I had hoped to have Parched Earth, Green Corn: Warrior out for publication this month but, due to Covid-19, it’s delayed. I’m not certain how long.
Being essential and having to travel to several stores, some in areas hard-hit by Covid-19, my anxiety has increased. As a result, time I normally spend writing, I instead spend doing things to ground me – including increased sleep time. The normal 4 to 6 chapters per day I was editing has dropped to 1 to 2, maybe 3. At the moment, the book contains 82 chapters, though that may increase. I want to make certain Warrior is enjoyable and not a nightmare of poor spelling and grammar.
And I’m not alone with anxiousness – retail workers in many stores tell me they are also, and not only the chain I work for, but the grocery, the pharmacy, the gas station and the liquor store.
The anxiousness worsens as the number of customers increases, as families come in and – while parents discuss which paint color they want – their children run about the store, touching everything. There’s the customer coughing into hands just before handing a cashier money, and the customers leaning in worker’s faces, refusing to stay 6-feet away because, “This is all BS – a great-big joke! The media is blowing it out of proportion!”
I speak for many workers when I say: we’re here for you when you need us. Please help us by making Social Distancing rules a habit.
It sucks living like this, but I don’t want to use personal time-off (PTO) and not have any should I get sick. Nor do I want to force my company to have to put in place a “back-fill” technician to cover for me. We have an excellent back-fill team who covers for us when on vacation or sick – I used to be one. But the tech covering me isn’t familiar with the nuances of the stores I care for – that a printer jamming when copying isn’t a bad printer, just feed-rollers needing a good cleaning. Things like that.
I know many would love to have time off, and I respect your anger that I have PTO and you don’t. Knowing many stay-at-homes are stressing how to pay bills and feed their families is why I give to food banks. If you have a food bank, see if they can help. If you are working – and can afford to – help fill a food bank.
I love you all. Stay home, wash your hands, and stay well.
Billie
