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Virus has made me become my father

DEAR EDITOR:

You hear it all the time. You know it could happen to you, but you think it never will.

Then one day you wake up and you have turned into your mother or father. I didn’t realize that had happened to me until the COVID-19 outbreak caused everyone to rush out and buy up everything they could get there hands on.

I took inventory of what I had on hand so when my husband asked what we needed from the store to keep ourselves clean and fed, my reply was “nothing.”

You see my father grew up during the Great Depression, so whenever something was on sale, he would buy multiples so he never got caught short.

When I was a child, I didn’t know that it wasn’t normal to have several months’ worth of daily living supplies and nonperishables on hand. When I was in my early 20s and struggling to make ends meet out on my own, I would go shopping at “Paul-Mart” if I was running short on supplies in-between pays. I’d grab a bag and head to my father’s basement. He usually had whatever I needed, and his prices couldn’t be beat.

About 30 years later, it hit me that I have been living by my father’s example. So no, I am not rushing out and stockpiling things I don’t need. Instead of panicking and hoarding, I am doing my part to stop the spread by staying home whenever possible. I am checking on family, friends and neighbors weekly, via telephone. Another trait I picked up from my father, protecting the people in my life.

I don’t think anyone ever wants to grow up to be like their parents (myself included), but this time I’m glad I did.

So, thanks, Dad, for teaching me to be prepared for anything.

LAURA CUMMINS

Southington

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