More Covid-19 and other crazy things

We needed to go to NM to pick up some rock to match another job that we are adding to.  We were excited to go so we could stay with Ross and Lerlyn again and enjoy going over the CO mountains and especially because we'd seen on-line that Ouray Hot Springs was opening up again.  We could stop for a swim en route at our all-time favorite swimming hole!  But it was not to be...when we got there people were lined up and in their swimming suits.  Paul went to the front to find out what the deal was and found out that you had to be ready to go because dressing rooms/lockers were on a very limited basis due to Covid-19.  OK.  So we went in crazy small bathrooms in the park and got changed.  Then Paul and Bean went to re-park the truck/trailer in a better place while I got in line.  After not very long they started letting people in and then there was an announcement - 50 people had been let in and that was all they were letting in for the next 2 hours.  This was at 5 pm-ish.  If someone came out early, others could go in, but otherwise you could wait and see if you could get into the next session.  They closed at 9 pm.  So, unfortunately unless you had called and listened to their message you could not have known this was the case.  We just saw it was open when we looked on-line. Not great communication of their policies.  So, we just headed on over the mountain to spend the night with Ross and Lerlyn.  We stopped at a park in Durango to eat dinner that we had brought in the ice chest.  Well, at least that way we had more time to visit that evening with Ross and Lerlyn.

I had a couple of interesting experiences while there that gave me pause to think about all of the social unrest that has been happening of late, amid the other unrest caused by Covid-19, because of a black man who was killed by police officers who held him down while handcuffed, one kneeling on his neck until he quit breathing (he kept telling the officer he couldn't breathe).  That has caused major protests through out the country, even the world, because of the way police treat black suspects.  Many of the protests have been taken over by rioters who caused a ton of damage destroying property, looting and even killing in the name of the peaceful protests.  It has not been good and seems to be getting very out of hand in many places with protesters calling for the police to be defunded and even saying that we should not have police.  I have read a lot of things, pro and con about the whole issue and can see that there are problems on both sides, but the way things are being handled is not helping to remedy the problem.  Some people are organizing and trying to effect changes in ways much more positive and sane.  But it's hard to keep a clear perspective in the middle of the mess.  

Then while we were on our little trip we ran into a experience of our own - well really it was Lerlyn's experience that she told me about.  I shared it with family and friends via Group me and on Facebook.  Probably shouldn't have shared it on FB, but it was interesting to see the responses.  Made me think.  Here's what I shared with family:

Group me:  We are on a rock trip and stayed with Ross and Lerlyn last night. In the evening talking she said she’d been working at the stone yard the other day (Lillywhite Stone) when a black man stopped in and proceeded to tell her they needed to change the name of their business. She said that it was a family business with the family name. He looked skeptical. She showed him their business card with Ross’s name and explained that it was an English name and quite common in England. He got it, but still wasn’t too happy and didn’t buy anything. Do we really need to give up our family name so as not to offend the tenderhearted fools?

Facebook:  Stopped by the old family business while on a rock trip. Paul’s brother runs it now. And guess what? Someone came in to tell them they should change the name because it was offensive. Is the word white now a reason to be offended? It’s a racist word now? Give me a break. Lillywhite Stone.

Pretty much everyone thought this was a crazy deal and that for a person to think they could demand such a thing was totally unreasonable.  One person pointed out that it was a great step forward from past history to have a black person think they could speak out in such a way without getting killed or otherwise in trouble, which is probably true.  But others said it still way out of line for someone to think they can demand such a thing in the name of being offended by it.  Someone told about a family member asking for "black coffee" and being rebuffed for using that word to describe coffee.  They were told they should say "plain coffee" so as not to offend.  So, it goes on in silly little skirmishes that really remedy nothing and just get people hot under the collar and cause more friction in a place where there's already enough friction.  Lawful and peaceful ways to effect change are what we need.

Next experience from Facebook post:

Came over to NM to get a certain kind of stone to match an existing job we are adding to. Had to go to the boonies to meet a guy and pick it up. Had some bad luck on the way back and made it to town just in time to run out of fuel in our diesel truck...and then noticed a tire going flat. Actually good luck that we made it to town. Bean and I walked not too far to get fuel, but needed to walk more to get a gas can. Couldn’t go inside to buy it because we forgot our masks in the truck. No way would they let us inside. But a kind security guard did buy it for us and then insisted on giving us a ride to get gas and then back to the truck. Paul had the tire changed by then. All those times Paul stopped to offer help if needed to those at the side of the road came back to our aid. Thanks to Shar the security guard at O’Reilly Auto Parts in Gallup, NM, for her kind heart. And remember your masks! Just a side note: we were 2 white faces in a sea of brown. I was feeling a little lost. Shar made us feel just like people who needed help. A good example to all.

So, in this experience I really got to feel how it is to be in the minority and needing help.  I tried to go into a grocery store next door to the parts store to get a gas can and the security guard there was absolutely unswayed by my telling him of our predicament.  He was following the law, but had no suggestions as to how we could get our gas can and get on our way.  He was actually pretty harsh, and maybe just a little more so because of my white skin it felt like.  

Here are some drive by and other shots of scenery on our way home via Page.  It was an OK trip, but not my favorite.  It was nice to visit with Ross and Lerlyn.  They are kind and generous hosts.  Bean seemed to have a good time on the trip too, even without the swim outing we were hoping for.