The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lifting one another up during difficult times
I am scared, nervous and yet so very grateful. I know those words sound so strange in the same sentence, but then again everything is so strange right now.
Editor’s note:
Clearly, the coronavirus is testing everyone’s patience and resolve. Yet, amid the uncertainty, a resilient spirit thrives. To provide a bit of a diversion from the news around us, we’ve asked our community contributors to share their personal stories of optimism during these troubling times. Their stories will appear weekly. We hope you find them inspirational. We hope they provide you with some perspective. And we hope they remind you, as captured in some of their personal stories, that we are all in this together.
‘Scared, nervous and grateful’
So many things we do on a daily basis that once felt so routine and sometimes so unbearable seem like a lifetime ago.
Simple things like stepping into a grocery store or gas station have become so questionable now.
Several weeks ago, I had to run into Home Depot. After debating whether to go or not to go for a couple of hours, I decided to venture outside.
The whole time I was there, which probably didn’t exceed six minutes, I counted the steps between myself and the other person in the aisle. I found myself making maps in my head on how to maneuver around the people so I can keep my 6 feet of distance.
Every day normal life seems like an eternity ago.
I am looking at paper towels and toilet paper as a valuable commodity.
Of course, the financial burden has hit hard.
Several weeks ago, we had to let go of almost 40 servers and kitchen employees, and that has left me with such heartache that I can’t sleep at night. The pressures of how I am going to pay rent and bills and mortgages coming up has left me feeling drained all day.
Last week, we opened one restaurant location, and we are trying to open the other two on June 1.
It’s still very, very slow, and I am not sure it will be the same again for a long time.
Life as we know it has changed. Now, I tend to look at life differently in so many ways.
I am scared, nervous and yet so very grateful. I know those words sound so strange in the same sentence, but then again everything is so strange right now.
I’m looking forward to having the chaos and hustle of everyday life again without the stress and the cloud of corona virus on top of my head.
Aytac is a volunteer with the Women’s Refugee Network. Born in Iran, she now lives in Alpharetta with her husband, Kemdino, and their two sons. The couple own Café Istanbul restaurants.