I was a blank yesterday, took the whole day off, no swim, didn’t even dress, slept—not too much— but sat and read a lot and wrote a little. I’m not raring to go* today (never will be again) but I am better and I am anxious to complete my balcony arrangements (plants, soil, seeds, etc.). It’s getting warmer and will be lovely, I hope, by next week. And I have a lot of food to use up. I prepared too much for Kate but we kept going out and people brought us food and…tonight Matt and his roommate will come and have what I planned for Sunday dinner.

We just have to keep eating. Does anyone want some recipes?

Online dictionary: *…there was a window of time between 1833 and the early 1900s when “rare” was a variant to “rear” – also meaning “rise up”. Around 1909 – while “rare” still held this definition, it gave rise to “raring” – meaning “eager”. And THIS leant itself to “raring to go”.

Does anyone remember that line? It was supposed to be amusing, a cute reminder of the stress we were “suffering” at the time—so long ago, so simple, so peaceful.

Really?

That was B. C. Before Covid.

We’re still D.C.—During Covid— with no clear end in sight. A lot of people had to get off, to self-isolate, called lockdown. seldom voluntary, but seen as a temporary solution to working, gathering, playing, shopping in public spaces, too close to others to be safe. We used to talk about getting back to normal. We are realizing that normal will never be the same again. Some people—large numbers, in fact—never want to get back, witness the stats we are reading of people who want to stay at home working—or not.

Is the amount of office space now available going to solve the housing problem? It will take some renovating. What about bathrooms (for bathing), working kitchens (for family meals), public art and its creators? (I’m thinking about banks and insurance companies and other businesses with enormous reception areas decorated with enormous paintings or sculpture. ) Will party rooms be a thing of the past? So many things to think about….

So how is your world? Where would you like to be? When?

More to come…