Hot summer nights turned to scorching summer days during August. I’m sure I drove my poor husband crazy by asking “How can our retailers survive this heat? Restaurants are depending on outdoor seating, and shops already have moved their merchandise outside.” It was so sad to watch retailers resolve to drag their soft goods outside under tents and restaurant staff show up day after day to work in the heat while wearing masks. It broke my heart.

Then, as the heatwave dragged on day after day, dozens of large fires began raging across the Golden State, burning close to 600,000 acres in California in just under a week. I could not bear to watch the news. Some of the blazes were in coastal areas that do not burn very often and threatened to take down the gorgeous redwoods I grew up with in Santa Cruz. And it is not going to get better anytime soon—smoke still hovers and broods as I write.

How can we continue to support our local merchants when we cannot even go outside to shop or dine? One idea might be to stay in our homes—and refurbish them. I have started a little remodel at my home and am trying hard to purchase my furniture from local retailers. I found my custom couch at a small store in Truckee. The local owner was so happy I spent my money in her small home décor store. It made me feel good inside. I may have paid a little more, but I think it was worth it. When purchasing my new cabinet re-face, I made sure that the materials were manufactured in the USA, not China. My wallpaper came from North Carolina, and I purchased it from a small shop in downtown Roseville. I also purchased a new bed from a local retailer. I hope we can all vote with our feet. It is so important now to keep our money in community and country so we can all try to bounce back better from this tragedy.

“The local owner was so happy I spent my money in her small home décor store. It made me feel good inside.”

But we still have to support our local retailers and restaurants when we can. I am using my Door Dash app more often and tipping more to help these small shops. Recently I did sneak into a nail shop to get a mani/pedi and felt so sad for the owners; they are two immigrant parents struggling to improve their children’s lives, with one child finishing med school and another on the way to becoming a pharmacist. They are nearly broke now and have resorted to driving for Door Dash and living off tips. Stories like this just make me want to cry.

Let us all try and remember to say “thank you” more often and tip just a little bit more than we normally would. And even with a mask on, smile and spread the love for all these hard-working merchants who keep on trucking day after day.

Think Local, Shop Local, Stay in the USA and we can get through this together.