Your Dying Spouse 757 - Nonessential {Five Minute Friday}

As COVID-19 becomes so last week, it's times to pay tribute...

...to those who died...

...to those who lost friends and loved ones...

...and to those our local and state governments decied to destroy through dehumanization.

The nonessential.

How does it feel, to have put your heart and strength into building up a business that serves a community, employs your neighbours, brings in tax revenue for the common good, and then have it declared nonessential and summarily shut down?

The TV adverts said, with a background of soaring violins and muted brass, We're all in this together.

Not, however, if you own a hair salon. In that case, your business is not needed, and your employees can apply for government help.

But as the owner, you can't get unemployment.

Same thing for bookstore owners here in New Mexico, who weren't even allowed to offer curbside pickup.

Baby and bridal? Nope. Get married in your sweats (oh, the church is closed, sorry!), and don't you know about hand-me-downs?

You could buy sporting goods at Walmart, but have your own specialty shop? Too bad.

But...the property leasing companies are essential, so the rent's still due. So are the baseline utilities.

When this is over, we have to help...and for those brave souls who defy the prohibitions, we really have to help.

Buy your books locally, or havethem ordered by your local bookseller. Amazon won't go broke without you; Bud's Paperback Barn will.

Get your hair and nails done, and yes, guys, you can get a manicure without having your caveman card revoked. (It's a nice feeling, and you may get hooked. Seriously.)

Go to a biker bar and have an overpriced Diet Coke. Bars were hit especially hard, and bikers have kids, too.

Eat out, three meals a day (you were looking for an excuse for this!).

Go to the Muscle Mall and buy a set of weights that can gather dust in the spare bedroom. 

We are what makes community.

"You're not needed," they've been told,

"and you must just shut down.

Yes, perhaps your shop may fold,

but lose that selfish frown!

You just have to take a look

at what needs to be bought;

no one really needs a book,

but tokers need their pot.

As your leaders, duly sworn,

we had to pick and chose;

no nappies for your newborn,

but we can't disrupt the booze.

So suck it up and face the facts,

and don't forget to pay your tax."

You'll notice that I didn't mention 'nonessential' churches and gun shops (and yes, in case you haven't guessed, a Bible in one hand, a rifle in the other...). Didn't mention them because they're a weighty Constitutional issue, and another topic altogether.

Here's Phil Collins, with In The Air Tonight.

I do try to answer each comment in a timely fashion, but with Internet providers really stretched, I have only about half of the access I once did. Please bear with me!

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.