This photo of empty meat shelves in my local supermarket may be extreme, but all fall we've been noticing shortages of "normal" items in the grocery stores and pharmacies. I had gone into the supermarket to pick up a prescription in the pharmacy department but couldn't help but notice the depleted shelves in the produce, dairy and meat sections. I think the depleted shelves were due to a combination of factors: it was a few days after New Year's; and there was a significant snowfall in our area (which doesn't handle snow well) which led to a 36 hour road closure on Interstate 95 south of us. Plus all the supply chain issues which have become so normal they aren't even news anymore. Every time I see empty shelves or see the "out of stock" notation when shopping online, I think of the shops in the countries of the former Soviet Union and the long lines that were standard for people in those countries decades ago just to buy staples. Obviously, it isn't that bad here... but honestly, I never expected to see this situation here. And of course, these supply chain issues are most critically important when it has meant that health care professionals and medical facilities have not had the equipment and resources they need to fight this pandemic. Or when we had to made do with poorly made masks. Sigh.... it is not a good way to start the new year.... I honestly just wish this -- the coronavirus -- was over.
January 10, 2022
Two years ago when we abandoned our offices and started to work from home, I was surprised to find I missed the spaces around campus almost as much as I missed people I've been back to work since July 2021 after I got vaccinated, but not all the buildings were re-opened to the public Last week I happened to walk through the education building, an airy and colorful space which I have always enjoyed I stopped to take a picture because I was just so happy to be able to walk through this space again
March 31, 2022