T.G.I.F. Kickback Day

Above, two members of the New Mexico National Guard (one is behind
the silver truck) today at Albertson's in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When one is retired, every day is T.G.I.F. or, to put it differently, every day is a Saturday.

I needed to get groceries this morning, so I started working on my list of stuff to get. When I arrived at Albertson's, stationed near the line of people waiting for admittance into the store (one exits and one enters) were two members of the National Guard.

I heard that the governor ordered them to be deployed in Gallup about a week ago, so this was the first time actually seeing them.

According to KRQE:

GALLUP, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Gallup, working the Office of Governor and the State of New Mexico Public Health Department, will be deploying the New Mexico Army National Guard to the Gallup community to provide support to grocery stores with social distancing and metering measures due to COVID-19.  

City officials say that in passing days they have seen a large surge in the people coming to town and going to stores. They say people might be concerned with the curfew and rush to buy alcohol at grocery stores since the ban at liquor stores. The City requested support from the National Guard to help move people orderly and maintain social distance protocols.

The curfew the article refers to is the one in the nearby Navajo Nation. There's no curfew in Gallup. Since Gallup is about 20 miles from the Arizona border, many Arizonans do their shopping in Gallup. That's likely part of the surge in people. It is usually a 50/50 split of vehicles at markets and Walmart with Arizona or New Mexico plates.

Above, yours truly relaxing outisde in a 68° temperature.

After getting my groceries, I headed home and spent the rest of the day just relaxing on the deck and listening to music.