The amazing thing about this virus is that is creeps closer and gets more personal every day. A few days ago, I thought it a remote big-city problem. Today, it has turned my community – schools, restaurants, theater – into a ghost town.
(To order take-out food at Jean’s Place, you can call 518 686-3258. I know this is not a local blog but they are in my heart and prayers. If you’re local spread the word, and thanks.)
For days, there have been rumors that New York State would shut down all the restaurants and bars in the state, we were worried about Jean’s and planned to lunch there today.
Before we could go, I heard on the radio that all restaurants and bars in the state had to close, they could offer take-out and delivery only.
This closing is state-wide, part of the “Social Distancing” movement sweeping the country. There was no case of coronavirus as Jean’s, none in the county.
I called the Mansion and I could hear the crying and shock over the phone. I drove down there with Zinnia – they love Zinnia there – and saw Kelsie, the daughter of Kelly, Jean’s co-owner.
She came out to see us – the restaurant was already closed – and I could see she had been crying. “We’ve been open for more than 25 years,” she said, her eyes red, ” and today was the first day we ever laid off an employee here.”
We hugged, I said I would do anything I could do to help them. As you perhaps know, we love these people – Kelly, Kevin, Kelsie, the waitresses – they are closer to me than my family ever was. I am proud to be part of this family.
I love what they mean to their community, their big hearts, and wonderful food.
I know how much good they have done for so many other people. Jean’s is part of the heart of their community.
They are all social workers there and their closure, however temporary is kick in the gut to the community around them.
I guess Pandemic fighters and politicians don’t dare to worry about things like that.
Starting tomorrow, Jean’s will prepare meals for take-out and deliver food in the area around the restaurant, which is Hoosick Falls.
If you are local and live near the diner, you can order take-out (and possibly delivery) by calling 518 686-3258. You can purchase a gift certificate or card to the restaurant by calling the same number.
Jean’s is very much a family place, everyone who works there and most of the people who eat there are seen as family. I feel the same way about Jean’s, and I will feel the loss of this very funky and special place every day, and deeply.
I will certainly be ordering takeout and some of their fabulous muffins.
I could see how worried Kelsie about the future of Jean’s, “we can hold out for a while,” she said, “but not for months.” Jean’s is a much-loved place, they mean a lot to so many people.
I believe they will tough it out, they are good people, hard-working and much loved. Their village of Hoosick Falls, which knows about hard times, will fight for them.
I trust that this is necessary but it’s hard to understand why this little diner could be so dangerous in a small town that has not had a single case of coronavirus, can’t seat a large number of people, and is depended upon by elderly people as well as young families.
I guess we just have to trust the people who are handling this Pandemic. My heart breaks for the half dozen people who just lost their jobs at Jean’s, the “attack waitresses” I came to love, and for the family – Kelly, Kevin, and Kelsie – who give their hearts and souls to the diner.
It would be devastating for them and so many people to lose them. I’m a newcomer to Jean’s, but this puts a hole in my heart and Maria as well.
We’ll be picking up our breakfast in the morning. Please, if you are local, thinking of order takeout: 518 686 3258.
I wonder if the people who make these decisions understand the devastation and broken lives they are creating. I hope and pray they do.
I get it! The politicians have tough decisions now. If they don’t make the right ones the docs and medics make the “who lives or dies” decisions later. And even tougher for the politicians…if the number of people who DON’t die is too high, they lose their jobs!
We Americans don’t like thinking that there are things we can’t control, especially when they mean suffering for those we love. It’s so easy to forget that loved ones are dying terrible deaths (and living horrifyingly traumatic lives) all over the world. Maybe this will help us to grow up a bit!
I don’t know what the balance is Susan, between saving people from the virus and destroying countless careers, businesses and lives..I really don’t know. I do not ever forget that people are dying, but there is more than one way to die in our world…I don’t have the answer to it, but it disturbs me greatly to see people wiped out like this helpless and vulnerable with a greedy and callous government. I’m not feeling for the politicians at the moment, but so many people are really on the edge of different kinds of tragedy and suffering.
