A Message from Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX - This time can be what defines us. The pause in our lives today has lead us to a complete change of routines yet it has also provided us opportunities that have been pushed aside because life was too busy. Now, we can be humanly responsible in a way that serves the greater good of this community and our global population.

Let's achieve the goal of controlling the outbreak so we can get back to how life should be. We can use this time wisely. Check on a neighbor who is elderly. Offer assistance to someone who needs help. You can use this time to heal yourself by helping others. Sharing your abilities is a natural vitamin that will feed your body and promote the healing of your soul.

Make the courageous decision to say “no” to gatherings that push the social distancing limits. You may be missing your family and friends. We all are. The people you want to see say they are “fine”. You think, you’re “fine”. It’s still not “fine” to change the course of action that we’ve begun. Use the time to demonstrate patience. When real life returns, let’s move cautiously forward and to remain hopeful.

The teachers and parents who are teaming together to help manage the educational needs of their children stepped into uncharted territory. They deserve recognition and gratitude.

Congratulations to all of the seniors who will move on with their lives. The high school level seniors may not have had the normal fanfare that occurs before the end of a typical school year. Your secondary education is much like reading a book, you know there’s one last chapter, only your story has a different ending.

For the college graduates you are stepping into a fluctuating workforce where you can create your future, your own way. Technology has seen to that. The class of 2020 will hopefully be one of the most resilient groups of individuals who will take to heart how quickly life can change. I’m interested to see what will become of these students. How will they change the world for the better?

We’ve seen the extreme absurdity of panic buying, to the volatility of the economy which revolves around this unknown journey. We’ve also seen the best of people beginning with the heroism of the medical personnel, first responders, drivers who are bringing supplies, collecting garbage and even the grocery store employees who all are working tirelessly to provide services that benefit all of us. Be mindful of what they are enduring and remain respectful of their efforts. Thank you to these brave individuals and to those of you who are trying your best to adapt to how life is in this moment by being responsible with your actions.

These coming days will be the test of our perseverance. Society must remain diligent. If you choose to take the risk of breaking the prescription for recovery then it will take longer for us all to resume a conventional way of life.

We must continue to fight back at this virus. Even though we can’t see it with our eyes, can’t taste it, hear it or smell it. It has no agenda other than to survive. Together we can conquer the virus. Its weakness is needing hosts to survive and spread. We can break its chain of life. Let’s continue to put the needs of others first.