Thoughts during the apocalypse, Part Seven.

Me (at 3 years old) with my Dad, Tony Farinella.

When I think about the qualities I inherited from my parents, I realize there are many. My gregarious nature, at least as shown to the public, definitely comes from my father, Tony Farinella.

Although Dad died in 2001, and it hardly seems that long ago (nor does it seem right that he would have been 100 years old last October), I still channel him every day -- and sometimes, that can be a very positive thing. Sometimes it's just "flirting" when women are involved, and I take some heat for it from a few individuals in my life that don't want to try to combat the negativity around them with a smile, but I try to keep it pleasant and not too heavy-handed -- especially in the #metoo era.

And when it works, it makes me feel good because it made somebody else feel good. Here's an example.

I braved a trip to a supermarket on Wednesday afternoon. I was running low on a few items of need (no, I still have plenty of toilet paper), and while I'm not keen about heading into an enclosed space with a lot of people inside that didn't seem to be as wary of close contact as I was, things had to be done. I can still move pretty swiftly through the aisles and while I managed to pick up a surprising $127 worth of food and other goods, I moved quickly enough to hopefully at least make the coronavirus break a sweat before it caught up with me.

This particular supermarket had the foresight to open up several checkout aisles, so I didn't have to wait for long or 6 feet away from anyone. But as I was unloading the items onto the belt, I noticed that the two young girls working the checkout late looked exhausted. I emphasize "young," because they looked like a couple of high school girls with part-time jobs that had been trapped inside the market for a very long day, and were very weary of the experience.

So just before I was fully cashed out and the bagger was almost through with my bags, I turned to both of them and said, "Hey, I just wanted to thank you both for being here and working. I think of you as heroes for risking yourselves and dealing with us. I mean, I'm an old guy and I'm scared to death to be outside."

Both looked shocked at what I said, and practically gasped. For a half-second, I almost worried that I had offended somehow. But then the girl who was bagging my groceries, a tiny young woman with flowing dark brown hair and big black glasses, spoke up.

"There's just been so much negativity," she said, "and then someone like you comes in and you made it all go away. Thank you SO much!"

I felt I did my good deed for the day -- Dad would have been proud -- but I really meant it, too. Those kids are heroes. So is everyone that is still working to make our lives more tolerable during these troubling times.

The Forbes Blvd. Starbucks, under construction in 2018.

** Not long afterward, something absolutely heartbreaking happened. I know this is selfish of me, but when I heard that the Starbucks at Forbes Boulevard in Foxboro (frequently mentioned on this blog's Java Watch) will be closing for three weeks starting Friday, I took it personally. After all, I feel like I waited 64 years for that store to open, and now I have to worry if it's going to re-open by April 19, or later, or ever.

OK, I know there are good reasons for some of the fast-food outlets to shutter stores. But I didn't think that there would be any reason for this one to be shuttered because it has done a brisk business since it opened in 2018 and at times even seemed overwhelmed. And just a day ago, the lines for coffee at the drive-thru were entirely circling the building.

I'm not sure what options are available. The Foxboro store is off the Starbucks map, as are the ones in South Attleboro, Plainville, Franklin and Walpole. The only familiar drive-thru left is the one in Norwood on US 1, and God forbid what the lines will be like if that's the only one left to compete with the evil empire of Dunkin'.

Man, that's enough. It's time to seed the clouds with Lysol and end this pandemic once and for all.

** Also, Gov. Charlie Baker ordered that schools stay closed in the commonwealth until May 4. That ditches any hope that the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association had to stage spring-season tournaments this year. So my guess is that if you want to listen to me calling high school sports on TV, you're going to have to wait until Glen Farley and I return to the broadcast booth at Macktaz Field in Wrentham in September for King Philip football.

** That's enough for tonight. Body temperature is 96.8, no coughing or breathing trouble, the usual aches and pains for an old man. Let's just hope the supermarket visit doesn't do me in. See you tomorrow.