When you talk so disparagingly of “pandemic warriors,” you forget two things. First, nobody has ANY idea about the COvid-19 cases walking around, because (contrary to your certainty that you would be able to walk into your doctor’s office and get tested) almost nobody CAN get tested. You don’t live in Antartica; you live a couple of hours from Manhattan, an outbreak epicenter. I doubt very much that there is no COVID-19 in your community. Second, these forced closings are necessary because people like you have insisted that going to the zoo or eating out in restaurants is a perfectly fine thing to be doing. Poor judgment like that has led directly to these measures and will likely lead to more.
Russell, I don’t argue my decisions or beliefs with angry (and grossly inaccurate) people like you. Take it somewhere else, you’re in the wrong place, get on over to MSNBC or Fox News, they will make you happy there, you will just be disappointed here. I believe people like you, who can no longer communicate in a civil way with other people, are the new vampires of social media, feeding on grievance and fear, and part of as poisonous a virus as the corona. You need to be ignored, not enabled, and I volunteer for that assignment.Dump your bile somewhere else, there are lots of ways to be sick…J
My son in law just had 15 cancellations of events he was hired to work at. Sometimes I think this virus may bankrupt more people than it kills.
I think that is very likely Amy…
I’m a long way from Jean’s Place but this just breaks my heart. Wish I were local – I would order take -out every day just to help them. Makes me so sad for them and all the small hurting businesses.
Thanks Charlotte they are strong and smart there, if anybody can sort their way through this, it’s them…
Could we start a fund so jeans can deliver meals to people who need them? It would be income for them and a much needed service. I’d be glad to contribute.
Ann, thanks for your great heart, I don’t think that’s an appropriate project for me or the AOG now, that would take more money away from the other things we are doing, and I doubt it would alter their reality. Let’s give them a chance to make this work, I am asking people for lots of money now for many things, including the BM refugee kids, who are in a lot of trouble. I appreciate your generosity…I feel a need to be mindful of the people I ask to send money, this isn’t a rich crowd, and I try to make sure the money does what it supposed to do…I can’t be sure of that here..
Hi Jon it’s Robin, thanks for all your stories you have put on your blog about Jeans . As you know I have worked there for 24 years, I have made so many great friends there including you and Marie. It saddens me to see the close sigh and not knowing the out come of it all, but one thing I know is I will weather the storm with my second family at Jeans !! I hope soon I will be back there and enjoying what I love to do,thanks again , love Robin
Thank you Robin, if any crew can get through this, it’s you people. I’m here if you need me, much love…Just made my first take-out order…
Everybody is local somewhere! I hope that everybody who can afford to will order takeout and delivery as much as possible to support their local businesses. I’ve got a couple of delivered meals stashed in my fridge right now and intend to add to them over the weeks. It’s actually an opportunity to try some new things and keep from having to cook. I’m in the group of people who are being asked to avoid physical contact with folks and I’m grateful to the local restaurants that have delivery available. Plus takeout and delivery helps people stay employed, at least at a minimal level.
Thanks, Jon.
If you would like to see where the coronavirus/COVID-19 is going and see the up to the minute statistics from the world over, go to ncov2019.live.
Thanks Richard, the last thing I want to do is to follow the virus minute to minute, I’m crazy enough, but thanks for the suggestion..managing information is a central spiritual challenge now..
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” I appreciate that lots of folk’s lives are being upset, but this pandemic must be stopped. What Governor Cuomo and other state governors are doing should “flatten the curve, or wave, if you prefer, and that is the only way this catastrophe can be slowed.
Would Jean’s be interested in shipping their muffins? I think we would all love to have some of them, and it could certainly help them stay afloat during this shutdown.
I don’t know Diane, I’d call them..their no. is 518 686 3258…they make great pies as well…