Where Do We Go From Here

I’m a self-proclaimed homebody. Most of you can probably tell from my columns that I don’t venture out much, and when I do, it’s not very far. I go where I want to go, and do the things I want to do. I shop on our square here in Quincy, I make an appearance on the streets of Havana at least a couple of times a year, and Tallahassee sees me several times a month.

But as a general rule, I am an on-line shopper and I still like to cook my own meals most every weekend. My husband and I stray as far as the Waffle House or locally at Odell’s for breakfast on an occasional Saturday morning. And every now and again, on a Tallahassee visit, there are a couple of places we like to frequent for a change in food venue. Clothes shopping for me is almost 100% on-line unless it’s for a special occasion of some kind.

Most anything you want can be bought on-line these days, and even in some of the more populated towns, so can your groceries. I don’t know that I’ll ever get to that point, about the groceries I mean. 

Mainly because I’m pretty choosy about my fruits and vegetables and bread. Good grand am I ever picky about my bread. It has to have THE most recent date, it has to be soft to the touch, and not too brown on the top crust. If my husband were injecting his opinion here, he would tell you I am picky about everything, including can goods, etc. I’m a date-checker/expiration checker on everything. And if a can, bottle, box, or container of anything that is sitting at the front doesn’t look right, I guarantee you that I will be digging behind it to pull a better looking one forward for purchase.

However, none of what I just recited to you has anything to do with my point today; other than the parts about not getting out much. I don’t know about you all, but these days, I’m almost scared to get myself into any huge group/crowded situation. Nothing feels safe anymore, whether it’s a diner/restaurant, a nightclub, a yoga bar, or a school bus stop.

If I had a child in school today, I would be terrified to leave my smaller children alone, waiting on a bus pick-up. The rash of child deaths at bus stops in the past two weeks almost feels intentional at this point. How does it happen that many times in that short amount of time?

I have young, adult children. I almost don’t even want to know their plans for weekend entertainment. My mind and imagination go into overdrive when I think about them dining at open-aired restaurants and crowded club scenes where they often go to catch the local musical talent available.

My last words to most anyone on road trips etc., is to be careful and take no chances. Now I feel like I have to say that when they are headed to the local grocery store. I don’t know what the solution is; because it certainly isn’t all about gun/weapon control to me, it’s about hate control. And I have no idea how we got here.