By Valerie Welter
Whether you are a local, a second-home owner or a recent arrival from out of state, there are a few basic practices that you can adhere to that will save the staff at our local grocers. In the spirit of full disclosure, my husband of almost 41 years is employed at Mehuron’s. I take this very seriously and very personally as I’d really like to keep him around in sound mind and body for the foreseeable future. The employees at Mehuron’s have their health and emotional well-being jeopardized each day they go to work due to the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many staff have families at home; they risk the health of their loved ones as well. Imagine living with the anguish wrought by wondering if you will carry the virus home to your children. How many of us are being asked to make similar sacrifices?
Consequently, when you read the sign on the door of Mehuron’s requesting that you follow the executive order of the governor that decrees self-quarantine for 14 days if you have traveled here from out of state, just do it! Self-quarantine being defined as: Do not stop at the grocery store. Bring your provisions with you or call for assistance. The Mad River Valley is an amazing community. Help is available; you need but ask. You do have the right to travel to Vermont; you do not have the right to jeopardize the health of employees at the grocery store. No exceptions, period, end of story.
Mehuron’s management has requested that only one member of a family enter the store to shop. This limits the number of people in the store rendering social distancing more plausible. This practice serves to protect everyone, customers and staff. In our new reality, is this an outlandish request?
Additionally, I implore you to limit your trips to the store: Stock up. Returning to Mehuron’s repeatedly throughout the week puts the staff at increased risk of contracting coronavirus. If you want to risk your own health, so be it. However, you do not have the right to endanger others.
While my comments are focused on Mehuron’s, please know that by default they are inclusive of the employees at Shaw’s, U.S. postal workers, banks, Valley convenience stores/gas stations, our smaller markets, hardware/feed stores, and other retail outlets that have remained open to serve the needs of the community. I don’t want to leave any essential worker out of the realm of our heightened consideration. These employees are selfless in their daily work. While many of us under the Stay Home, Stay Safe order are able to remain housebound, the aforementioned employees are not able to Stay Home, Stay Safe. In my opinion, it is our collective responsibility to protect their health and well-being. If they become ill, what then? Please, I beseech you to stay home.
If you encounter a seemingly crazed woman camped in front of Mehuron’s whose wardrobe includes a cowboy hat, plastic sheriff’s badge, a red bandanna as a face mask, and holstered old west six-shooter toy guns, that will most likely be me. My services as the sheriff/bouncer will have been requested. Let us hope and pray that we do not get to this point.
Please note: To anyone who’d like to join my posse as a deputy, Amazon sells and delivers an 11-piece cowboy accessories playset that includes a pair of toy silver-tone plastic six-shooters with orange safety tips that distinguish them from the real McCoys. No background check is required.
https://www.amazon.com/Imprints-Plus-Western-Cowboy-Bandanna/dp/B01C62PAI6/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&aaxitk=thn7T32XJactLmQDdIaX1A&hsa_cr_id=6728021280001&ref_=sb_s_sparkle
Welter lives in Fayston.
