Vendor Writing

COVID-19 Sucks — We Are Blessed

By Jen. A, Contributor vendor

We are human. We are flesh and blood. And as the current COVID-19 global pandemic has proved, we are unimaginably fragile.

One day, most everything in our life met our expectations. We sent our children off to school, went to work, gathered in groups to mark life milestones, greeted friends with hugs and handclasps. Then the very next day, once we were aware that we were under mortal threat by the person standing next to us, all of our expectations were shattered.

Instantly, we hunkered down and sheltered in place. We physical distanced ourselves from our neighbors. Communities dissolved. We became little islands adrift in a terrifying sea.

When we looked to our leaders to help us out of this untenable situation, most proved to be inept. We were left to muddle through in our own way. Some picked up their guns, some fell to their knees, but the very best of us looked for ways to help our neighbors. When some in Tennessee ask what this pandemic is costing us, I hope the answer is not our humanity.

As I struggle to come to terms with our isolation, it is an old Hebrew creation myth that comforts me and gives me hope for our future.

BY JEN A. , CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

At the command, “Let there be light,” 10 vessels filled with light were sailed into the darkness toward Earth. But the light was too unstable and powerful to be contained. It exploded from the vessels and sent shards and sparks of light raining down like seeds on our world. It is the divine purpose of all of humanity to tirelessly hunt down these shards of light, no matter where they are hidden, and hold them up to vanquish the darkness. By holding up our own shards of light, we can heal the world!

The darkness visited upon us by the coronavirus has provided everyone with a wonderful opportunity. We are blessed to be able to take a clear-eyed look at the tragic inequities that plague our society. Inequities we have turned a blind eye to for far too long. Inequities that have taken so many of our cherished neighbors.

When it was known that COVID-19 was hypercontageous, Gov. Bill Lee was quick to announce that Tennessee would step up to cover the cost of treatment of the dreaded disease for the hundreds of thousands of low-wage working Tennesseans who are uninsured. Tennessee is one of the 14 states that has repeatedly refused to expand Medicaid to poor working families. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, over 10 percent of Tennessee’s population is uninsured. The other 38 states have expanded medical care to these hard-working folks through the Affordable Care Act.

Many of these low-wage workers are folks we see every day. They are grocery clerks, gig workers, those greeting us at pharmacies, dry cleaners, and auto supply shops. They care for our children and our elders. They perform vital work and we shamelessly take them for granted. While we were able to work from home or paid by a PPP loan to just stay home, they risked sickness and death to get us our goods and services.

It is known that Covid-19 deaths are more common in individuals who have underlying medical conditions such as; diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. And while much is made of the outsized percentage of Blacks and Latinos who have died of the disease, the greater majority of the current 90,000 deaths have been white. It would be most interesting to know how many of all who died were uninsured. That would be a valuable and illuminating statistic.

Low-wage working people in Tennessee who are uninsured are told by our legislature that they don’t deserve proper health care. In the past, when you called a doctor because you were unwell, the first question asked was, “Where does it hurt?” These days, the first question asked is, “ What kind of insurance do you have?” That question has a chilling effect on a person’s ability to access our health care system. Uninsured workers ignore signs and symptoms of serious medical conditions. They just tough it out because they have no choice.

It’s past time to hold up our individual shards of light, Tennessee. Hold them up high to light up the darkness many of our neighbors are or will soon be legislated to live in by the powers that be. Use your privilege and voice to shine a bright health care light over the entire state. Low-wage workers have proved their great worth during our Covid-19 lockdown. Providing them with proper health care is the least we can do to repay them for all the good they have done! Shine a light, Tennessee!

Unnamed Heros

By Norma B., Contributor vendor

Recently, I wrote an article about some specific customers, each one mentioned by name, and the many wonderful things they’ve done for me in my time selling The Contributor.

Now I’d like to call attention to those who even though I may not know their names their contributions are just as valuable.

