May Day

What has happened in a month? We remain apart. There are more masks in use, in fact, the Governor of Massachusetts has required them in public places. School will not come back in session this spring. The deaths continue at an alarming pace, though slower in some of the cities like New York than they were a month ago. Deaths in nursing homes and Veterans' homes are shocking, and nearly 50% of the total locally. The Governors continue to show leadership that isn't coming from DC. The practice of the Feds. stealing (appropriating?) protective equipment from the states isn't making it easy for them.

I know of people who have recovered. I know of people who have died, primarily the elderly. There are protesters, even here in Northampton, who use their rage to put their own needs above others'. It is so wrong. We have to look out for each other.

Carolyn is able to sit on her beach in NC, as long as people do not crowd together. She continues to work from home and do virtual therapy. Brian converses with his students online as well. Jamie is at the end of his 2 week quarantine in a motel in Juneau, and will rotate to the island to the mine for the next two weeks. Alaska has fared pretty well so far, as have many less-populated areas.

The Senate is going back to DC, but the House, with four times the population, is not. It looks like the unemployment program for self-employed individuals applies to me. I have several projects on hold in Whately, Northampton, Greenfield, and Amherst.

This weekend the sun came back and the windows were open for 2 days. Cooler temps are predicted next week. Some days are more productive than others. I miss company, but we video conference, telephone, sit in our cars to eat together apart. I can't fathom what it is like for extroverts.