It is Monday, April 27, 2020. It is the last day of the sixth week of the “New Normal”. It is just after 6 PM. The backyard and the Storey family driveway, otherwise known as the new basketball court, are almost in full shade. Little Chirp is in the driving way dribbling away. Brainy Bird is playing fetch with Potatoe in the backyard. I am back in the same spot that I was when I was writing yesterday morning’s blog post. My cup (glass) is full of wine instead of green tea.
For my fellow IT nerds, it is fitting that today is day 42. For my sister, it is fitting that today is the 27th (her lucky number). Governor Abbott’s address to our state on the 42nd day of the “New Normal” on the 27th day of April had true meaning today. There is a clear plan in place for “reopening” the state of Texas. Texans are always proud to be Texans. Today, there is an extra bit of pride.
Key components of the governor’s address:
– The stay at home order expires on April 30th.
– Retail shops, restaurants and movie theatres can re-open at 25% capacity on Friday, May 1st.
– State authority overrules county authority, thus negating the mandatory mask rule set by Harris County. This is huge for the residents of Tomball.
– The second phase of reopening, will may begin on May 18th, if phase 1 goes as planned.
This is more than I hoped for. I actually cried. I know where I am going to be drinking coffee on Friday morning. I cannot wait for that moment. I will be without make up, and I will be in jeans and a t-shirt, and I will feel that it is a bigger moment than any moment that I have put a formal dress on for in the past decade.
This is not to say all is well. The road to recovery is going to be long, and the road is going to be uphill. Gyms, hair and nail salons and bars all remain completely closed. Most, nearly all, small businesses cannot operate at 25% capacity, but this is a beginning.
We have to start walking down the road to recovery. We cannot “shelter in place” any longer. It is time for Texans to take back their livelihoods; it is time for us to take back our freedom. Let us set an example of the nation.
Please God, let this work for us. Please guide us down this road to recovery.