I had a nice talk on a Zoom meeting with my best friends this evening. It seems like an eternity since we had our normal Thursday night happy hour. And it’s showing a bit. Yes, we laughed and talked. Caught up with all the family, friend, and work updates. But the stress is clear in all of us for a number of reasons.

But its a strange time. It’s impossible to cut loose like we do when together. The hugs and high fives are missing. Clicking a few shot glasses, laughter that takes you to the floor as you roll off your chair. Playing with the dogs, going out for food, and having a meal together.

I look at the pictures of people going to bars standing elbow to elbow that opened in Wisconsin and even though I don’t understand their desire to do that now, I do understand the desire. I miss my friends greatly. They are part of me as close as brothers.

That is one reason I worry about the near future. So many are ready to bust loose and resume normal activities. But we can’t be careless, We can’t take the senseless risk. We have to be smart about how we do this. To go from 0 to 100 in seconds seems irrational unless we all gave up and said let’s all get this and then the survivors move on.

All of us are older, have had some health issues, and in high-risk groups. Yeah all of us seem strong now. And in a second could be a dangerous team but this fight isn’t with something we’ve encountered before. Science is still trying to figure it out on the fly.

We have to find a way to exist with this now because the hardships will just continue to increase as time passes. I don’t have the answers but I’m going to try to come up with suggestions.

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Random Thoughts of the Day

• I think I’ll make a donation to the MD food bank again to try to feel better.
• Tomorrow is the first day of the year it’s going to be in the ’80s. Now, where did I leave my flip flops?
• I’m noticing the telemarketers are back to work.
• I think I’ll get out early and do some sunrise shots.