Roses and Thorns

Yesterday I had a two minute conversation with the barista at the Starbucks drive through.  I think she might be my new best friend. She’s certainly the longest face-to-face conversation I’ve had with anyone outside my immediate family in two weeks.  

As we have moved from social distancing to Stay Home-Work Safe protocols, I have found many “Roses and Thorns” moments.    If you aren’t familiar with Roses and Thorns, you may not have been subjected to the mandatory after-school conversations about the good and bad parts of your day like the Marafioto children have.  But now, I am finding that these moments have made me much more introspective and appreciative of my daily life . . . and believe it or not, my Roses are abundant. 

Take the Starbucks barista for example.  Pretty much any other day in the past 100 Starbucks trips, I probably would have said four words to any drive-through worker, “Thank you so much!”; maybe “Have a great day!” if my mind wasn’t already moving on to the next two or three places I needed to be.  But today, today we talked. There was no rush. And from six feet apart, she asked about my day and I hers, and we actually listened to each others’ responses. She finished making the Mango-dragonfruit-refreasher-with-extra-ice-blended that my teen usually wouldn’t have time to get after tennis, and I left with a smile and a feeling that this great big Thorn that has turned all of our lives upside down, might be part of a very large rose bush.  

I’ve seen those roses in so many places.  In the man in HEB who gave his eggs to the older gentleman checking out ahead of him.  In the faces of the cafeteria staff passing out lunches and smiles in front of the schools.  In the online service and software providers who, instead of capitalizing on the needs of remote learners, are offering their products free of charge to students and teachers.   I’ve seen roses in my own family who have time to laugh and talk and try new things together. They are apparent when my kids take the time to work out together or cook a meal for the family, or try - although without success -- to teach their old mom a Tik-Tok dance.  And those roses are in full bloom in the service of our medical providers, researchers, grocers, truck drivers, educators, and everyone else who is “making it work” to keep our lives close to normal while we are living far apart. 

Where can you find your Roses today?

Lily, an HEB partner, greets customers with a free bottle of water and a smile as they wait in line for groceries on March 25.  With temperatures nearing 90 degrees and a 20-30 minute wait to get into the store, HEB was not only following COVID-19 protocols, but was paying attention to their customer needs.  "This just made my day," a senior HEB shopper said. "It's nice that they are taking care of all of us while they are so busy themselves."

Cafeteria workers from Northwood Elementary hand out lunch packs to all area students from 11:30 AM -1:00 PM Monday through Friday.  In addition to providing remote classroom instruction, local school districts are providing curb-side nutrition services for all school-aged children.  "This is a great resource for our community," a local Northwood parent said. "It's the happy point in our day to get out of the house and see these smiling faces."  

A New Normal

When we left school 13 days ago for Spring Break, I was looking forward to a week with friends and family on our  beautiful Costa Rican beach.  I had plans to relax and recharge before coming back to the whirlwind of spring contests, Photoshop Certifications, national conventions, photo shoots, AP testing, and more.

Then everything changed.

Before we left Costa Rica, we received notice that Spring Break would be extended.  By the time our flight left on Sunday, the airports were quiet.  People boarded the planes armed with masks, Clorox wipes, and weary looks of caution but solidarity.  By the time we arrived home, grocery shelves were bare and toilet paper was the new hot commodity.

And today, there is a new normal. 

Everyday I work through the full range of emotions: 
Respect for the epidemiologists, scientists, health care workers and first responders that put themselves on the frontlines every day to battle for prevention and cure. 
Gratitude for the health of my family and the extra time I get to spend with them. 
Ambition to discover   new ways to teach and engage students with remote learning.
Sadness for all the things my students and my own children are missing out on -- sports, friends, competitions, social events. 
Frustration that people are not taking this seriously and following the guidelines - further extending the reach of Covid-19 and putting so many at risk. 
And Fear that this will last much longer than the two to three weeks we first imagined.

One day, this new normal will be history.  One day we will look back at the world "before" the Covid-19 pandemic and the global changes it has effected.  But for now, I will try to chronicle those changes, those emotions,  and the struggles and the triumphs as they occur. 

On Thursday, March 19th, I left a silent Robert G. Cole Campus for an indefinite amount of time.  Teachers were allowed to visit campus using social distancing protocols on March 18 & 19 to pick up any necessary materials to teach remotely; after those dates, the campus is closed.  "It was not celebratory; not like summer vacation," teacher Brenda Marafioto said.  "I  already miss my co-workers, my students, and my program; I'd rather see them in person, but we will make the most of this remote learning opportunity."

On Wednesday, March 18, Cole Middle and High School teachers gathered online to learn about the new teaching schedule and educational expectations for remote learning. Teachers participated using Zoom, one online meeting option for class sessions which will begin next week.  "I didn't realize how powerful it would be to see and hear each other - even just online," Senior English teacher Mariel Gaitan-Martinez said. "I am so glad that we will be able to connect with our students as well." 

Although he could not see  them face-to-face because of self-isolation after a trip out of the country, Chase Marafioto delivers groceries to his grandparents' garage  on Friday, March 19.  Since seniors are especially vulnerable to the spread of Covid-19, many younger people are stepping up to help with shopping or errands.  "I wanted to see my grandma, but I didn't want to take the chance of getting her sick," Marafioto said, "so I did what I could for her by bringing her groceries."