March 2021
It was one year ago this March that the unthinkable happened…the mandated shutdown of normal life due to the pandemic—and life has never been, or will be, the same.
Reflecting on the past twelve months, it’s somewhat of a miracle that I am penning this column—had it not been for a “moon-shot” medical response, who knows how many of us would have been stricken with COVID-19 and survived. Somehow, most of the business community has hung in there, albeit, much of this is due to PPP loans that allowed many to stay afloat and to not shutter their doors.
It’s been a year of adapting to a new normal—think facemasks, Zoom meetings and gatherings, social distancing, hand sanitizer stations at every turn, restaurant pickup and delivery, increased online activity and of course, social and political upheaval fueled by differing opinions on the pandemic. For a year now, my office has fielded texts, emails and had one-on-one discussions that run the gamut on COVID-19. The viewpoints range from “it’s a bad flu,” to “this is a serious medical calamity”—the breadth of opinions is staggering. As a publisher, I’m accustomed to sifting through all sorts of feedback on all sorts of topics, but this year takes the cake!
Looking ahead over the next six months, I remain optimistic that vaccine rollouts will result in a sharp decline in C-19 cases—keeping in mind the impact “variants” may play. I’m counting the days until I am eligible for the vaccine but that’s a ways off still. For me, nothing would be better than reopening life and attending a face-mask-less backyard barbeque where friends can greet one another with handshakes and hugs…and without standing 6 feet apart! I’m even looking forward to attending city meetings in-person again and ditching the video meetings. I relish the thought of sitting on the Britt Hill with friends and listening to music—any music—TOGETHER. Oh, to have a dinner party on my deck this summer…
Remain positive and optimistic, my friends, and cheers to life returning to normal in Our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!
Whitman Parker is Owner and Publisher of Jacksonville Review and Southern Oregon Wine Scene magazines.
Thanks for that view point Whitman! Our 20/20 hindsight is playing out and many of my colleagues and friends are seeing we have been dealt a bad hand we accepted in fearful apprehension. Can it be said that much of the edicts from above have proven to not be in our best interest? Can it also be said that with a bit more research outside of the MS Media we may find some opposing factual medical findings and we the people are not going to all die in the streets? Meanwhile many of our businesses and our children’s education have been injured. Untold stories of devastating consequences to our lives from these rules forced upon us will or should be told. May we unite and get our lives back in order and not allow this to happen again.