The coronavirus has the world on edge. Mass pandemonium? Yeah, I’d say there’s chaos when the first thing people hoard are vast quantities of… yep, you’ve guessed it: toilet paper. It being primarily an upper respiratory viral infection doesn’t smack of an abundant need for TP, but all reason flies in the face of uncertainty, I guess. Instead of panicking, I’m reading, folks. I’m using this coronavirus to justify the mountains of books I’ve amassed over the years.
Me: “You see, honey, I was merely planning for just this sort of situation.
Hubby: Arms crossed and eyebrows raised.
Me: “We’ve got plenty of books to entertain us for the next ten years with the added bonus of having a large source for wiping our backsides in the event we run out of TP.”
Hubby: Rolls his eyes towards the heavens and grunts, throwing his hands up defeatedly.
Me: “You’ll thank me later,” I holler at his retreating form and then proudly eye my mountains of books.
Book Lovers Have Prepared for the TP Apocalypse called Coronavirus
Yes, my fellow book lovers, we’ve prepared for just this type of emergency, and we… are… rocking it.
All humor aside, this is a tumultuous time we live in, and the fear is real. There are 24/7 news channels spitting out a revolving amount of information that goes from bad to worse, and if we allow it, the diarrhea of information could send us spiraling into fear, anxiety, and depression. Let’s take a break, shall we? And the best way to do that is to immerse yourself in books!
Go ahead, tackle that TBR list! No better time than the present. Books give solace to the weary, humor to the depressed, and friendship to the lonely. Books give hours of entertainment that can be read and reread forever. Now is the perfect opportunity to read to your children, spouse, or by yourself especially when the day’s troubles threaten to swallow you whole.
This Too Shall Pass
Please do yourselves a favor and take some well needed time off from life’s troubles. Reading books can alleviate lots of worry if you let them. And remember, this too shall pass. That’s sound advice from my dad who has seen his fair share and then some of tough and tragic times.
Yes, people will continue to get sick. Yes, some will die, and it’s tragic. No doubt about it. The Spanish Flu of 1918-1919 killed 65 million lives across the globe, which was about one-third of the world’s population at the time according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a matter of fact, my maternal great, great grandfather died from it along with my paternal great, great grandfather. I remember my own grandfather speaking about his grandfather’s funeral in the midst of the 1918-1919 winter. Barefoot with threadbare clothes, he trailed the cart carrying his deceased grandfather through the frigid, yet muddy, Texas soil, listening to the smack of feet against the slurry of mud as they marched stoically to the gravesite.
To this date, the Spanish flu was the worst pandemic seen. Hopefully, the coronavirus will not surpass the devastation seen a little over a hundred years ago. Following the health specialist’s recommendations of social distancing, hand washing, and the like will help tremendously in the effort to curtail this novel virus. However, in the meantime, please take care of your mental health. For me, that’s where the magic of books come in to play.
The Sun Will Rise Again Tomorrow
Friends, today is but a fleeting moment, and tomorrow lies just around the bend. Hope, light, and dreams await. For now, we must hunker down and keep a steady head. And as my dad has wisely reminded me in times of doubt, “The sun will always rise again tomorrow.”
Let’s take a deep breath, smile at our loved ones, and take the time to smell the roses. For me, the roses stand for books. Pick up your favorite author’s latest e-book or try another author’s works (like mine!) and strap in for a great adventure.
I love to hear from you. Since we’re all on this crazy roller coaster together, how about you list your favorite books in the comment section below, and if you want, please e-mail me those books at kduptonauthor@gmail.com. Until next time, stay safe, keep positive, and may the winds of health be crossing your path soon.
Happy reading,
K.D.
