It's the weekend! Which makes no difference! But . . . still!
I took this photo weeks (months?) ago, and I just googled Blanco Woman's Club and found out that the club founded the Blanco Library in the Hill Country of Texas in 1938:
"The ladies raised funds through their first Silver Tea for the library."
The club was still meeting as of 2018.
Darn. I don't know what book this plate was in, though I think it's still in my work area (but if you've seen that, you know that doesn't mean I can find it again!).
If I find it again when I go back to work, I could mail it to the library. (How did it get up here, all the way across the country?)
Otherwise, I'll email this picture.
I. Preparing to Open Up
Speaking of going back to work, I'm happy (cautiously thrilled, really) that that will probably happen in a couple weeks--the week of May 18.
The thrift store will have been closed two months by then.
Big Boss (BB) called yesterday. We had a great chat--lots of laughing. I can't piece together why we get along as well as we do (which is pretty well, usually). I'd say we like each other--I even kind of love BB––but with mutual wariness...
For instance, BB told me he'd had to "get up the courage" to call me. I've been volatile--reacted badly to certain decisions (or, often, lack of decisions; negligence, even) at the store.
I think he doesn't know how to read me, but to me there's a clear source of our conflicts:
my belief in the power of human agency clashes with his Christian quietism. (My father was a professor of political science;
his stepfather was a crack addict).
BB literally says, "God will take care of it"; while in my experience, God does not bother with retail management.
In response, after becoming so frustrated I've blown up a couple times at work, I've mostly backed off, backed up, and backed away from any whiff of management responsibility.
ANYWAY.... Big Boss told me of plans to reopen the thrift store the week of May 18, when the next round of the governor's business restrictions are due to lift. (Small businesses that face the public can reopen.)
Plans? There are plans?
I am so relieved!!!
I want to go back, but I'd been worried (very) that the store would reopen with no forethought, with its usual negligence of safety.
In normal times, the store is a marvel of danger--almost no care is taken for health and safety.
But BB told me they're going to meet safety requirements by installing plexiglass shields at the cash register and by rearranging workspace so workers can stay 6 feet apart.
Good luck with that, but at least the effort is being made!
When I go back, I intend to focus ONLY on the books. Well, as much as possible.
II. There are always tigers, but you cannot always stay in the boat.
At some point, I'm going to be in close contact with people again and most likely be exposed to the coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) that causes Covid-19 disease (if I haven't been already)---hopefully (fingers crossed!) with little or no illness.
How at risk am I from Covid?
I don't know.
As I read in the British press of Boris Johnson, in medical terms I'm "old and fat" (ha!), and those are risk factors. But generally I'm in good health. I hope...
Anyway, I'm hardly in a position to stay away from people for the next year or two, or whenever a vaccine is developed.
I compare my adjustment to risk with how I (we) live with cars.
I do not say this to diminish the terribleness of Covid!
Or of cars! I'm looking at how we humans (I) adjust to ever-present danger because I find it helpful.
If cars didn't come into existence until 2019, and all of a sudden these dangerous behemoths appeared and started killing 1.35 million people around the world (every year) and injuring 50 million more [via the WHO], we would FREAK OUT and try to avoid being near them.
(For a while—cars have benefits that outweigh risks—for some.)
Covid is matching that:
as of today, May 2, it will have killed 238,431 people. Per Our World in Data: these are confirmed deaths--the actual total "is likely to be higher".
The two are similar:
we may not be able to avoid motor vehicles (and a lot of the people killed and wounded are bicyclists and walkers) or, ultimately, this coronavirus, but we (and governments, and manufacturers) can do a lot to minimize risk.
And we can psychologically tolerate high levels of risk—in various cognitive ways (like, by ignoring it.)
I have not been strictly isolated. HM's son who's staying here goes out to work as an electrician, and things are somewhat lax in this house.
(It's not been the easiest social situation, either. Differences have become evident. Thankfully, with the good weather we can spread out, sit out, go out and about, and that brings ease.
I try to view this time as valuable Practice Being with Others, which always involves friction.)
I've visited with various people--at a distance, wearing masks, but still, that includes visiting with bink who lives with M who has mild Covid, so I am taking risks...
Yeah, sooo... those are my thoughts as of now.
I do hope I don't get (very) sick, or any of you! (And none of you are allowed to die!)
Given the longterm situation, I'm willing to get off the boat–cautiously–in a couple weeks (if the governor doesn't extend that). I've thought before that I should wear a mask handling old books, because they are full of dangerous molds and dust.
Now I will.
It's key to my willingness that I believe in the value of my job, sorting and selling used books in a run-down thrift store--more than ever, after six weeks living without bookstores and libraries.
Books matter, and these paper copies outlast changing technologies.
Speaking of old technologies, remember punch cards?
Another photo I never posted, from this past winter:
I think I have been to Blanco many years ago. When we would go to visit relatives in TX, my dad liked to drive the back roads. The best eating places are off the main roads. Blanco from the photos is like many small TX towns with the highway running down the main street and lots of small stores.
ReplyDeleteDid I ever tell you that my great-great-great grandfather fought in the war with Mexico and was captured and marched 1000 miles into Mexico? Some days they were moving 24 miles and think about the shoes they would have been wearing.
Hooray for some think ahead by BB! And I know you will be careful.
kirsten
Love the bookplate. In fact I love all the little items that turn up in books, and the backstories they bring with them!
ReplyDeleteIf it were just me, I'd also be ready to ease back into the real world, recognizing that I'd eventually be exposed to COVID if I haven't already. But my spouse could easily die from it because of his suppressed immunity, so I've gotta steer clear as much and as long as possible.
KIRSTEN: Wow, your g-g-g-grandfather! That's some history!
ReplyDeleteHaving walked 20 miles in high-tech hiking boots and still gotten VERY painful blisters, I do marvel at what people suffered in history---soldiers and farmers and everyone.
I've been to Texas twice and each time had wonderful food. Would like to go again one day...
STEVE: Things that turn up in books are so fun! I've set aside a box of stuff---when I'm back at work I should photograph.
I hope I didn't sound insensitive---I know some people, like your Dave, face much higher risks from this virus. It's worrisome, and I'm very sorry you and he have the added limitations!
Very wise to take practice "an abundance of caution".
I read that Boris Johnson was at higher risk when he got sick because, an English newspaper said blunty, "he's old and fat."
Reading that, I thought, gee, I'm four years OLDER than him, and also fat (overweight). I shouldn't be too blithe.
And I'm not.
But I can't really stay isolated in this house anyway.
I'm willing to cautiously step out... if things do indeed reopen in two weeks here.
We'll see how it goes.
P.S. STEVE: I re-read my post and it did seem a little cold, so I adjusted it--added how I am like Boris Johnson. But NOT in the most important ways, I hope!!!
ReplyDeleteTha Blanco Woman’s Club? Tha? Someone from the future typed that up!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great picture on the book plate with the young man looking very hopeful facing those hills. Optimism is good for now. I like the analogy with cars, although the virus doesn't have a beneficial side. I have been in work each week though for a very short time compared to normal and although I wash hands and don't touch my face, I am very near to the kids who are there. The govt keep saying that children are not as affected, and they may not spread it as much, but do not talk about the adults in schools. The unions do though, so maybe halfway appropriate measures will be taken. But I will have to go back so will just have to hope for the best. I hope your shop looks after you well.
ReplyDeleteMICHAEL: Hey, brah--I didn't even notice that "tha". Ta!
ReplyDeleteSARAH: Optimism has its uses.
Right--nothing beneficial about this virus!
What age kids do you work with?