Life has changed dramatically in the past week.

We were supposed to be worried about choosing the best brackets for our March Madness polls and deciding which Easter Egg hunts would be best for the kids or grandkids.

Instead, the decisions are whether to cancel plans for vacation and entertainment. No Major League Baseball or National Basketball Association. No crush to see if the Penguins can make the Stanley Cup Playoffs or who will be Cinderella at the NCAA ball.

The postponements and cancellations are stacking up, and hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues are trying to figure out a plan to avoid having to close their doors.

While colleges and universities were leaders in biting the bullet and shutting down, public schools still are on edge knowing there are limits to how long they can be closed. The schools have the additional concern of many of the students they serve need day care or suitable supervision while parents are at work.

At first it seemed impossible and even ridiculous to think these sports leagues and concerts and such would be shut down.

It seemed like it couldn’t happen that our fun would be taken away.

But we woke up to a different world Thursday. Hopefully, it is still being made to sound worse than it is, and we can all blame social media and fake news for causing us to over-react. But in the interim we find ourselves living in fear and not certain of what is next. Before this gets better we will probably see retailers and grocery stores reduce hours.

The word pandemic has shaken our country, and most levels of government are taking some action to control what they can.

We need everyone to do their part. Don’t take unnecessary risks, and don’t leave anything to chance.

Exercise caution and above all else wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water. Be healthy.