Everything doubled today.  The chances for war, the mess of our government,   the tasks I have to complete, and, surprisingly, my ability to actually complete them. 

It seems – for now at least – that the massive doses of antibiotics I’m taking are doing some good.  Take, for example, my mid-morning visit to the health clinic to get my heart monitor.  (Now, I have been spending at least one morning a week on medical tests for the past four months.  Most of the time they are anonymous and superficial at best – and I’m pretty sure the concentration on saving lives of covid victims has much to do with the lack of attention I’ve been getting.  But today I made it through an hour workout, the EKG, the monitor, a good visit with a friend, a month’s worth of food shopping, laundry, and I’m still ready to go even though it’s past my nap time. And much more that has to be finished today.  So if I don’t answer you that’s part of it.)  

Back to the crowded health clinic.  It is never a joyous occasion to go to the doctors, and the masks always make it even more uncomfortable.  But as soon as we realize the fact that we are all victims of this situation, and there are no enemies, everything becomes more pleasant.  So the nurse began by warning me not to bathe – except for ‘a french bath’ – she said, demonstrating with her hands.  ‘I get it,’ I respond, ‘lots of perfume.’  We continued exchanging pleasantries for the duration of my visit so that by the time I left with my monitor, everyone was smiling behind their masks.