There was a lady who stopped and asked what I was working for that day. I told her I was hoping to get enough for a good winter coat. She returned a little while later with a coat that fit just right and in the pocket were matching gloves.

A gentleman stopped to check on me because he said I, “made his wife happy.” I told him I was doing OK except I had forgotten my hat and it was a bit chilly out. He spoke with his wife and told her what I said, and she told him to get me a hat, but make it a cute one. He returned a short time later with hat in hand, and it was cute! The only problem was that it was bright pink and I was wearing bright red. I proudly wore it anyway, but I had a lot of people ask if I’d gotten dressed in the dark that day because it clearly didn’t match.

On another occasion I forgot my gloves and a lady stopped and took the gloves off her hands and gave them to me. I said, “But you might need them.” She responded, “But I am in a nice warm car and you’re outside in the cold.“ It was kind of hard to argue with that logic. She apologized because one of them had a small hole. I told her not to worry about it because they were so much better than what I had — nothing. It’s funny though, several people noticed and commented about the hole.

Along the same lines, there’s my Hot Hands guy. I love to see his truck come through!

When I first met him, he rolled his window down and said, “I don’t have any money but would you like some Hot Hands and Toes?” Would I ever! He said he’d never seen a lady get so excited over Hot Hands before.

I explained that it was cold outside, and these make it bearable, and I was completely out and I’d never had Toasty Toes before — they were GREAT!

One day a couple stopped for a paper and they told me I wasn’t my usual perky self. I told them I had run out of coffee and offered to give them their money back if they would go get me some. They asked if it needed to be Starbucks and I said no, just coffee. They told me to keep the two dollars but assured me they would be back shortly with some coffee, and they were! That had to be one of the worst cups of coffee I’ve ever had, but the fact that they went out of their way to go and get it and bring it back to me made it pretty special!

There’s a youth minister from a local church who rolled down his window and said he didn’t have any cash, but was headed to Taco Bell and asked if I wanted anything. When he returned with the food, he parked his car and came and talked to me on the sidewalk for quite a while. He asked questions about the paper. I told him about my granddaughter Avani playing the flute in the school band. He related his own experience in band as a youth. We talked about how difficult it was to make ends meet these days, and away he went.

One lady stopped with a hot ham and cheese sandwich. She said she wasn’t sure what to get me because she was unsure of any dietary restrictions I might have. I told her I wasn’t sure I was in a position to impose dietary restrictions. The only restrictions I have are that it can’t be crawling off the plate because I’m obviously not able to chase it down! And NO LIVER. I hate liver! We had a good laugh and away she went.

There’s the lady who always stops and gives me a few cans of organic vegetables for a paper. She says that’s God’s way of keeping me healthy.

There’s my Nissan man who only comes through every 3-4 months because every time there’s a disaster he’s off helping someone else in need in one way or another, and there’s definitely been plenty to do lately!

There’s an older man who was in the area undergoing medical treatment and stopped and said, “I had to stop for the girl with the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.” I looked around and asked, “Where is she?” He said, “I’m looking at her.” Needless to say, the smile got even bigger and brighter then.

One of the sweetest gifts I ever got was from two young children. They gave me a cornucopia. (My granddaughter calls it a witch’s hat and wears it like one when I don’t have fruit in it.) They’d obviously worked hard to wrap it themselves — you could tell. Inside was a one of a kind picture with a note that said, “Ms. Norma I hope you find home soon we love you!” It hung on my refrigerator at the hotel until it started getting messed up, but I’m sure I still have it somewhere.

Last but certainly not least are all those who roll down their windows and give us encouragement in the form of smiles and waves and kind words.

Many of you are quick to say, “I’m sorry I don’t have anything to give.” I say, “You’re wrong! The simple act of rolling down your window, acknowledging our existence, and making us feel valued is something!”

If you’re still not convinced, contrast that with others who see us out there and rather than be cordial and polite, they roll up their windows, lock their doors, and immediately check for their wallets.

Now maybe you can see the real value in what you do! So while I may not know your names — you’re still heroes to me just the same!