SCOTT VISITED FOR HIS BIRTHDAY IN MARCH.

2020 was what is known as a mixed blessing wasn’t it? Millions have died from Covid; even more millions have survived it with little impact on their lives. Most of us, through common sense, fear, and the wherewithal to follow reasonable guidelines, haven’t contracted it. The world—environmentally, socially, economically, and educationally—is in a probably-unstoppable free fall, but then that happened before Covid even reared its nasty head.

A review. So I lost my job…a pretty damn big deal to me with my modest but satisfactory income dropping substantially. Fortunately the capitalists (i.e. money-grubbing soulless plutocratic frequently-Republican swine) haven’t wrested every modicum of democratic-socialism from the land [yet] and I’ve had unemployment insurance to help me through with no loss of coffee, yogurt, toilet paper, or streaming services) And my job in the performing arts sector may return.

I have missed face-to-face hanging out time with family and friends. I have felt anxious (more politically-anxious than pandemic threatened) and tired of being careful, and sad for missed travel, and seriously pissed-off that, with only a limited number of years left to live, one of them is blighted by a virus and by a cult of creeps.

There’s this though. I began the year living in a pleasant and comfortable but definitely-small apartment; I ended the year, paying less rent, in a most attractive and spacious townhouse because of a thoughtful son and daughter-in-law. The process of moving into and happily occupying a new space has not only productively consumed time, but has also given me space-to-pace on the bad days!

This is all to say…I am okay and here are the pictures to prove it.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER ROBERT, MARSHA AND BUDDY HEADED BACK TO ‘SHELTER IN PLACE’ AT THEIR MINNESOTA HOME.