Story and Pictures by Abby Grey
The Colloquialism: A Well-known Old Adage, for Unprecedented Modern Times
A sudden gust of wind sweeps in from the north—seemingly out of nowhere. You instantly notice the dramatic shift in pressure as the initial chill pinpoints every cell in your body, enticing hairs to salute the very brisk nature of the unforeseen roar of the wind. Then, immediately feigning the attention of your sinus, the familiar smell of faint, dewy moisture begins to meander through your nostrils. Following a short-flash of light, you hear a distant crack. Then you begin to notice…the dark, gray cloud enveloping the sky. BOOM! Thunderous rumbles begin to erupt, as lightning comes streaming from the sky in every direction.
A big rainstorm has made its way to your horizon.
You now have the choice to rejoice in the blessings that will come from this storm, or you can recoil in fear that everything will get wet. Is there no more of a rhetorical question than this: how do Oklahomans usually react to severe weather? Usually, we find almost any way to become enamored with impending forecasts. This is from people in an area of the country ravished by tornadoes, and ice storms, and drastic polarities in seasonal temperatures. We are some of the most weather-enthused people you could possibly meet. Why does the constant barrage of varying precipitation and meteorological phenomenon cast a shadow of intrigue on the very destruction we may face?
My guess: the same reason why Oklahomans tune into the blockbuster “Twister” every time it plays on TV, after we’ve lived through some of the most disastrous tornadoes the world has ever seen. For a movie based in Oklahoma, about the severe terror and destruction of storms prevalent in Oklahoma’s tornado alley, we all enthusiastically tune in and jam along during the iconic Phillip Seymour Hoffman OU-hat-wearing moment as storm-chaser “Dusty”, blaring Deep Purple as he and his comrades ride full-speed into a massive storm caught on the latest ’96 doppler. The movies “Day After Tomorrow” & “2012”…? Uhm, that was Oklahoma this past February. Really, the storm doesn’t scare us—it’s how we might be broken surviving the storm that scares us. The devastation caused by these storms is a piece of the Oklahoma puzzle, with the passionate responses from our neighbors in times of need being the border pieces framing the full picture of who we are as a community. We may have damage to our property or body; but together, we rebuild after the storm. For Oklahomans, our dedication to overcoming adverse and difficult situations extends throughout all facets of life.
Perhaps, because of the way Enidites come together when environmental destruction occurs, any fear about what the storm may destroy along the way is alleviated. Somehow, the storm brings out the compassionate and giving nature that we all innately share. We spring into action and help those suffering, rebuilding stronger—both our homes and our bonds with one another. Food pantries have seen a huge spike in demand for food distribution among communities all across the nation, so several businesses joined together and raised over $4,000, by creating a t-shirt with a logo that read “We’re All in This Together”. After the initial sale of the shirt at The Turquoise Boutique, more local businesses were prompted to match the funds, resulting in the four-thousand-dollar figure that was donated directly to Loaves & Fishes. The matching funds came from Universal Management & Maintenance, Harmon Electric, and Andrew Real Estate. Loaves & Fishes has continued to see its demand increase, and it’s utilized parking lots of the neighboring buildings to accommodate a steadier flow of traffic.
“April Showers bring May flowers”—most of us spend a considerable amount of time on this rhyme during elementary days. As the saying suggests, April is known for its showers, and May is known for its flowers; so, it’s logical that, without the agitated weather of April, you wouldn’t have the colorful, luscious flora of May. Although this may initially be a catchy phrase that we learn in our formative years, have you ever explored the deeper philosophical meaning to this seasonal adage? One of life’s lessons about suffering through and overcoming the adversity of life, in order to fully understand and appreciate the beauty of life.
Isn’t this what we’ve been experiencing over the past year with the Covid-19 pandemic? We found ourselves drenched by the storms of Covid, but the people of Enid found a way to bloom like flowers. We saw the most contagious virus in the past 100 years rampage across this planet; but, while many were being knocked down and winded from Covid symptoms, many in this city also saw an opportunity to get up and give back.
