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Things have changed a lot since 2020 started, haven’t they?

I often think that it’s a good thing we can’t predict what will happen from year to year.

We would probably never be able to enjoy any year for worrying about what was going to happen.

I wonder what we would have done differently had we known about COVID-19 ahead of time? Most people would have bought more toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Luckily for me, my husband and I both had bought toilet paper before the rush began.

I do wish I had bought more corn meal. I like to make my cornbread from scratch, and I have not be able to purchase corn meal in several stores in town.

I have sent my husband on the hunt for it. I learned it was hard to find about a month ago from a friend. I even offered to share, but he said he was sure he would find some. Now, I am wondering where it has all gone and why it is so hard to find.

One of the things I have learned during COVID-19 is how hard it is to find certain items. Toilet paper and corn meal would not have been on the top of my list of most-wanted items.

Another thing I have learned is how greedy people are by buying up so many products just to sell and make a profit. I find that sad.

I have learned that, in a pinch, I can cut my own hair. I have cut five heads of hair in the last two weeks. Even my husband got brave enough to let me cut his hair, but he was the most scared of all. I think he was afraid of revenge.

I have learned I can make do with less. COVID-19 has let me have a little more time than usual to get rid of things I have hung onto for years. For some reason, I am now ready. I think one reason is knowing of the possibility of getting this dreaded disease and someone else having to go through my clutter.

I have learned I need to give away some things that others would benefit from more than I do.

I have cousins who were in the Tennessee gas pipeline explosion, and I bought a book written by a girl who also was burned badly in that explosion. One of my cousins, Patricia Willoughby Ring, was also horribly burned and hospitalized for weeks. I plan to hand the book down to her. I think those burns were one of the things that influenced her career as a nurse.

I worry about her because she is very near retirement, and she is right in the middle of this virus caring for patients.

I have learned that I always appreciated our doctors and nurses but seldom prayed nightly for them. I have done so during COVID-19. I have felt more responsibility in praying since this pandemic than ever before.

I have appreciated my pastor more during this time, too. I appreciate that he has been such a good shepherd to our congregation. Daily, without fail, he has lifted us up with an encouraging word on Facebook, and on Sundays he has gone to our church to preach a sermon to us. I appreciate him and our music director, and learned how much our congregation had become a part of my life.

I have also discovered there are those in this world who just plain don’t get it.

While I always wear my gloves and mask when I am out in public, I get frustrated when others will walk right by you and not observe the six-foot rule. When this happens, I am trying to figure out if they are dumb or couldn’t care less about anyone else but themselves. It may be their right not to wear a mask or gloves, but please respect those who do. They may have many reasons why they need to be protected.

I have also really missed getting to go out to eat with my friends or my husband at a restaurant and relax.

I miss my monthly meetings and catching up with friends.

I have missed going to church.

I have learned I can save a little bit of money by not going out so much.

I have learned I thrive on being busy more than being idle. I still do not know how to relax.

I have missed my grandchildren so much during this pandemic. I will be glad when life becomes more normal and people will learn to appreciate what feels normal again.

I think how my grandchildren may someday tell their children how they lived through this pandemic like those who lived through the wars and the depression did us.

Life will either go on, or as many believe is happening now, Christ’s coming is near.

Only time will tell, and we all need to get ready.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.