By Gina Spagnola, President and CEO
Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce
As I sit here at my desk on what would have been ‘Opening Day’ for baseball, an exciting time that crazy baseball fans, like me, look forward to as soon as the last game is played. The day we would have been leaving the office early, way too early, because of our excitement in anticipation of watching our boys of summer take the field. We would fill up on hotdogs, Dr. Pepper (for me), beer, peanuts and popcorn. We’d sing the National Anthem and pledge to Old Glory as she is beautifully spread across the entire field by volunteers. Our hearts would be racing as our boys take the field and a lucky child is pulled from the audience to yell, “Play ball”! We would enjoy some Blue Bell ice cream during the 5th inning and singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game followed by my favorite, Deep in the Heart of Texas during the 7th inning stretch. We would enjoy our family and friends and remind ourselves how great it is to be back at Minute Maid Park watching America’s game.

Unfortunately, opening day is different than any I have ever experienced in my lifetime, and probably yours, too.

We are facing a global crisis and our lives, as we know it, have been turned upside down. The good news is that we live in the greatest country in this world, and it’s going to get better; it’s just going to take some time.

In the meantime, we are working out of our homes, businesses are being innovative, and we are all adjusting to a new lifestyle. We are thinking out of the box and working with each other on strategies and helping each other understand the massive amount of information that’s coming our way.

We anticipate the UTMB Newsletter and their daily updates that are sent to us by the best researchers, doctors and nurses in this country and the world. We are not talking politics; we are just loving each other and realizing more than ever how grateful we are for those who fought so hard for the freedoms we experience every day. We are spending more time with our family and homeschooling.

Our daily routines have been disrupted for a bit, and we are learning some lessons on what’s really important to us, and what we can do without. We learned that toilet paper is on the TOP of everyone’s list! We have a renewed appreciation for farmers, truck drivers and delivery services and all the health care workers.

We are Texans, and we are no strangers to disasters! Our forefathers raised the grade of the Island and built a seawall; we survived IKE and rebuilt even stronger than we were before; we roll up our sleeves and get busy. Staying home is difficult for us, but we’re doing it because it can help slow the spread and get our communities back to work faster. Texas’ recovery is critical to our nation and the world, and we will NOT fail. We will do this together!

As for opening day, well, it has an all new meaning for me. It will be the day we are cutting ribbons and celebrating all the businesses that open their doors once again. It’s the day we are welcoming new businesses back to our community. It’s the day we all are meeting again. It’s the day visitors are returning to our incredible Island and region and shopping in our stores and eating in our restaurants. It’s the day I can hear the cruise ships leaving the Port. It’s the day our non-profits are fully operational/fully staffed and continuing to serve those in need. It’s the day our churches are filled. It’s the day our fishing piers are filled with fisherman and it’s the day The Grand 1894 Opera House is no longer dark. It’s the day our museums our filled with families learning about our historic past. It’s the day our attractions are filled with families.

Opening day is the day we return to work, remember what we’ve been through and never take for granted one of the most precious gifts in our lives – FREEDOM.

I still can’t wait to go see those Astros, but my new ‘Opening Day’ is something my heart is longing for…

[March-26-2020]