‘True Stories’: Driftless residents cope with Covid-19

Compiled by a Vernon County-based group, “True Stories” is a series about important issues in the lives of people residing in the Driftless and neighboring areas. The content does not reflect the views of any publication or political party. Contributors may elect to remain anonymous.

The content does not reflect the views of any publication or political party. Contributors may elect to remain anonymous.

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

Maybe you’ve done the same thing; you grow some vegetables and you strike out on a couple and you are inundated with others — often zucchinis! So then you give away the extras or trade with friends for other vegetables. Well, this year, maybe because of Covid, people are gardening more — this trading became epic! We’ve received potatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, apples, pears, blackberries, Brussels sprouts, leeks, and green peppers! We do a lot of canning and freezing, but we often had extra and then we would give it away. So things went around. I have to say it is one aspect of Covid that I like. — K.M.

INTO THE WILD

This summer, camping went crazy. Almost every weekend, all the campsites at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve were filled. People want to get out, and they see camping as a safe and enjoyable way to vacation. A relative of mine wanted a campsite for his camper. To secure one, we had to occupy it for him for a few days ahead of the weekend! When they’re not camping themselves, they rent the camper out through a website listing and, apparently, people are clamoring for rental campers! Crazy. — S.K.

ASK A WOMAN

I was curious about Josefine Jaynes, Democratic candidate for State Assembly, and running against Republican Loren Oldenburg. Josefine, at 18, was the youngest candidate to run for this office, so I wanted to meet her. I went to a small gathering of women to learn more. I have to say I was surprised by the many things she had done: volunteering in a food pantry, campaigning for Paul Burr, traveling to Norway, becoming a deacon in her church, for instance. She sounded serious. Then someone asked, “I’ve heard people say, ‘If you win, will you go into a corner and cry if people are mean to you?’” She answered, “Maybe they should ask my opponent that same question?” So she’s got my vote. — J.K.

TOUGH DECISIONS

I am a retired teacher, and for the last several years, I’ve done substitute teaching to help make ends meet and to get out and about in the world. When the coronavirus hit, schools closed down, substitute teaching ended, and I was left wondering what I should do when schools reopen. Everything seemed tentative: Would the epidemic still be going, would the schools take responsible steps for people’s protection, and how safe would even responsible steps be? Well, here we are, and I’ve subbed twice so far this year. The schools where I’m subbing seem to have taken every precaution, and I’ve decided to do occasional subbing, but not as frequently as in the past. Now I wear a mask, wash my hands frequently, and keep my fingers crossed. And I’ve set up to do virtual tutoring. — D.F.

THERE IS NO JOY …

A friend went to Madison and, among other things, he went to Trader Joe’s. He donned a mask and was admitted into the store. Quickly, he realized that shopping was no longer an enjoyable, casual thing, where you leisurely cruised the aisles, stopping to inspect groceries that caught your eye. People looked straight ahead and purposefully charged down the aisles, consulting their lists. He said, “There was no joy in Trader Joe’s!” He checked out and left the store and saw that, by then, there were about 30 people waiting in line to be admitted! — MT

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A CALL MAKES …

The family and a few friends got together to press apple cider, a fall activity that I dearly love. We all wore masks, except for when we ate or tasted the cider. A toddler was unmasked. It was a wonderful day, and everyone left with as much cider as they wanted. Later that night, a family member who was present that afternoon called to say that he had just been notified that he had been exposed to Covid at work. He was quarantined. His wife was quarantined. His kids were quarantined, and we decided we would have to be quarantined too. The next day, we sent emails to various friends, cancelled several upcoming obligations, and, tried to make the best of it! That evening we got another call; a mistake had been made, there had been zero chance of Covid exposure, and no one was quarantined! So, back to the new normal! — B.M.

NEVER TOO YOUNG

As people gathered in the parking lot of a Viroqua political headquarters, a girl wheeled around on roller blades, fitting perfectly into the mood of a gorgeous early fall day. Pretty soon other preteens and teenagers arrived, joining the line to pick up bundles of door hangers. The array of ages ranged from young to people in their late 70s. Never too early to start learning democracy can’t be a spectator sport, I thought as we left with our bundle of hangers. — J.A.K.

A FATHER’S TENDERNESS

One fall morning, a father knelt on the pavement outside La Farge schools, gently placing a mask on his tiny, wiggling daughter. How hard it must be for a child to wear a mask and not touch her friends when they play. But years later, after the pandemic of 2020 is hopefully over, the girl may remember how her father loved and tried to protect her. — A.F.

CAMPING IN THE RAIN

Summer had ended, and we finally realized we’d better go camping at least once before it was too late. No matter that rain was forecast for the afternoon and evening. We toughed it out, huddled in our tiny camper, and the next morning was glorious, all the more for the contrast. We wiped off the picnic table, fried our sausage and pancakes, and took to the trail around the lake at White Mound park. The trails were slightly muddy, but glistening raindrops still on branches and the carpet of red, yellow and orange leaves on the trail were stunning. — J.F.

ESCAPING TO THE DRIFTLESS

Outside Kickapoo Valley Reserve headquarters, a friend introduced us to two people who recently moved to Westby from northern California. It feels so much safer here, they said, recalling how the sky where they had lived was always yellow from smoke and that they were afraid the fires would come to their community. — L.K. 

“True Stories” will continue this important coverage of coronavirus and other healthcare stories in November and December installments.

To contribute a story, find “True Stories – Driftless” on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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