I am glad to see restaurants and businesses reopening.  

It’s going to be an interesting experience moving forward. I am of the wear a mask mind. I hate going into businesses where customers are not required to wear a mask. I have been in two locally during the past week, and as much as I like and want to shop locally, I am not willing to risk my health on a return trip.

The information on this disease is constantly changing as scientists learn more about it. Some suggestions are repeated by doctors, scientists and the Centers for Disease Control: Sick? Stay home. Out in public? Wear a mask. Maintain social distancing.

We have gone from “this disease will be gone in a couple of weeks” to possibly “200,000 dead by September.”

It is a matter of life and death.

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Maybe it is just me, but I miss Bob Pritchard. He was a state representative who served this area several years ago. From DeKalb, he, and often his wife, seemed to pop up at events everywhere in his district. I saw him at a dinner in Creston, at business expos at the middle school, Rotary meetings and any number of other places. He was always ready to listen to my opinions. Granted, he usually did not agree with me, but he was always open, polite and friendly. It was an honor to vote for him.

Long ago Congressman Lynn Martin and John B. Anderson represented the 16th district. I have memories of them attending local functions, hosting meetings and being accessible. Even their successors, John Cox and Don Manzullo, made themselves available to their constituents.

Times sure have changed. I don’t know if I would recognize our representatives if I saw them on the street. They seem to have distanced themselves from us, and that bothers me. 

In my world, senators, congressmen and elected state officials would be required to have a certain number of meetings each year in their districts to listen to the people they represent.

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WGN had a report on state spending in anticipation of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cell phones purchased and now in storage, hotel rooms rented and never used, medical facilities built and then taken down.

Did state officials overreact?  

Or is life like mine? If you forget an umbrella it rains. If you carry an umbrella it is sunny. Life is funny and hindsight is 20/20.

Terry Dickow can be contacted at terrydickow@gmail.com.