Rural Missouri - May 2020 - 5

Missouri
RURAL

RM | PERSPECTIVES

Volume 73 | MAY 2020 | Number 5
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Jim McCarty, editor
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Paul Newton, managing editor
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Heather Berry, associate editor
hberry@ruralmissouri.coop
Megan Backes, creative director
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Zach Smith, field editor
zsmith@ruralmissouri.coop
Angie Jones-Wheeler, co-op page designer
ADVERTISING:
Mary Davis, production manager
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
Editorial:
Rural Missouri
P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-659-3423
info@ruralmissouri.coop
www.ruralmissouri.coop
Advertising:
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573-659-3400
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Rural Missouri (ISSN 0164-8578) (USPS 473000) is published monthly by the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, 2722 E.
McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, Caleb
Jones, CEO/executive vice president. Individual
subscription rate: $10 per year or $22 for three
years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for
members of participating RECs $2.22, plus taxes
and postage, paid from equity accruing to the
member. Delivery as specified by subscriber. If not
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offices. Copyright 2020, Association of Missouri
Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights.

Circulation of this issue: 564,790

A new kind of hero
by Caleb Jones
cjones@amec.coop

was relaxing in my lawn chair
watching the sun go down when I
looked over at my son, Max, who
had a water gun aimed at me. I'm
sure you can guess what happened.
Have you ever noticed that when you
tell a kid not to do something, they
immediately want to do it more?
That got me thinking about what
we have been dealing with the last
two months. If you are like me, having
someone tell me I can't visit with family and friends only makes me want
to do it more. I hope that when I look
back on these tough times I will remember how we all gave up a little for
the greater good of our community.
One thing is certain: My definition
of hero has been forever altered.
We all know about the doctors,
nurses, law enforcement, emergency
workers and military who built their
careers being there for the rest of us.
I can't imagine where we would be if
they were unwilling to step up.
But from this crisis comes a new
kind of hero. A month ago, they
were humble grocery-store workers,
truckers, trash collectors and factory
workers. They did their jobs and most
of us didn't even notice. Today they
have become the linchpin allowing
everyday folks to survive.
Who would have thought how
much we would rely on that 20-yearold stocking grocery shelves? Or that
truck driver who has been away from
family making deliveries?
Another unspoken hero has been

Max gets his daily
lessons from his
hero/teacher, Julie
Widmer.

our teachers. Growing up with an
English teacher for a mother, I know
firsthand teaching doesn't stop when
the teacher leaves the classroom.
Teachers have come up with amazing
new ways to share their knowledge.
They have not let being forced out of
their classrooms stop their desire to
teach while letting the kids know they
are missed.
There are countless others who
deserve our gratitude. These people
are so deep in the trenches of this war
on the coronavirus that their families
have forgotten what they look like.
They are taking great risks because
they know their work is vital.
It doesn't get any more heroic than
that in my book.
To this list I will add electric coop employees. These are the people
who put on their gear and leave their
families to make sure you have uninterrupted power. You can't imagine what's been going on behind the
scenes to ensure you can flip that
light switch, check Facebook or turn
on the air conditioning.
It's been humbling watching all of
these "new" heroes step up during
these challenging times. That is what
makes this country great. No matter
the odds, no matter the obstacles,
we have always survived and prospered. Hang in there, stay home, stay
safe and we will all get through this
together. If you get a chance, thank a
hero.

Jones is the executive vice president
and CEO of the Association of Missouri
Electric Cooperatives.
MAY 2020 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP

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Rural Missouri - May 2020

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