Thomas Paine wrote those words seen above. He had a way with words, didn’t he?
We have been hearing for years how transformative the modern age is. How fast we went from primitive word processors and fax machines to the Information Superhighway. Well, folks, that was a snail’s pace compared to how fast the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives.
The good news is, it’s almost certain to go away at some point, whether by the virus mutating itself out of its potency, or medical breakthroughs, or both. But that’s little comfort while you’re in the middle of this pandemic and no comfort whatsoever if you, or someone you know is actually suffering from the bug itself.
Times like this bring out the worst in some people, but I have noticed it more often brings out the best in people. How small and petty politics (even in an election year!) and national borders seem, when none of that matters to the tiny piece of protein we’ve nicknamed Covid-19. The pandemic is global in scale, but like never before, how you behave, and what you do, on a local basis will have profound effect on how your community, your region, your state and the nation will fare.
When I was on the CBA Board of Directors, I became aware the organization had a contingency plan if something were to make it impossible to hold the Father’s Day Festival in a given year. We imagined the usual instances of force majeure, like floods, fire and earthquakes, but not pandemic.
Regardless, the plan was in place, and this year it had to be invoked. And most likely, the CBA will survive this as an organization, due in no small part to the foresight of some very wise people in the CBA leadership. But that doesn’t mean help isn’t needed.
IF you already paid for your tickets for this year’s festival and IF you are in a position to do so, please consider donating this year’s ticket charges to the CBA so they can use that money to increase the odds that there will be an association, and a festival, next year.
Do NOT donate it if you need that money to make sure you get through this pandemic OK – you, and your family must come first, for you. But if your situation is such that you feel this is a worthwhile donation on your part, please consider it.
If we all do our part, we can put this thing in the rear view mirror. It won’t fade away altogether – too many of us will be affected – but at some point we’ll be free to just have fun, and even find other things to worry about.
