Difficult Easter

THUMBS UP: Easter Sunday is usually marked by churches packed with worshippers, kids gathering for Easter Egg hunts and families gathering for a big Easter dinner. This year, thanks to the coronavirus, those churches that are having services will be showing them online. Families will be staying home.

As difficult as this is, Easter is still a celebration of the miracle of Christ’s Resurrection. The impact of that event upon the world, and upon people, will not be diminished because of stay-at-home orders and social distancing.

This could be a time for extra prayers to God to protect us all from the virus, and to bring a completion to this surge of illness.

Making lemonade

THUMBS UP: The COVID-19 pandemic is not going to last forever. While it is discouraging not to be able to go out and mingle with friends at the local watering holes, or stop and dine at our favorite restaurants, we are heartened to see that many businesses forced to shut down or limit operations are taking advantage of the down time to undertake remodeling or redecorating projects, to be ready when the shutdown is lifted. Taco John’s, for instance, is doing some major remodeling. Others are paying employees to do some painting instead of waiting on tables.

That’s taking lemons and making lemonade.

TP panic

THUMBS DOWN: The Associated Press has moved a Q&A on toilet paper. It poses the question: What does toilet paper have to do with a global pandemic? The answer: Nothing. But it said millions of people have been panicking about their household supply and stripping the store shelves, creating a shortage.

Which proves that in times of crisis, we see the good and worst in people. We are seeing so many first responders, health care workers and grocery workers showing up for work and putting their lives on the line. Then there are people who exhibit selfish acts of hoarding and leaving others with nothing.

Fortunately, the AP also reports that panic buying seems to be cooling off. We suppose some people are just running out of room to stash their toilet paper.