Page 5 - Desert Oracle September 2020

Giving Thanks

As we all know, this is a very unusual time (to say the least) in our lives. I don’t think any of us ever
dreamt something like this COVID 19 crisis would or could have happened here in the U.S. , or anywhere
in the world for that matter.

Most of us are either working from home or retired and staying home during this crisis. Especially
during this extended very hot summer here in Phoenix, the time spent indoors can sometimes be
unbearable. Trying to stay positive, is by far the best way to think. Although, at times, it can be very
difficult, and a person can begin to feel depressed or angry or just plain ready to pull out his/her hair!
This morning I happened upon my apartment complex’s custodian when I went down to put some
garbage in the outside container. I don’t even know his name, but we always exchange hellos when we
see each other and always remark about the weather. He always asks if I’m still working from home,
and I always let him know I don’t know how he manages to work outside everyday in this extreme heat.
We both always laugh knowing that we each must do what’s necessary to keep working.
However, today was different. He mentioned his “cooler” broke last night and didn’t know when it
would get fixed. He relayed the air ducts are now all rusty, so they have to be replaced before he can
have a new “cooler” put in. He mentioned he had a small a/c unit which he put in his living room for his
dog and where he tried to sleep last night, but he relayed it still wasn’t very cool so he decided to just
get up and go into work at 3 a.m. Of course, I sympathized with him, and hoped he’d get things fixed
soon, but oh how guilty I felt.
If I ever begin to feel trapped or depressed from this crazy situation of feeling confined, I hope I can
look at the big picture and know that I don’t have any problems worth complaining about when others
have it so much worse.

I also began to think about others who are also stuck at home. There are those with school age children.
Not only do those parents have to continue doing their jobs while working from home, they now also
have to become school teachers. I just can’t imagine how hard that must be.

Also, there are the elderly who are home alone, just missing being able to get out and maybe visit with a
friend for coffee or a nice lunch once in a while or to take a walk and be able to say hello to another
person along the way.

The disabled, who have to deal with a lot of obstacles daily anyway that most people take for granted,
are also having to stay at home during this time.

There are the homeless who are living and sleeping outside everyday in this incredible heat, and would
probably be so thankful to be staying inside “at home” right now.

With these thoughts, I just want to say how thankful I am for what I have, and hope to continue to NOT
dwell on what I might not have.

Jackie Berkshire
Senior Secretary

Phoenix Service Office