- By Lisa and ??????
Well here we are in our temporary (hopefully) format. Until further notice, I’ve decided to loan this space to area business owners in order to give them a voice concerning what is being mandated by the state and local “authorities.”
He/she (or both in same week) will remain totally nameless and faceless and I will not divulge my sources even if tickled madly with a feather!
If you are interested in sharing your short (ish) views here in this region, please email me at the address above. You could telephone me as well.
Believe it or not, I have one of those old-fashioned gizmos called a “land line.” I’m in something totally outdated called, “the phone book.” Just in case my little “header” doesn’t appear on top of the page, I will leave the email here as well: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Without further ado, here is the NFBOW (Nameless, Faceless, Business-Owner-of-Week):
“Are you essential”
As I sit here enjoying my fifth week of vacation, I am wondering how long this time of “bliss” will last. (Five weeks of shuttered doors, watching “essentials” driving to and fro.)
My business wasn’t big enough to get much in grants; $1000, for five weeks. I didn’t make enough to get the PPP, so I stay at home, while others I know are working on waiver jobs, and non waiver jobs, and receiving PPP (Payroll Protection Plan) to pay their employees while they are working! (Seems fair.)
We have been told we are “non essential.” I disagree; we are non life sustaining, but I would argue that I am essential to my FAMILY and their livelihood. You can’t buy my products, but you can go to a “big box store” and buy the same. So it’s essential for them, but not for me?
Is it “Un-American” to think I should work? Am I “Un-American” to think if I don’t work I may lose everything?
The last thing I want to do is cause harm to someone else, but in doing so I am harming myself and family by not providing for them.
In March the deadliness of this “virus” became a staple in the news cycles. Governors across the nation decided, “we need to social distance - so let’s close down schools and businesses that I don’t deem to be essential.”
Some said to stay at home—unless you need to go to Walmart to get food, medicine, clothes, paint, flowers, TVs, movies, music, or hey, whatever you want. Go ahead and go to Home Depot and buy drywall, lumber, paint, flooring and landscaping supplies, because, after all, you are supposed to be staying home.
And you know what—let’s shutter the churches and we will start trout season two weeks early, cause, you know, we are supposed to stay home!
In good faith, we will send the closed businesses some money so they can pay employees, and bills, but you know,, only a portion of what they need because we don’t have enough to give everyone what they need.
We are all in this together! Yes we are, except we aren’t.
Life sustaining workers are on overload, closed businesses are in danger of losing everything they have worked for and may have to decide if they are going to break the “new law” or just watch their dreams be crushed. Do we pay the bills to keep business in good standing or do I feed my family? We all have a choice and the majority of the people will do the right thing. But soon our choices may be fewer. As doors close for good, who will be essential? Will you?