There will be no admission of guilt here from me or others in my family in regard to recent hoarding. But let’s just say I am well covered when it comes to olives, frozen blueberries and detergent.

I’m not really sure what that says about our tendencies at home, but then again with three children from 6 to 14, just having food in the house at any time is an accomplishment of which my wife should take tremendous pride.

More often than not, we take full advantage of the curbside services at a few of our grocery stores. It’s nice to be able to select the items you need online, and then have them waiting for you hours later.

Not only does the service save you time, it actually saves you money, as — I will admit it — I am not tempted with grocery items that I don’t necessarily need but that my stomach instantly wants upon seeing it in the store.

But in the recent rush on groceries and toiletry items — which I am still trying to figure out — even the curbside services were stretched and overloaded. Many of the items that are very common were either replaced with other brands or not even available. And in some cases, orders placed hours earlier by some were simply canceled with little or no warning.

For many of us of a certain age, we have all endured some sort of crisis or natural disaster. While this situation involving COVID-19 is unique in many ways, it resembles what you might see from the public with a hurricane bearing down. And, in some cases, the clamoring for certain items far outpaces even those times when — heaven forbid — we are forecast to have the s-word (snow).

This situation has been so weird in ways I never thought possible.

Just yesterday I had to tell children in my neighborhood they couldn’t play on the playground in the park and have had to remind my two youngest that when washing their hands they need to sing “Happy Birthday.”

As a parent, I have to wonder what changes to our lives will be permanent changes, such as enhanced screening at airports following the horrific terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Will handshaking be a thing of the past? Or will social distancing become routine when going to a movie theater or restaurant?

The steps taken in recent weeks by medical and governmental agencies are undoubtedly needed and warranted. And, as best as we can — as a family — we are adhering to all that is asked of us.

Still, there are still things and hiccups in our society — such as unnecessary hoarding of toilet paper — that make me think we still have a little bit to learn.

 

Tim Reeves is editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at tim.reeves@vicksburgpost.com.