As the old adage goes of a train rider traveling from the east to the west coasts," The sun done rise, the sun done set. Here I is in TEXAS yet." This Labor Day will find a lot of people traveling in their cars because it is a "safe" space from the Covid 19 uncertainty, yet,it helps to kill cabin fever build up. But, the trains are still running with shorter consist. The buses are rolling and American is parking planes again! The old traveler found out just how big Texas was to cross from one side to the other in the days of the old steam locomotives. He really didn't know how good he had it.
This years holiday shopping will be different, too! And it isn't just a lot of on-line shopping or free pickup at the curb of your favorite store. A lot of those stores will be missing this season. That "Gone out of Business" kind of missing. The interesting thing about turmoil change is that it turns every thing in its path upside down. Take the North Texas girl who made and sold costume jewelry. She turned the online business into a billion dollar business. That's with a B as in Billion! And on top of that, she is now a celebrity instructor along with the first celebrity instructor at University. She joins Matthew McConaughey teaching at the University of Texas this fall.
Then, there is education in general. School Districts are having a hard time putting together in person learning vs. on line learning. If that isn't enough of a problem. Dallas' Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, who I happen to think is an excellent man for the job, waged war with the athletic department about Friday Night Football. Basically, his thinking was that you can't let the football program do something that the other students are not permitted to do in the social distance scheme of things among other little quirks. But, in the end, football is happening in North Texas as of last Friday. The confusion is every where. No two places have the same rule and even if they did, some areas are not enforcing the rules as others do. An if that isn't bad enough, the old gov, Greg Abbot, got into a tiff with Dallas County Judge, Clay Jenkins, of his jailing a salon owner who didn't follow the orders issued to not stay closed.
Imagine the unrest when it comes to letting kids trick-or treat. Or, even more absurd, the Thanksgiving Dinner in some areas where social gatherings are limited to 10. What are you going to do about Uncle John and Aunt Dorthy when you have to tell them, "sorry, no Turkey for you at out house this year! We are only allowed to have a gathering of 10 or less. You are number 11 and 12 on this years list." I really don't want to think about the Christmas Holiday Season of, gifts, dinners, and Christmas Eve church services. Sure, the big mega churches like First Methodist and First Baptist in main stream religion and some of the not so main street churches that have several thousands of members but not quite as large as First Baptist and First Methodist, can afford to televise or stream their services. But the smaller churches can not afford to do that. It leaves so many scrambling to come up with a doable alternative.
So, as some go about their Labor Day Holiday as if nothing was going on...I will be mindful of those that have lost lives during this medical ordeal.
I need to go to Grapevine to see Nate and Willy shoot it out again! I need that!
