Shelter in Place, San Francisco, December 23, 2020
The butcher shop near the church is packed this morning, honoring us old folks with an early and uncluttered extra hour. Across the street, its regulars have formed a small, respectful line in front of the corner store to buy lottery tickets they hope will counter this wretched year. Nearby, the strange little costume shop sports cheerful nutcrackers big and small, though no line of people wait to get inside. Farther along, the tea shop is offering takeout cucumber sandwiches, and the Chinese restaurant on our corner has opened early for takeout dumplings. This is our neighborhood.
We’ve tried, this Christmas season, to buy from small businesses, art organizations, and individuals - local, when possible - in order to support those most in danger from the shutdown and the reticence of the federal government to do its job. There is something special about rediscovering the lifeblood of our neighborhood in these dire times and doing what we can to help local businesses survive. We are grateful for their presence along these empty streets and, as we spend the holidays at home, we hope they will still be here when all of this is over.