~time is of the essence~

~Time is of the essence~

I've sold my soul to the Devil way too many times in this life of mine.  I'm not proud of it but I admit it.  Perhaps you can say the same.

This morning I got to thinking.
Thinking about the fact that when the COVID 19 virus news started back in January that I got scared.
Scared that maybe I would get it or perhaps that the kids at school might get sick with it.
Frightened that I would not be able to protect myself or if I got sick with it that I couldn't help but to pass it on to others.
To Mike, my children or grandchildren, or the 18 kids that call me "teacher" each and every day at school.

So I did the only crazy thing that I could think of.
I went to every pharmacy I could and started looking for disposable masks to wear and never mind that I really didn't need them yet or ever. I just wanted to be ready and prepared.
There weren't many available because every other crazy person in the world, just like me, was doing the very same thing.

The ones that I purchased, in all actuality a minute amount in the whole scheme of life, sat safely tucked away in the deep abyss of our linen closet.  They were there and I hoped they'd never be needed by either Mike or I, but just in case......

Time is of the essence.
The problem gets worse day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.
There seems to be so little that anyone can do.
Of course you can wash your hands and be sure to sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
That should be simple enough.
But it's gonna take more.
A. whole. lot. more.

I thought about those masks, especially after Mike reminded me that the first responders were in dire need of them to help others in our community and around the whole wide world.  What if Mike and I were to get sick?  Wouldn't they be the first ones to rush to our aid?

Who really needs the masks worse?
Us or them?

This morning we did the right thing.  We bundled up our 65 masks and took them to the Newkirk Fire Department.  Our 3-year old granddaughter went with us to walk down to the fire station and make the delivery.  When we handed them over to the very surprised fire department employee,  I told him....

"I've been hoarding these in my closet and I want to turn them over to be used by 65 people who will need them much worse than I do.  Thank you for helping us."

It was a small amount but in the years lie ahead, and there will be many long after this nightmare is over, when I am going to show my granddaughter the picture of us bundled up and ready to go to the fire station.  I'm going to tell that sweet child that she got the chance to be a part of a small movement to try and save lives, one disposable mask at a time.

I'm a teacher, 40 years now.
I can't be with the kids for a while because school is temporarily suspended due to the virus.
I want to teach them.  It's my last year in the classroom.  It wasn't in the plans for me or for any other educator in the nation to suddenly say that school is cancelled.

But you know what?
If I can't teach them in the confines of our 5th grade classroom, then I will teach them a lesson in life from my home community of Newkirk.

I choose to not sell my soul any longer.
I'm gonna do what ever I can.
The RIGHT thing.
It's a small drop in the bucket.
I hope to someone it will make a difference.
What can YOU do?

Time is of the essence.
Don't wait.

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