Fielder’s Choice

There’s some upbeat talk going on these days – thank goodness.

The COVID-19 restrictions continue to be eased at what seems like a snail’s pace.

There seems to be a pretty common answer to a pretty common question the past several weeks.

“How it’s going?”

“Just hanging in there.”

It’s been different – very different. It’s been a challenge.

But here’s hoping we can continue to get glimpses of light at the end of the tunnel.

I looked at the calender Monday of last week and thought, wow, it’s June 1. What happened to March, April and May? It’s almost like we skipped three months because nothing much was happening.

I was certainly uplifted on Sunday, May 31, when our church opened up the auditorium for services for the first time since early March.

It was great, seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ – even from a distance.

We had about 40 in attendance and everyone spread out as directed for the worship ser vice together.

Like most churches, we’ve conducted an on-line service for many weeks. Those have been wonderful – always encouraging – but there’s nothing more uplifting than being able to unite in person for fellowship, singing, praying and hearing God’s word proclaimed.

Then a couple of days later, I got to briefly enjoy one of my favorite pastimes. There was baseball at Marshall Academy.

The Patriots began a summer season, and even though I made it just in time for a couple of innings, it bright - ened my week big-time.

Not having baseball – youth, high school, college or professional – has been tough on yours truly.

I played the sport as a child and in high school, have been a fan ever since, plus I’ve covered who knows how many games since becoming a sports editor in 1986.

Almost daily I’m texting my son Andy, daughter Emma or close friends with the question, “Think we will see major league baseball this year?”

We’re all still hopeful but owners and players still have to work out their disputes in order to make it happen.

And then later in the week, it was good from a newspaper business standpoint to see some advertisers coming back to pages of The South Reporter who had to leave due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the all of the uncertainty surrounding it.

I get telephone calls almost weekly from fellow newspaper folks and friends who asked, “How’s the newspaper doing?’

The general response is, “We’re still here. We haven’t missed a week yet.”

It’s been a rugged time for small business – and is some cases, big business, too.

Here’s hoping all of you support small business –more than you’ve ever supported small business before.

Small business is the heart of any community, particularly those in areas the size of Holly Springs, Byhalia, Potts Camp, Ashland, Hickory Flat or Marshall and Benton counties as a whole.

Our prayers continue to go out to those persons and their families affected by COVID-19. The battle is far from over.

But hopefully, and prayerfully, we can all continue to be encouraged and uplifted.