I started this blog on March 29, 2020. It was a scary time for our world. A global pandemic? Lockdown? Mandatory masks? Zoom? All words and situations with which we were totally unfamiliar. As Americans, to lose our freedom of movement was unheard of. Some fared better than others; those with money and privilege could skirt the rules and have their groceries and supplies delivered. The rest of us learned who the real heroes were — health care workers, grocery store clerks and stockers, bus and truck drivers, nursing home employees, those working for manufacturers, teachers, farmers, postal workers, those providing energy and water, building/apartment owners who postponed receiving rent payments and many more. We depended on formerly little used means of communication — What’s App, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Zoom and even singing to each other or playing instruments from our balconies or driveways. We are social animals after all, longing for some form of human contact. We bought animals to keep us company.
And yet, amid all the loneliness, innovation occurred. Some manufacturers switched up their lines and started producing masks or hand sanitizer. Formerly live theatre performances now appeared on Facebook Live or Zoom. Restaurants doubled or tripled their takeout business, preparing TV dinners to be reheated or raw ingredients to make meals. You could even buy cocktails to go. Doctors started amping up their use of telehealth, keeping everyone as healthy as possible. Empty hotel rooms were filled with the homeless, financed by federal and state policymakers. Congress moved to keep the economy afloat by doling out unprecedented levels of direct cash assistance to millions of Americans in the form of stimulus checks that recipients could spend however they needed. That money helped keep food insecurity from going up even as the bottom fell out of the economy. Online education became the norm, working well for some but not all — especially young children. A record high 46% of Americans cast a mail ballot. Chalk art on sidewalks could sometimes be like visiting a museum, the quality of the art was so good.
Kindness was a constant. People called to check on their neighbors. They ran errands or did shopping for those in need. Food distribution sites proliferated. Many made masks for others. Families and friends separated by distance would eat meals together over Zoom. Immediate families grew closer as they spent more time with each other. Grandparents played games with their grandchildren over Zoom. Positivity was the order of the day.
Not everyone was so lucky. Too many died or have lasting effects of COVID-19. Many countries are still not vaccinated. There is much work still to do. Fortunately, in America a halting sense of normalcy has returned. We are driving cars, eating in restaurants, flying on planes, holding in-person meetings, visiting relatives, etc.
When I started writing this blog, it was to fill my day and expand my mind while I was locked up alone. To that extent, it has been successful. I have learned a lot about publishing a blog and expanded my mind with researching a plethora of subjects. There are 623 posts with subjects ranging from countries/cities like Switzerland, Istanbul and Germany to the healing power of nature to artists like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Janet Jackson and Dmitri Shostakovich. It has been a grand journey, and I’m grateful for it. But I think it is time for it to end. There will be no more daily blog. However, if I find something of interest that I want to share, I will. In the meantime, be grateful for the possibility of opening up your mind to something new. Read a book, read a blog, watch a video. Never hesitate to pursue the art of discovery. Your mind will thank you for it.
I will miss your daily posts! Thank you for writing this blog and sharing your gift!