Just how much longer must we wait? And on who? Well, it is coming they tell us. And we might just add: “come soon.”

The Covid virus continues to sweep America causing many of the mask nay-sayers to hush up and reach for their own masks. Hard hit El Paso, Texas has issued orders to its population to stay in. People are being ordered to stay home and isolate themselves for two weeks. Do not know how well that will be enforced but you can be sure you will be nabbed if you venture out without a mask. El Paso has a large percentage of minority races and like other similar cities suffers from a much higher incidence of infection.

The latest wave of Corona-19 across America has shut down much of the opposition by citizens being forced into wearing masks. Mask wearing is not rocket science and it has disappointed me to hear the arguments against this simple protective device. Let us all try to be respectful to one another in this battle. If you are exposed or are even quarantined, stay in.

I appreciate local grocer Eric Pierce. He will take your orders by phone and bring it out to your vehicle if requested. No need to go in if you do not want to. And remember, our drug companies are working day and night to perfect a vaccine against this Covid and it may be sooner rather than later before a vaccine is made that will bring this pandemic to an abrupt halt.

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals opened vaccine trials last week to middle schoolers. Thousands of kids down to 12 years of age are participating in trials— trials that are necessary before we can go to mass inoculations. Volunteers across America (kids with the approval of parents) are making this possible. These test subjects know this is necessary to prove the vaccines safety and I was proud to read about these kids not only participating but actively recruiting their peers to help out.

This is inspiring to me when I note the resistance of a few parents to even allow their own offspring to be vaccinated with tried and proven vaccines. Even to the point to reintroducing the Measles disease back into areas of America previously thought to be Measles Free. Of course, I guess we have to lump in those parents who just do not like to be bothered with these aspects of parenthood. We used to call that laziness. But let us hope that very soon we will see folks lining up for Covid-19 shots.

Virtual school has been shown to be a bust too during this pandemic. Let us hope we can get back to a time when kids get up, get out and go to school. I realize that some of our kids get a good education in home schools, but in my opinion, there are very few parents who have the qualifications, the vigor and drive to school at home. And nothing can replace the aspects of a public education when it comes to social skills, extracurricular activities and in my case, recess. I have thought of writing a book about this: I might call it “What I learned at recess.” But I probably will not.

Speaking of extracurricular activities, our football season is winding down and from what I can see from my little “peep-hole” here at Lee Street and Baltimore, it has been Topsy-Turvey. Our boys have worked and played hard in a very tough 6-A conference. We have competed very well but the old injury bug put a lot of stress on the team. In particular my best wishes and thanks to quarterback Garrett Nix for his success this year and I know the whole area wishes him a speedy recovery from his leg injury. Meanwhile, the Covid and other problems have made everything more difficult. I wish them the best as they labor to wind up this season.

I might should just say: “Bring on the Basketball.” But who knows what tomorrow holds. Maybe we can just say: “Bring on next year!” As always, we have high hopes for the future.

Everyone take care. Stay in when you can and do not hesitate to wear that mask. Be sure and support your church.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com