Quarantine Reflections: Winners & Losers

Even though it snowed most of the day, I still felt it. That shift in spirit that whispers we’ve overcome the biggest hurdle and soon we’ll experience the return of life outside our home. Like staying home, it won’t be perfect and adjustment will be slow, but I truly feel we’ve hit rock bottom and we’re on the upswing.

Cue praising and dancing.

Anyway, I’m a thinker and I try to process my experiences. What did I learn? What went well? What was an epic fail? I’ll blog on that next. For now, I thought I’d share what I though as far as winners and losers.

WINNERS

• Well, you can’t start a category without listing those on the frontlines. I have several friends in NY and OH who work in this field as nurses, aides, and in nursing home and home therapy environments. There are single moms who at the start of this thought of their families and sent kids with grandparents to keep everyone safe. They are working crazy shifts, watching colleagues test positive, and things I’ll never wrap my head around. Then go home alone. I have prayed and prayed for them. Thankfully I don’t know anyone who has been sick because of their work, but I know from reading that there are people who gave their lives to save others. I’ll not take that for granted.

• Same for our grocery workers, pharmacies, truck drivers, and those who continue to serve. The news changes every day. Masks aren’t needed. Wait, they are. Six feet is enough. Maybe not. No matter what the conversation, these folks keep showing up and making sure we have the basics. Again, we should never take them for granted.

• Then there are the patients and their families. How many stories have I cried over where the patients entered the hospital in dire straights only to lift the spirits of their medical team? I saw a report last night of a doctor who visited a patient that was one of the first admitted. The patient was so encouraging that the doctor said he will forever be impacted and work to save others on behalf of the impact that patient made. Then there are the families. I can’t imagine dropping my loved one off and not going in. And how many had to say goodbye via phone or as I’ve read, walkie talkie. Like I said, my mind can’t go there, and yet so many are living it. There are so many unknowns and no one signed up for this. No. one. Yet the grace and strength displayed.

Teachers. Students. Families. Zero notice. Little prep. No template to work from. From scratch school districts across the nation had to find a way to teach, forcing families to go all in. Not only did they do that, but the video content I’ve seen from schools letting the kids know how much they miss them. The parade of cars driving through student neighborhoods letting kids know they are missed. Teachers working outside homes with a white board to help students who don’t understand the lesson. That’s love, dedication, and all kinds of goodness.

Churches. Restaurants. People and organizations jumping in and making a positive difference. Our church has been online, and offered a drive in Easter service via huge screen and FM signal, all while abiding by regulations and with approval. Their message continues to be one of hope. Our family has received messages making sure we are well. The youth ministry dropped off eggs filled with treats in yards to let teens know they were loved and missed. Mid-week services were online. Our family enjoyed Zoom game nights with youth. Churches have offered their property for food distribution. Restaurants giving away food to frontline workers and families in need. There is so much here I’m not even aware of. The mask makers. The families parking in hospital lots to pray for everyone and honking their love when a shift is over. There’s so much good here.

As a sub category, actor John Krasinski used his celebrity to create a “news” channel called Some Good News. From his office he’s shared a newcast only with good news. Those who have watched like I have admit like me, they tear up and outright cry because it feels so good. There are great people out there. Great things are happening. My heart needs to hear that. If that wasn’t enough, SGN/Krasinksi just hosted an online prom for the Class of 2020 on YouTube Live featuring Rainn Wilson, the Jonas Brothers, Chance the Rapper, and Billie Eilish. Billie’s brother thanked Krasinki for his compassion and noted that “only a dad would do something like this for a bunch of 17 year olds.”

• This might bring blowback, but I also put in the win category with an asterick, most politicians. This was new territory for all of us, so I have to appreciate the efforts our president, VP, and governors gave to find the best way to keep us safe, give the best care, and restore a schedule the best way possible. Did they act perfectly and get it all right? No, but did I? Did you? For all we were facing as a nation, and still are, these folks have had the weight of our lives on our shoulder with the instant criticism thanks to social media. They are tired, I dare say traumatized, and yet they continue to work and press in.

LOSERS

I try to stay positive. I have to admit, this season has tested me. So I’m glad I don’t have a lot to say in this category. Losers are the ones who hoarded items to sell at a mark-up. Losers are ones who intentionally harmed items or put people in harm’s way with their ignorance or intential rebellion. Losers are ones who saw someone hurting and with words/actions laughed/neglected/somehow walked over these folks and did nothing.

This is a summary. As I type I think of a friend who probably has calloused fingers from all the sewing she’s done providing masks for free. But I hope you can think of some winners, and more than that, be one yourself. Feel free to leave a comment or share on social media @JulieArduini who/what you would list in the winner category.

Stay strong.

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Amazing things happen when a group of high school students and women discover they are more than competent.

Bethany’s not excited to start high school in a new community where she doesn’t know anyone. She quickly befriends KJ, a popular sophomore, and it looks like the transition will go well until Bethany discovers KJ’s boyfriend is a bully. With a strong sense of justice, Bethany challenges Brent Sullivan, and he’s determined to make her suffer.

Cheri takes on an additional job in a school to help pay for Sabrina’s wedding. It’s a different atmosphere than at the church where she feels more comfortable as the pastor’s wife and mentor with the Linked ministry. After several mishaps, Cheri feels like she’s found an assignment where she can make a difference until a teacher belittles her work.

Can Bethany and Cheri resist the lies about their competency and hold on to the fact they’re brilliant?

The final book in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ series for tweens, teens, and women of all ages by mother and daughter authors Julie Arduini and Hannah Arduini.