I was sitting here as I have done for the past 3 weeks trying to think about what to write about. What positive spin or thoughts that I could share with you. All I could come up with is that history has a way of repeating itself and hopefully this world, our country and we, as citizens, will learn this time.
We are in unsettling times. We will speak of this global virus pandemic, the stay-at-home orders, food shortages, gas prices possibly going back to 99 cents per gallon, highest unemployment in recent memory and the aftermath this pandemic had on our economy. Before this, how many of you knew the word Essential business or ventilator? The simple word COVID-19 will flow off our tongues like WWI & The Depression and we will all remember where we were and who we lost. This virus knows no color or race, no religion, no gender and doesn’t discriminate… sounds like a John Lennon song.
Future generations will roll their eyes when we try to tell them the stories of the day when there was no toilet paper and food was being rationed. How manufacturing plants were converted from making pillows or beer, to making hand sanitizers and hospital masks/PPE clothing to save the lives of Americans. GM and Ford converted their plants to make not guns and ammo for WAR, but medical equipment. They will humor us, and half listen at the unimaginable sacrifices people have made to save the lives others.
I remember when I was younger, I went down into my Italian grandparents’ basement, and would see everything that they stocked up on. Every weekend, they would take the Sunday newspaper ads and coupon and spend the whole weekend going to stores picking up the Buy One-Get One free products and then they would proudly stock them on massive shelves in the basement. They would only go out to eat at restaurants they had a coupon for. My beautiful Grandma Ginny was our family Italian drug dealer, because she would pay you to refill your prescriptions and then stock them up in her private home pharmacy. I remember thinking that they were just a little bit crazy, but now I understand that they had lived thru the depression, they had lived in a house with several married families and struggled every single day. My grandma worked at a plant in St. Louis and paid double on her mortgage every month so that she could pay her house off early and the bank didn’t own her. She believed in living within her means, and I can’t tell you the countless times my parents borrowed money from them and thank god they always had it to give. They didn’t have credit card because they didn’t want to owe anyone. If they wanted something, they had an envelope and they SAVED until they could go in and pay cash.
It is my belief and deepest hope that this pandemic and shut down will be a life lesson to world leaders, our government and all of us in some small way and will bring CHANGE in how we deal with things.
I have personally learned a lot about how I will deal with things moving forward and to be the rock for my family and friends.
Our estimated goal date to getting back to some semblance of normal is now April 30th, and I pray each day that more people will honor the stay-at-home orders and practice safe social distancing. Group rides are not encouraged, and we ask all riders if you are going to ride to make sure you take the necessary steps to keep yourself and others safe.
The sooner we all sacrifice and bring this curve of infection down, the sooner we can all get back to the living and rebuilding our lives and our country.
#2WHEELS4MEALS
Colorado Rider News is working with a collective group of biker owned business to form #ColoradoRidersCare. Our first initiative was our #2WheelsforMeals program to ensure that our small business biker owned restaurants survive so that we have them when this is over. We are working with businesses like Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, Wide Open Saloon, and Takoda Tavern. Each of these businesses are open for carryout and delivery and we encourage all riders to try your best to support your local biker owned business. If you know of someone that needs a hot meal, please let us know by sending an email to info@coloradoridernews.com
Motorcycle Business Directory
CRN has also created a directory of businesses that have modified or adapted to the shut-down. Many of our dealerships are still open and while the showroom may be closed, they are still open for service and parts.
We will always be #COLORADOSTRONG and stand side-by-side.
As always enjoy the ride, let us know what we can do better and BE SAFE OUT THERE
Contact Laurie: info@coloradoridernews.com