To say that being named the editor of The Clarkston News is a thrill for me is quite the understatement.
First, our building was closed on March 20 due to the COVID-19 spread, and then we were laid off nearly two weeks later.
Getting the call to return to work was a sign things were turning around, and then taking over from Phil Custodio as editor was icing on the cake.
Safe travels and all the best in Alabama, Phil!
Now that we seem to be back in the swing of things, nothing could be further from normal.
This past weekend, I covered a protest in town centered around the growing tensions nationwide regarding racism.
Never done that before, but the times they are a’changin.’
I have always been someone that has to have a routine, or at least some structure in my daily life. In the past, our monthly calendar has been dotted with kids’ activities, appointments, work engagements and meetings, you name it.
That calendar has been obsolete since March.
These days, are any of you like me where you have to literally second-guess what day it is? The days all run together and it’s like that movie “Groundhog Day.”
Plus, the kids have been home and are finishing online school this week. In all honesty, online school is OK for a period of time, but no way can this be permanent or a full-time option come the fall.
Kids need that face-to-face interaction with teachers and friends. Zoom meetings are what they are, but not the best way to learn or ask questions on a regular basis – just my opinion.
So as we creep into summer here (I think), let’s all take a deep breath and realize that dates on a calendar these days are just that – numbers.
The state is opening up, and my hope is that people continue to be safe and care about taking the all-new safety precautions we’ve subscribed to the past few months.
The term “new normal” has been thrown out there ad nauseum, and although some people despise change, it is already happening, whether you like it or not.
Just look around.

— Matt Mackinder