Thumbs column
Greetings again, hometown newspaper readers and friends throughout Hot Springs and Garland County.
Patience has certainly become the “Word of the Day” for everyone who is coping with the many challenges of the COVID-19 virus and “acting out of an abundance of caution” for the well-being of others.
First and foremost, let’s all give a “shoutout” and big “Thumbs-up” to members of our local health care community as they soldier on and continue to care for the sick and infirm and try to ameliorate the anxieties of families and individuals who, whatever the case may be, need the services of our doctors, nurses, lab techs, and first responders.
Heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them.
By the same token, here is a “Thumbs-up” to Hot Springs Mayor Pat McCabe for his encouraging and supportive comments in a personal column published Thursday, March 19, on the Viewpoints page of The Sentinel-Record.
McCabe cited the city’s “early planning” as a strong foundation for keeping citizens up to date and informed about virus mitigation and prevention.
A tip of the hat to city and county government departments, agencies, their staffs and workers, for providing vital information and services to the public during this critical time.
Meanwhile we send out another “Thumbs-up” to the many kind and thoughtful individuals who have stepped up to help families, friends, homebound residents, and even mere acquaintances, with grocery and medicine pickups, and volunteering where needed.
Plaudits in particular to my next door neighbor, Paula Rogers, for making some protective masks for a local medical clinic.
Our gratitude to Paula and everyone else who has contributed to the stock of these crucial supplies.
Hot Springs resident Shirley Chauvin-Miller gives a “Thumbs-up” to Cheryl White, marketing and activity director of The Clearspring Modern Senior Living facility, for checking on the welfare of our community’s seniors.
Chauvin-Miller said she received a call from White who explained she was seeing how area seniors were faring or if they needed anything and if they did, she could direct them to resources that could fill those needs.
Now more than ever, staying connected and in the know is a must.
Speaking of keeping in touch, this writer gives a double “Thumbs-up” to Elizabeth Robbins, executive director of the Garland County Historical Society, and Donnavae Hughes, a dedicated GCHS volunteer and the archives’ “guru,” who reconnected me to the world after my Apple iMac went kaput a little more than a week before this column was due.
Robbins generously provided me with a loaner laptop and Hughes talked me through the process of learning the various functions of the PC. (Having worked for years on an Apple desktop, my confidence level with a very different operating system was terribly low.)
These two ladies saved the day and I am deeply indebted to them.
Finally, here is a “Thumbs-up” to all the good books that can keep our minds on a myriad of subjects other than the coronavirus pandemic. I highly recommend Kathy Reichs’ new Temperance Brennan novel, “A Conspiracy of Bones,” or any of the works by Patti Callahan Henry, Nancy Thayer, Linda Castillo, and Lisa Gardner.
The Thumbs Column appears in The Sentinel-Record the first and third Wednesday of each month. The newspaper welcomes readers’ comments and suggestions, which should be submitted in writing with a name and home address for verification and contact purposes. This information is kept confidential.