Memos from Quarantine #6: Be Kind

What a difference a week makes.

Last week at this time, the churches, restaurants and stores were open, offices were still talking “what if,” and even though the schools were closed, the kids were celebrating their “coronacation.”

Today? I just came back from a drive through town, and I barely used my brakes. No Sunday morning church services. The hot breakfast spots – where typically you have to arrive during a church service to stand a chance at being seated – empty. Dunkin is still open, but the tables and chairs aren’t just off limits – they’ve been put away.

There’s a different vibe in my little NH community today. The town square that was full of presidential hopefuls just six weeks ago is overlooking an empty downtown today. The shops all have signs in their windows, explaining either why they’re closed or why they’re still open. A few people are out walking, but far fewer than usual.

As we embark upon week two of the New Normal, I feel fortunate to be employed, to be able to work at home, and to have this opportunity to share with you. So many of my community members aren’t so fortunate.

I’m thinking of the grocery store manager who worked 75 hours last week and was there first thing every morning to open the doors and field everyone’s anxious questions about toilet paper. She apologized for being 30 minutes late this morning – she slept in. I found myself just thanking her for her service, as if she’d just come back from Afghanistan.

I’m thinking about Dan, the independent bookstore owner. He made the decision early last week to close his store to casual browsers, but he’s still taking online and phone orders. He’ll either deliver to your home or leave a pre-paid package for you on the steps outside his store. At a time when words are more important than ever, he’s taking extra pains to make them available.

I’m thinking of Ping, the owner of my favorite Chinese restaurant, where I’ve been dining for 25 years. He always greets my family, always has a table for us – even on Christmas and New Year’s Eves, which are like his Super Bowls. And because he knows my little one, Annie, loves cherries, he always has a cup of them served to her when she arrives. No charge.

You can imagine the hit Ping and his staff have taken this past week. The dining room is closed, so no more busy lunch hours or dinner rushes. They’re open for takeout, but how brisk is that business when people are essentially sheltering in place?

We placed a massive Chinese food order on Friday night. We’re talking $75, which in this town buys you a lot of leftovers. When I went to pick up the order, I also bought a $50 gift certificate, just to give Ping that extra bit of business. And upon purchase, I immediately handed it back to the host on duty and said “Give this to the next family you see that could really use the help.”

Those of us who are fortunate, we do what we can, right?

The best sign I saw today was at the local taqueria, which is open for takeout only. The sign said “Be kind.”

Great words with which to start our week.