When things would get bad, my mother would always say, “Look for the helpers. There are always helpers.”
-Mr Fred Rogers
As we continue this grand, stupid, scary, overwhelming, worldspanning social experiment that is social distancing and “stay home stay safe,” I have decided one of the things I miss most is the helpers. Both the chance to be one and the chance to be the . . .ah. . victim(?) of one.
Okay, that didn’t come out the way I meant, but I think you get the idea. People need people. We need people. As we’ve seen many places, we are all in this together. But, it’s harder for the helpers to do their helping at times.
We had two wonderful helpers make us their victim today. (Okay, still not quite getting the phrasology right.) Our family is on a strict lockdown for the next few days. One of our neighbors insisted on providing dinner.
They made a delicious taco soup and combined it with a bag of corn chips and another bag of cheese. Not only did they think of us, but they made sure our family members with lactose and gluten allergies could enjoy it. They left it on the porch and then called to say it was there.
We also needed a perscription from the pharmacy. But, again, being on quarantine, we couldn’t get it ourselves. Another neighbor went to the pharmacy, waited for it to be filled and delivered it to our porch.
So, look for a chance to either be a helper, or thank a helper. And the biggest helpers of all right now are the frontline health care workers. And the first responders. And the grocery store clerks and stockers. And anyone who doesn’t have the luxary of isolating in their home until this all blows over.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Mr Rogers’ mother was right. There are always helpers.
Stay Safe
Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.
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