Month: April 2020

There is a lot of talk right now about what an opportunity we have at this moment.

With most people staying home, and with all of the usual outside-the-house entertainments shut down, many are finding themselves with record amounts of time. So of course there are productivity gurus and hyperdriven experts who exhort everyone to make the most of this precious time.

Learn a new hobby.

Bake a cake.

Take walks outside.*

This is great, logical advice. As a type A, generally overproductive (or at least overplanning) person, I get it, and I would love to endorse it.

I can’t.

Logic says, “Look at this abundance of time with no requirements on it, no obligations. Rejoice in this gift!”

Reality says, “What a f*&$ing nightmare. Just how deadly is this virus? Are my parents okay? Should they even be going out to do their grocery shopping? Why is all the Vitamin C gone? The flour, yeast, rice, and beans — gone? What will happen to the small businesses that have had to shut down? Will they be able to return? What about the schools — what kind of education will kids get? If someone I love gets injured or non-COVID-19 sick, will they be able to get the care they need? Am I going to lose my job? How will I pay the mortgage? Will the supply lines eventually close because too many drivers get sick? Will this ever end, and if it does, what will be the consequences?”

All of which is to say that for all of the ‘make the most of this time’ for many of us, it’s just too damn stressful. We simply do not have the mental bandwidth to take on anything new because EVERY THING IS NEW.

Going grocery shopping is a different experience every time I go. What are today’s hours? What’s in stock? What’s the current queuing process?

Getting gas for my car is a different experience every time I go. What are today’s hours? Those seem to vary.

Even watching TV is a different experience because schedules change to adapt to children being home all day.

With this constant flux and uncertainty, it takes a toll.

It exhausts.

If you weren’t already exhausted before the pandemic, all the chaos that has since ensued surely hasn’t helped.

So I’m not making the most of this abundance of time. At least not in a Getting Things Done/Do All The Things sense.

I’m reading.

I’m listening to music.

I’m contacting old friends.

I am doing my best to turn off all screens and sit with paper and pen, staring out the window.

I am eating what sounds good (which is a lot of comfort food), and drinking what suits my mood.

I am trying to be kind to myself and understand that yes, this is an extraordinary time.

And yes, it’s okay to do nothing.

No, really. It is.

So do what you need to do to take care of yourself and your loved ones.

And let the rest go.

###

*Shouldn’t we be doing these things even in normal times?

Fate is just the weight of circumstances:

This PSA brought to you by Rush.

Well, you can stake that claim
Good work is the key to good fortune
Winners take that praise
Losers seldom take that blame

If they don’t take that game
And sometimes the winner takes nothing
We draw our own designs
But fortune has to make that frame

We go out in the world and take our chances
Fate is just the weight of circumstances
That’s the way that Lady Luck dances
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Why are we here?
Because we’re here
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Why does it happen?
Because it happens
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Faith is cold as ice
Why are little ones born only to suffer
For the want of immunity
Or a bowl of rice?

Well, who would hold a price
On the heads of the innocent children
If there’s some immortal power
To control the dice?

We come into the world and take our chances
Fate is just the weight of circumstances
That’s the way that lady luck dances
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Why are we here?
Because we’re here
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Why does it happen?
Because it happens
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Why are we here?
Because we’re here
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Why does it happen?

Jack, relax
Get busy with the facts
No zodiacs or almanacs
No maniacs in polyester slacks
Just the facts
Gonna kick some gluteus max
It’s a parallax, you dig?
You move around
The small gets big, it’s a rig
It’s action, reaction
Random interaction
So who’s afraid
Of a little abstraction?
Can’t get no satisfaction
From the facts?
You better run, homeboy
A fact’s a fact
From Nome to Rome, boy

What’s the deal? Spin the wheel
If the dice are hot, take a shot
Play your cards, show us what you got
What you’re holding
If the cards are cold
Don’t go folding
Lady Luck is golden
She favors the bold, that’s cold
Stop throwing stones
The night has a thousand saxophones
So get out there and rock
And roll the bones
Get busy

Roll the bones

Why are we here?
Because we’re here
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Why does it happen?
Because it happens
Roll the bones
Roll the bones

Because every little thing gonna be alright.

This PSA brought to you by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (Three Little Birds)
Bob Marley

Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”

Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Perch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, (“This is my message to you-ou-ou:”)

Singin’: “Don’t worry ’bout a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”
Singin’: “Don’t worry (don’t worry) ’bout a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”

Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Perch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, “This is my message to you-ou-ou:”

Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. Don’t worry!”
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing” – I won’t worry!
“‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”

Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right” – I won’t worry!
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing, oh no!
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Please don’t stand so close to me (I’m talking to you people who have somehow missed the ‘social distancing’ memo for being out and about in the world):

This PSA brought to you by The Police.

Don’t Stand So Close To Me by The Police

Young teacher the subject
Of schoolgirl fantasy
She wants him so badly
Knows what she wants to be

Inside her there’s no room
This girl’s an open page
Book marking she’s so close now
This girl is half his age

Don’t stand so close to me

Her friends are so jealous
You know how bad girls get
Sometimes it’s not so easy
To be the teacher’s pet

Temptation, frustration
So bad it makes him cry
Wet bus stop, she’s waiting
His car is warm and dry

Don’t stand so close to me

Loose talk in the classroom
To hurt they try and try
Strong words in the staffroom
The accusations fly

It’s no use
He sees her
He starts to shake he starts to cough
Just like the old man in
That famous book by Nabakov

Don’t stand so close to me