By JOHN KANELIS / johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com

The news has been full today of video showing crowds of young’ns gathered in South Florida, reveling over spring break; they are without masks, inviting a surge in the COVID virus that keeps killing Americans.

That is happening over there.

I admit that I am not getting out too much these days during this pandemic era, but my wife and I have ventured out to run an errand or two. We came home today from running an errand in McKinney, about eight miles west of our Princeton, Texas home.

Here’s what I noticed at two locations we visited: We noticed everyone inside the Home Depot on U.S. 75 wearing masks. We noticed plenty of “social distancing” markers on the floor. We were taken by the care shown to observe the protocols recommended by the U.S. health authorities who are trying to rid the world of this virus.

Then we went to lunch at a BBQ joint nearby. We saw the same thing. Masks. Social distancing. Lots of precaution being taken.

I hear anecdotes from friends all over Texas about the dumba**es who aren’t being careful. Gov. Greg Abbott recently lifted his mask mandate and told businesses they could fill their establishments to full capacity. I am not seeing it just yet. I continue to see Texans showing remarkable restraint as they go about their business. I still believe Abbott acted too soon, but I hope my fears go unrealized.

I am going to suggest, therefore, that sanity has gripped most of us. I certainly believe what I have seen on TV news broadcasts about numbskulls gathering to party in places like South Florida, along the Texas coast and anywhere else deemed to be popular spring break locations.

I am too old to carry on like that, which in this time is quite good for my health.