Vendor Writing

Missing My People

By Norma B.

Since life has slowed down thanks to the coronavirus or COVID-19 or whatever you choose to call it, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on all “my people” — the customers that I’m not getting to see.

There have been many memorable ones over the years. Each one unique in their own way. From the beginning there was Michael, my very first customer, who I met at 31st and West End and somehow he always managed to find me no matter where I went — even all the way out in Hermitage!

Recently I thought of Zach, who once told me he didn’t have to come that way to work — he did it just to see me, and was disappointed when he didn’t. How cool is that? His wife Stacey and Stacey’s mom are equally amazing.

There’s Claudia who stopped and asked, and asked, and asked me to pray for her granddaughter, Blake Allyssa, who had a congenital heart defect. The last time she visited she said the doctor had given her a clean bill of health! She was going to bring her by for me to see for myself but that hasn’t happened yet.

During that brief visit by Claudia, a young man came up and patiently waited to talk to me. When I asked his name he quickly responded, “Rich — but that’s just my name not my monetary status!” Cute! Right?

Ms. Libby has given me boots, socks, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, and of course, money — even though I got her name wrong for the longest time. She still stops and she encourages many of her friends to do the same (my only complaint is that she rarely takes the paper!)

There’s Sally and Dave who’ve had issues of their own to deal with as most people do, yet they always stop by to say hi, ask about my grand babies and get a paper.

There’s Vanessa who has a thick Spanish accent, and I can’t always understand everything she says, but one day not long ago I was stranded at Kroger and she brought me home so my groceries didn’t spoil. I laughed all the way home because I didn’t understand her GPS in Spanish but I made it home eventually!

JJ is one of my newest customers, but I haven’t seen him since the tornado. I sure hope he’s OK. He’d just bought a house out here when I met him and he stopped to see what the paper was all about. We’ve been friends ever since!

Larry and his wife Dee have always been supportive, giving money, gift cards, and he even got my phone fixed once! But the thing I value most is their friendship.

Richard has consistently given me money for utilities, groceries, or whatever is needed.

They’ve ALL given me SO much — and these are just a few examples of the generosity I experience on a regular basis, but it’s acts of kindness like these that consistently restore my faith in humanity in spite of all the badness we see in the world around us! Thank you SO much for ALL you’ve done for me! This has brought me comfort in spite of the isolation brought on by the pandemic.

May 25, 1986

By Vicky B.

I was in my early twenties on May 25, 1986, waiting for what was advertised as a return of the human spirit. For months I watched the commercials, listened to the radio spots and watched the goose bumps grow until it was finally here.

On that day seven million Americans held hands across America to form a bi-coastal human chain from New York to LA in the fight against hunger & homelessness. They called it Hands Across America, and radio stations across the country simultaneously played the song “Hands Across America” while people joined hands.

The video released just days later was even more powerful. The images of sweet young faces saying, “I wish I had a home,” and, “I’d like more to eat,” and even, “I wish I had a chance.” Words and images that bring a tear to my eye. The organizer of Hands Across America, Ken Kragen, was also the creator of “USA for Africa” and organized the fundraising song, “We are the World.” After coming back from a trip to Africa, he says a lady approached him and said, “When are we going to do something for America?”

In an interview on the 30th anniversary of Hands Across America Kragen said, “We did this without the internet or cell phones, no social media.” “The heart of a stranger beats the same as a friend” is one of the lines in this song reminding us all that we are the same, we need to all work together.

Celebrities, politicians, and people from all walks of life came together to show the spirit of America and donate to this very worthy cause. Lily Tomlin, Jeff Bridges, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, C3PO, Kevin Bacon, Whoopi Goldberg, Mickey Mouse, and President Reagan and Nancy. As I’m writing this, the song is playing in the background. When I hear, “Divided we fall. (Stand up.) United we stand,” it brings me a sense of pride in America as I hope it does in you as well. The song also says, “There’s a lady who smiles who shines upon us saying All Are Welcome Here.”

These words are some of the most powerful words that have been forgotten over the years. Now that we’re living in a world of social distancing, face masks and staying six feet apart from people, it’s become a much different world than the one I grew up in. Will we ever be able to physically hold hands across America again?

The Hands Across America movement raised 20 million dollars that went into more food banks and building more shelters for the hungry and homeless. That was a lot of money back then. Today it might build one new shelter, but do we really need more shelters or do we need more affordable housing?