May 22, 2020 . . .

The ‘new normal’ – what will it be like? Well, aside from it being the same, but different, I don’t think anybody knows. Well, it doesn’t hurt to speculate – to play a game, if you will.
Things to consider:

• Social distancing.
• Can it be done remotely?
• What about storefronts?
• How about malls?
• What about cash, and credit?
• What will be remote, and what will be in person?

A few days ago, I saw a picture of an office. It had been newly renovated, but it wasn’t like any office that I ever worked in, renovated or not. The desks were further apart than usual and there weren’t any cubicles. Talk about social distancing! And, every work station was self sufficient. There was an all-in-one printer at each one. And, there weren’t any common machines like a common printer or common copier. And, there wasn’t a filing cabinet to be seen. Wow! Just a little different . . .
Come to think of it, maybe there won't be any offices at all! What, with everyone working at home, maybe they just won't be needed!
If that’s a sign of what the new normal will be like, it sure will be different!
We have just about become a cash less society. I can still remember the day that Inge and I got our first credit card. It was good only at one store – Simpson Sears, but it saved our bacon more than once. And, over the years, then came the gas card, and before you knew it, most of us had cards that were good anywhere (as long as we made the payments). The end was near, when, we all got cooped up wherever we were, and very soon the only payment that was encouraged, or even ‘allowed’, was the ‘tap’ of a credit or debit card. It sure will be different!
And, then there’s the internet. I wonder how long it will be, before all the malls and retail stores will be gone and we all will have to buy everything on line. And, if we can buy everything on line, we can already just about do everything else, either on line or by telephone. Wow! It sure will be different . . .
But I do know one thing - now is not the time to be impatient! We all have to stay home a bit longer. How much longer? Well, nobody knows for sure.
Stay safe, stay well, get some fresh air if you can, and keep smiling . . .
‘til we meet again . . .