Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
I don’t need to say this because by now it’s obvious: we’re living through a crazy time in our nation’s history. This is a time period that will be talked about, studied, and forever noted in future world history text books.
Actually, I don’t know if text books are still a thing but you know what I mean.
I live south of Platte City, close enough to KCI that if the house is quiet and you’re mentally tuned in you can sometimes hear planes taking off. Woke up early this morning to the sound of passenger planes departing and in a way it was oddly comforting to know that some sort of transportation lockdown had not been ordered overnight.
These are weird times.
As our county, state and nation make our way through an economic slowdown caused by the isolation and social distancing and related concerns, let’s keep in mind the small businesses that are being hurt by it all. If you can, it’s time to make an extra effort to support our locally owned ‘mom and pop’ retailers and service firms.
Rest assured certain industries–like the airlines, hotels, for instance–will eventually get ‘stimulus package’ assistance from the government because of the coronavirus situation. Mom and Pop business owners typically don’t get bailouts.
Let’s all do what we can to help one another during this time.
I like what Mary Jo Vernon, director of the Platte County Health Department, said on Monday. I social distanced myself over to the county commission meeting to hear her presentation.
“The next outbreak I’d like to see is an outbreak of kindness and generosity, and just cooperativeness in helping our neighbors. Elderly folks are at risk. The age group 60 and over is basically advised to stay home to reduce their exposure. So let’s check on our neighbors. If you’re going to the store ask your neighbors if you can pick things up for them,” Vernon noted.
Alright, let’s get to the bottom of this toilet paper shortage, you guys.
What gives? I mean I get it, you’re thinking ahead to possibly being quarantined either by a coronavirus diagnosis or government imposed isolation order. But even if so, the quarantine would most likely be for a couple weeks, not years, you guys.
So either a lot of you are buying TP in excess or you have extremely loose bowels. If you do, that’s ok, you don’t have to raise your hand or self-identify in any way. I’m not here to judge or put a label on anybody.
In fact if you do, I’m a little jealous because sometimes things aren’t such a smooth ride on the digestive highway for me, honestly.
Still, I mean I’m not a doctor or anything but when things slow down you might want to get that checked out. At least have a conversation with your health care provider about it.
I’m worried about some of you.
Just remember if you’re spending that much time in the bathroom go ahead and take in your copy of The Landmark. To read. Or for other emergency purposes if you weren’t one of the TP hoarders.
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.
Pandemic, social distancing, isolation or quarantine, your Landmark will ‘keep on keeping on’ each week to inform the public. Through the pandemic, you’ll be able to continue to find us in print weekly, in addition to frequent breaking local news updates on our Facebook page at Platte County Landmark and on Twitter @ivanfoley.
If you want to sign on as a new subscriber or extend your current subscription at just $29.15 for a year go ahead and give us a call at 816.858.0363.
The Landmark is in its 155th year and has lived through two world wars and a 1918 flu pandemic. A 2020 coronavirus pandemic won’t stop us from keeping Platte Countians informed at a time when it’s more important than ever for residents to be updated and aware.
You know who is doing a good job in this time of crisis? Young Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, that’s who. Whether you agree or disagree with his decisions or his policies in general, there’s no denying the man is being decisive in his actions and logical in his thought process through all of this.
I’d say his performance has been more impressive than that of our governor, for that matter, who has seemed a half step slow in decision-making thus far.
The cancellation of March Madness has forced me to reevaluate some things in my life. Like what do I do in the evenings now without college basketball on my TV? I’ve been told normal people often watch Netflix, so I tried that for a bit over the weekend. The Taylor Swift documentary is good. Remind me to tell you–in the coming weeks here while we have time–about the night I was fortunate enough to meet her. If you follow me on Facebook you’ve probably heard the story, if not you’ll hear it here soon.
Also, the true crime anthology TV series known as The People vs. OJ Simpson is absolutely fascinating. I can’t tell you how outstanding John Travolta is in the role of OJ’s lawyer Robert Shapiro. You can’t look away.
(As long as this social distancing stuff is a thing you can look forward to more Ivan Foley reviews of things on Netflix. Email ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)