Experience=Insight
When confronted with uncomfortable circumstances in life, we have two options: be paralyzed by hopelessness; or, you find beauty in overcoming the adversity, and dance in the rain.
Life is full of positive experiences; but in those disheartening moments, we can feel alone and isolated. Our humanity is the drive to better serve the world around us, knowing that everyone’s life has battles and obstacles, it’s inherent to the human experience. Our time on earth is full of connections we all share, although it can certainly feel singular to only ourselves. Holiday mornings, where the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven is accompanied by the latest fad toy screeching in the background; you and your newly legal friends scrambling around every local grocery story on St. Patrick’s day to find liquid green food coloring, because your beer must be as festive as your Kelly Green and Celtic-clothed blimey-self; removing glitter from your hair for days after joining in on the annual, ‘TEN, NINE, EIGHT…”, because of a wild News Year Eve celebration—that you swear will never be topped; those Hail-Mary football games, where that last attempt at the championship victory hinges on this very throw, to win the game in a 6-3 crowd-stunner…we all live through and experience the beauty that is life at one point. All of these moments—these pieces of our lives—co-exist with one another. Those difficult-to-understand, heartbreaking moments tie each happy smile to every hard-earned tear. Without the experience of heartbreak, it’s difficult to appreciate a love that lasts forever. Without ever feeling a loss after an important game, battling a tough opponent until a victory in the championship won’t feel as satisfying.
With all the beauty life has to bring, life also demands the need for balance. When in good times—remember when you were down, and give to those in need around you. When in bad times—remember when you were on top, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Our lives are gigantic jigsaw puzzles, consisting of those easy-to-solve pieces, and the ones that seem like they never fit. Wholly compromised of good moments being cut to perfectly fit in-between the pieces that make us question it all. It’s those difficult moments that teach us to not be blissfully unaware of the simple treasures and pleasures in life. Whether subconsciously or not, we all strive for those “This is the life” moments—the frosting finally hitting your taste buds after the rolls are ready, moments; innocently shrugging off the green stains on your teeth from the over-abundance of green brew that hit your tongue the day before, moments. Life doesn’t always guarantee happiness, without a little challenge thrown in; but we always have the choice to accept the challenge with sunshine or rain.
When the virus hit the US in 2020, we all found ourselves entering a new world of terminology, sanitizer, PPE supplies, social distancing & lockdowns, and lots and lots of nasal swabs. Before shutdowns, we had all nestled into our own routines, and our schedules were the puzzle pieces that made up the pictures of our week. The successful accomplishment of these daily life rituals is what assured many of daily progress and achievements; but, the lockdowns changed all of this—for everyone. The routines we had become so accustomed were instantly jeopardized if it meant going in public. Finding new ways to navigate life; sometimes, the puzzle got too complex. This complexity of distance learning, virtual conferencing, and online shopping seemed all too ideal…in the beginning. Being in lockdown for a while, and working on this puzzle we’ll call “working from home”, we all quickly began to feel walls close in. When attempting a really complex puzzle, we start to develop patterns as to how we look at the pieces. Some may look for lines to connect, or hues to blend; but, we all find our own methodology to put the pieces together. The lockdown was one big puzzle, and everyone had their own opinion on how to put it together correctly. There was a mutual understanding that all of those nights out with friends had been taken advantage of for so many years, and we never could have imagined how valuable kids being in class really was for…everyone! We always enjoyed the time, but did we really appreciate it? Until Covid-19 and the initial lockdown, were we deeply thankful for the time we got to spend with those around us, and those we care about most? As tragic and devastating as the pandemic has been, it hasn’t been all bad. Because through the past year, we’ve all had shared experiences that have led to more diverse discussions, and we’ve all been reminded of our connections to one another. Either ourselves, or a close loved one, has had a serious case of Covid-19; and, sadly, many have known someone who lost their life. We mourn the death of those we love, but we grow to cherish the living even more. After doing an unsolicited favor for a friend, they responded by saying, “Thanks—just want you to know that it’s appreciated, but not expected”. This rang through my head several times, for many reasons; but, mostly, because this is something we all lose sight of at times. We lose sight of who we appreciate, and why we appreciate them. This virus has taught us how valuable everyday relationships are around us, and how the small things make the biggest impacts.
