In The Middle

by Michele Boy | April 2, 2020

I’m not going to lie, lately I have been a bit down. Like many of us, normal is gone. The school doors are shut to our children, the playground is empty. The bunko nights, book clubs and get togethers at our favorite restaurants are on hold.  I was planning an open house for the newspaper when this virus suddenly stopped my planning.

Then I heard a line that snapped me into a better frame of mind - In the middle. That’s where we are. Actually the beginning of the middle. 

I don’t know how long the middle will last. But this is where we are. 

If we were climbing a mountain, we would be able to look back and see progress but the journey ahead is daunting and has that “I don’t know if I can do it” feel. 

But we press on. And when we get to the top we will celebrate with a Gatorade and a photo of us at the top. 

When this is over...when this is over I am having a backyard barbecue with friends. And the kids can stay up late that night. And we laugh and visit and drink in the beauty of just being near one another. 

I am absolutely enjoying more family time. And that I am not in an abusive situation. And that I have more than enough. Enough sunshine. Enough joy. Enough dreams. 

But right now in the middle I am growing stronger. It’s kind of like spiritual sit ups or bench presses. 

There is a nationwide newspaper campaign that asked us to say When you are on your own we are there for you. But it hit me wrong. It made it sound like we are separate or above you. But I am a small town business on Main Street. And I am in this with you. It’s not me extending a hand down to you. It’s me right along side you. 

When I bought The Syracuse Journal and moved the business to N Main St, I loved the view looking out the window. I saw hustle and bustle, businesses thriving and hope. People randomly came in my door just to visit. And I smiled! 

Today there is almost zero activity, and it saddens me. 

But we are in the middle. All of us. Together. It looks different to each of us. But I see us coming out stronger in the end. 

Philippians 4:11 - I have learned to be content in all circumstances. 

If you know me well, it is rare for me to have a conversation without inserting a movie or song lyric. So I leave you with the classic song lyrics Stuck in the middle with you by Stealers Wheel -Well I don’t know why I came here tonight, 

I got the feeling that something ain’t right...Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you. 

Hang in there Syracuse!