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Dear John,



I hope you and your family are good. That’s the most important thing.

I also hope you are doing everything you can to make sure that others are
good too. That means keeping your distance, staying away from other
people, and doing what you can to help those who are unable to help
themselves.

We’ve been hunkered down in our home for most of the last week. To get
some exercise and time outdoors, Amy has organized daily family hikes in
the Franklin mountains. Yesterday we rode our bikes down to the track at
El Paso High to race each other in the 400 meters (Ulysses won) and
compete in the long jump (Ulysses again). We’ve also been watching movies
at home (Lord of the Rings on Netflix), reading, playing board games and
catching up by phone with friends. 

We’ve been checking in on older neighbors and family members to see if we
can pick them up food or groceries. So far no takers. My mom is stubborn.

First week of full-on social distancing has been OK for us, balancing
outdoors and indoors, sometimes getting on each other’s nerves and
sometimes cracking each other up. But we’re very lucky to be safe, healthy
and to have each other. Important to remember that.

Our friend Gwen works with the local food bank and let us know that they
are having a hard time meeting their volunteer needs. So yesterday we all
went down to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger and helped pack boxes for
distribution to the elderly, necessary now that the local senior citizens
centers are closed. We tried to maintain six feet distance from other
volunteers, wore gloves and washed hands again anytime we touched our face
or our phones. We packed boxes full of rice, flour, canned fish, beans,
canned pears and nuts. We competed to see how many we could get done in an
hour and then tried to beat that record the next hour. We also got to see
other people (at a distance) for the first time in days. It was the best
thing we’ve done since we’ve been isolating ourselves from others and
we’re going to volunteer again soon. There’s a good chance your local food
bank could use your help, call them to find out.

A lot of you have been getting in touch to share your stories about what
you’ve been up to this past week and what you’re doing to get prepared for
the weeks to come. Homeschooling, hunting for toilet paper (Cynthia hasn’t
been able to find any in El Paso but has an Amazon order coming in this
April), and figuring out how you’re going to make ends meet. 

Some are working in hospitals and clinics, like my sister Charlotte (El
Paso), Amy’s sister Christina (New York), and our friends Debjeet (D.C.
area) and Rob (Seattle). You’ve described to me what it’s like to be on
the frontlines of this, without having the necessary tests, protective
gear and equipment. It’s been inspiring to see your determination to take
care of the people in your community, despite these serious challenges.
And it reminds us that we have to keep up the pressure on our government
to deliver — there’s no excuse for this kind of failure to test those who
are sick and protect those who treat them.

Others have shared stories of sick family members. A friend from Lubbock
wrote: 

“My mom is 67 has a severe immune disease, a 101 degree fever and been
coughing her lungs up.  She went to the doctor in Lubbock today (lives in
Crosbyton) and they sent her home with an antibiotic and no test!!!!
Everyone says they don’t have them.”

Another friend whose restaurant we’ve been to in Austin told me he’s
having to close for at least a month and is frustrated with the lack of
state and federal leadership that has left so many who live paycheck to
paycheck, including his employees, with nothing. I am hopeful that
whatever comprehensive federal stimulus program that is finally signed
into law will take into account those in the food service and hospitality
industries, as well as so many other affected small businesses and
employees.

These are not easy times, but we will get through them. Please continue to
be smart — keep your distance from other people and avoid gatherings — and
please keep your spirits up. Find a way to volunteer, help, or donate to
organizations and people in need. As my friend Noah says, “it’s hard to be
sad when you’re being useful.”

My best to you and your family — 

Beto

 




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