Columns & Opinions

The daily walk strengthens physical and mental health. It permits escape from pandemic’s house arrest.

Our “Easter Snap” that we are accustomed to here in the South blew through the area with much more than just cooler temperatures. Rain and wind crossed the Ark-La-Tex on Easter Sunday, leaving a lot of damage in its wake. For those who planted flowering bedding plants before the “snap,” I hope you covered them during the cooler nighttime temperatures. I’ve grown up here in this area, and it didn’t matter if Easter was early March or late April, my grandmother would always tell me “we will have one more snap of cooler weather.” Her words have proven true EVERY year. I think we would all do well to listen to sage words of wisdom and guidance of those who are older than us. I realized not long ago that I am now one of the “older than us” people. I hope my advice is as helpful as my grandmother’s. A local pastor said, “We have three stages in parenting. In the childhood stage, we are “coaches”; in the teen years, we are “cheerleaders”; and as our children become adults, we are “consultants.” May we always “know our role.”

The CDC recommends Americans wear cloth face coverings in public settings where it's difficult to stay at least six feet apart, such as grocery stores and pharmacies — especially in areas with high levels of community transmission.

Dear Gabby,

A friend recently quipped that it takes seven times doing something to form a habit. I’m not sure if that number is correct, but I do know that once a habit is entrenched, it is hard to break. That’s one of the things that has been worrying me over the last few weeks as local businesses have been told to close and stayat-home has been encouraged. Locals, out of necessity and concern, have turned in overwhelming number to shopping online. Not only are we buying clothes, toys, music, books and home décor, we are buying shampoo, makeup, groceries and dog food. There is nothing we cannot get online, in many cases delivered to our door overnight. It is — unfortunately — seductively easy and getting easier by the day.

— Loui

Where are the Chromebooks?