Thunderous Sounds of the Typical Touring Monsoons Reduced, but Local Entertainment Keeps a Steady Beat
A local bar and live-music venue, The Spot, has seen its popularity rise in the year of Covid; although, the owner, Tim McGugin, has personally experienced the painful downfalls happening in the global music industry. Having toured as a sound tech for talents ranging from Steve Earl to the Commodores, he has been in the industry long enough to be worried about the immediate future due to the impact of the virus and the shutdown. Aside from the amount of work that has been canceled for him personally, he mostly worries about the number of companies that have needed to shut doors for good. Tim sees this as reducing the music industry’s capability to efficiently bounce back when doors do open back up and tickets begin to sell at the box office once again. On the flip side of his struggle to retain touring gigs that were canceled due to Covid, a major silver-lining presented itself—The Spot’s business was booming! The more that got canceled on the road, the more that seemed to get booked for live entertainment with local talent at his bar. Throwing himself into The Spot’s uptake in demand, he still couldn’t help but notice the emotional effects the changes were having among his life-long roadie buds. The awareness on suicide rates and mental health struggles have been at the forefront of the whole pandemic, but Tim fears what the future might hold if the industry doesn’t recover as well for the smaller venues, as it does for bigger venues. “I would love to sit here and say, yes, things are going to go back to normal, but they’re never going to go back to normal in our [music] industry.”
Dually Noted, featuring lead vocalists Cathy Nulph and Kristi Browne, has stayed booked and busy. The beginning of Covid-19 marked tragedy for so many, and these songstresses were no different. Both had family members that came down with serious cases, they have both felt the impact of the illness and how serious the symptoms are for some people. Their family members recovered, but they both noted how they are still working on recovering daily. They giggle with one another as they reminisce over the past year’s chaos-filled escapades. Being part of the same music group helped these ladies work through all things changing from Covid. They continued to plan shows and began booking more than ever once the lockdown was over last summer. This was found to be a nice distraction, as the availability of gigs became a way to keep their mind on the positive future, instead of dwelling on the negative past. They found a way to contribute their song to our community, helping others find a way to dance through the storm.
Embracing the Green Grass on the other Side of the Covid Storm
The mentality of the staff in our local nursing home and long-term care facilities really embodies the theory that sometimes the worst situations can still bring out the best in us. The lockdown brought grief to many of us, but not like it did for the elderly living in care facilities. In order to protect residents, the staff wears PPE face masks and plastic shields daily, and residents stay within their rooms for the duration of most of the day. Staff members that do see the residents make sure the experience is always the best they can receive, “I just want to make them as comfortable and happy as possible. Because, at the end of the day, I get to go home and see my family, and [because of covid] I’m one of the only ones that they get to see on a daily basis; so I come to work and see my family, then I go home to my own family, and I’m so lucky to have that connection with my residents. We are just now getting back into activities, and so we are re-learning activities and games”, says a local nursing home CNA. Another staff member remarks on the differences in being a dietary aide with Covid precautions, noting that other than the masks and constant handwashing needed, they have the meal delivery carts. Each resident gets a specifically crafted tray, and they deliver meals directly to them. Being one that sees them daily, he mentions, “I love to be a light to my residents, especially when I’m coming down the hall—that smile on their faces is the biggest part of my day!” That is one power the virus doesn’t have over us. Unlike this coronavirus that’s wreaked havoc everywhere, we are the only species that is capable of infecting each other with our kindness. Sometimes, small parts are the most important to complete the big picture.
THE VACCINE: Affected by the Infection
For a time when the whole world seemed to be showered and rained on by gloomy, dark, and stormy days…the city of Enid—a community of approximately 55,000 residents— is now brightening the skies for Oklahomans from all over our great state, as vaccines flow to our country health department.
