“I was at CVS picking up a prescription. I didn’t realize the gravity of the situation just yet. He replied, ‘No, I’m sorry. We won’t have any until next week.’ He was on the brink of tears. It took him so long to get from the counter to his car, I could just imagine the day he’d been having. ‘If you’d like, I’d be more than happy to help.’ His wife was resting in the car with an oxygen tank. My heart broke.”
“A couple of weeks ago, we were a family of seven. The girls were always fighting, and the common factor was always her. The family dynamic has certainly been rocked and honestly, I am not sure I will ever be okay with this void.”
“I didn’t expect the storms to come, literally and figuratively. The streets are flooding with water, but also fear and panic. I didn’t expect to see younger generations caring for the elderly. Stepping outside of ego to defend the defenseless.”
“My decision was not based out of fear. I am not afraid for myself. I’m a healthy 38 year old. My dad and my son are not.”
“I posted all the funny memes. We went on saying it ‘wouldn’t happen to us here.’ My husband and I rolled our eyes and made jokes. As the days unfolded, it kept getting a little closer to home.”
“I came around the hallway just in time to see my 6-year-old son sledding down the stairs with a maniacal grin, in a freaking laundry basket. It wasn’t 9 a.m. and I already burst into tears.”
“I told my kids to make sure they picked up a pack of TP every time they went into a store. Let’s be real, your kids know what’s going on. We are teaching them it’s okay to mow somebody down when they’re scared of something.”
“She had 2 months worth of toilet paper, cleaning products, and dry food. She said it, ‘Wasn’t her fault.’ My friend is a teacher with MS who has been to 3 stores today searching for basics. Preparing shouldn’t look like hoarding.”
“You fretfully throw toilet paper and hand-sanitizer into your shopping cart. You rigorously wash your hands, for the fourth time this hour. ‘Are we going to be okay, mama?’ they ask on the car ride home. Your actions speak just as loudly as your words.”
“I knew my husband was there to get her but I was too far away in that moment. I know that panic because I’ve had it too. These are the generations that were born and raised post 9-11. They are a generation that grew up practicing active shooter drills at school. Yet they kept going to school. Until now.”
