My friend Doug is an IT expert. He helped me recently with a computer problem. I am not able to see him at our business group meeting during the pandemic. Rather than mail him payment for his work, I invited him over for coffee in my backyard. That way, I get to see him and have a conversation to catch up on things. Human contact during the pandemic. And not having to mail the payment.

A two-fer.

Ari and Isaac happily pick lemons for me from their tree. The last time I got them, Carrie suggested I juice them all and freeze the juice as cubes to use in the future. I suspect many who are reading this have followed this idea. It was new to me, and I have found it so helpful when I made a dessert or fish for dinner. This week I made lemon bars. I took them over to Erik’s for an outdoor lunch with the family.

Thanks, guys.

For weeks, I have been opening the same windows in my house when I wake up in the morning. I like the fresh air and the cooler temperature. One day I discovered my kitchen table by one of the windows felt like there was residue on it. I wiped it and discovered it was dirt. I realized there was dirt getting through the screen, but I continued to open the window each day, wiping the table regularly. Today I was dusting the house, and when I wiped a table in my office, also by an open window, there was a lot of dirt on it. Since I have not seen clients in person, I was unaware of the collection since the last time I dusted. I closed the two windows.

Choosing between air and cleaning…I made my choice.

I woke up early this morning with the intent of doing an extended house cleaning before my first client at 9 AM. I showered, went walking, and cleaned the house. I met with the client. I talked to Julie. I went to the bank. I ate lunch while I watched two Seinfeld episodes. It was now 12:30 PM. I did not feel like watching a movie. I went to my desk and decided to write an article for the Sun. I did so and then wrote four blogs.

Inspiration comes in clusters.

I had the idea of making a pizza from scratch. The dough required yeast and I needed cornmeal to put on the greased pan when I placed the dough on it. I did not have yeast or cornmeal. Nor do the stores during the pandemic, I discovered. My daughter said she had yeast and she gave it to me. I eventually found the cornmeal.

Guess what Erik, Isaac, and Ari are having for lunch in my backyard tomorrow?

During the pandemic, I learned from my children that things had changed when their cats needed to see the veterinarian. They would schedule an appointment, drive up to the office, and someone would collect the cat from the car. The human was not allowed in the office. I had scheduled my annual visit with my doctor. I was called and told they had made a mistake and my only option was to have a virtual appointment. I arranged to do so.

Why can’t someone drive me to my doctor’s office, have one of the workers come to the car and get me, and my driver not come inside? What’s good for the cat…..

I took a risk and added a fourth route to my morning walk. For four months I went out every morning and walked one of three different routes. When I realized the pandemic was going to be a lot longer, I decided to enhance my trek. And so, I am now seen on one of my paths every four days now instead of three. Since I begin by 7 AM, I am not certain how many people even notice me.

The gym is missed far less.

When I went to the supermarket this morning, the beginning of week 13 of shelter-in-place, I thanked the check out clerk for her work. I asked her if it has gotten easier, and she said it would likely surprise me to learn that work had gotten harder. I asked her in what way. She said people are more often cranky, mean, and angry and she believes it is because they are fed up with the lifestyle.

Many don’t acclimate to change.

I saw a picture on FB that showed two pictures next to each other. In the first, it showed the police officer with his knee on George Floyd. The citation said, “I can’t breathe.” The second showed a white medical worker wearing a mask. The citation said, “I can’t breathe.” I replied, “There are blacks in the second group also.”

We need to be more aware.

During the pandemic when we were compelled to remain sheltered, there was much more time to think. I was not around people, I was not driving much, and I was walking each day since the gym was closed. It was a time away from many distractions or things that needed to be focused on. Sometimes I was waiting in a line to get into a store. I can’t say exactly what I thought about.

Maybe this is why many reported feeling more mellow.