One of the ways that life will get back to being semi-normal, is the roll-out of the vaccine. It’s not only changing the structure and daily life for residents in nursing homes, but it’s giving our state a glimpse at a hopeful, healthier future. Janet Cordell, R.N., was one of the first to answer the call for vaccination duty. The Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corp is an entity of the health department that enlists volunteers, upon thorough background checks. Along with her volunteering at the vaccine clinic, Janet is also known for running the Enid Community Clinic. The ECC had to shut its doors last spring, as much of their own volunteers were in a critically high-risk group of infection; but, she found a way to virtualize the care and continued to book appointments via online sessions. When diving into the opportunity to head the vaccine clinic, Janet took the opportunity as seriously as the virus itself. In the first few days of clinic, she was overjoyed by the number of people excited and willing to get vaccinated—a stark contrast to how many were willing to wear masks.
The amount of appreciation encountered, and the support the vaccine clinic has received has been personally overwhelming during her time volunteering. From teary-eyed elderly, who are gushing with “thank you’s” for receiving this vaccine, because it’s presenting the first opportunity in a year to see and hug grandchildren; or, the health-compromised twenty-something that can’t hold back her tears upon being injected with her first dose—not because the shot was painful, but because it was about to change her life for the better, Janet notes that people have been making the pilgrimage to Enid from every corner of Oklahoma. “Many people have said this was the one place we could get in; but then, several others have said they came here and this was the place to be. And it is, the people are kind, they’re patient, we go out of our way to try and get people in.” One aspect Janet stressed, is to know when to check for appointments on the portal. “We only post the appointments a week ahead of time. People will get their first shot and go home and try to schedule the second right away, and it says not available, and they think it’s filled.” This has been a big concern Janet has come across when speaking to those who may be disgruntled, after trying to use the online appointment scheduling. She wants to remind everyone to not become discouraged if they don’t see a spot available, and to simply check back no more than a week in advance; and, “Don’t wait to get a specific one, get the first one available”.
Through all preparations needed for the vaccine clinic, Janet was taken back by all of the community members that have helped along the way. Always one to be sincerely thankful for the generosity and kindness in our community, the way our town rallied behind the Garfield County Health Department has been nothing short of heroic in her eyes. Many donations have been made, from monetary contributions to restaurants providing food & meal deliveries. She especially would like to thank the owner of the mall, who donated the space & utilities for the vaccine clinic to be conducted!
In a way, it’s a reminder that even after the darkest of storms, the light will eventually breakthrough, and the clouds will clear up to show all the flowers reaching towards the sky that just tried to beat it down with rain, soaking up the water from that very storm. We’ve proven that we won’t let the storm break us when we stick together. Although we’ve struggled, and we’ve lost, and we’ve felt defeated more than once over the past year, we’ve grown to understand and appreciate how important we are to one another. Our community is comprised of many different races, classes, and belief systems; but over the past year, we found how universally similar we are to people in countries all across the world when contracting a deadly, infectious respiratory disease.
The pandemic tried to break our bodies and damage our spirits; but, we know we’ll rebuild what we lost, and we’ll strive to be better than before. We won’t forget what’s been lost over the past year, or how things have changed; but, we find seeds from adversity in our daily life, that will bloom into positive things if we let the passing of the storm serve as a reminder to keep moving forward, and keep soaking in the rain. After the storm, we have the opportunity to thrive from everything it’s brought us. The sprouts of normalcy will begin to appear from our resilience and strength to prosper. The flower blooms from dirt; the flower excels when it storms. It finds the thunder to be a comfort, not something to fear—reaching toward the burning sun, and soaking in raindrops that have fallen upon its petals. The ground is replenished by thunderous rainstorms, and this ground provides a much-needed reach for the flower’s roots to stretch deep into the earth. The deeper the roots, the easier the flower can brace itself through the whirling Oklahoma wind that comes sweeping down the Oklahoma plains.
We’ve had a bit too much rain recently, Enid. But, like most of those looking for the silver-lining in the clouds as they part in the sky, keep your eye on the horizon, because it means there’s going to be a rainbow appearing very soon!
