WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE!

My father used to say a thing that I commandeered as part of my adult lexicon, and it still makes me smile. I'd be about to share some news and start off talking about it with, "Well...", and I'd pause while I figured out how to continue with what I wanted to say. He'd interject, "That's a deep subject!" (Get it?)

When anyone asks me how I'm faring during this pandemic, I start off with, "Well...", and I hear my dad's voice. He was born in 1918, and I was reflecting on the fact that most of the folks on this planet, at this moment, have never "done" a pandemic before. My dad was born during the Spanish flu epidemic, but since he was a baby, I never heard anything about that, and the fact is, anyone old enough to remember it would have to be about 110 years old. Not one of us has ever lived through such a thing as this.

I am lucky: I'm semi-retired, financially stable, and own my house. I'm healthy (knock wood!) and have health insurance. I can buy groceries, so I eat well. My kids are adults - I don't have to struggle with homeschooling them. I don't suffer from any of the issues that would make this COVID-adventure a greater nightmare. And yet...and yet it's been a strangely dislocating experience. I feel psychologically off-balance, so sometimes I ask myself,"Celia," I say, "What can't you do now that you could do before?" There's a list, and it includes: eating out, hopping in the car and going anywhere without remembering to bring a mask, going to live music performances, singing to an audience, calling contra dances, taking my piano lessons IN PERSON, having dinner with friends at our dining table a mere elbow's distance away, meeting my husband at my favorite bar after an evening meeting, hugging friends.

Hugging in particular. I realize that most all my grief has to do with not being near - very near - people. Some folks have posited that after this is all over, we'll have abandoned the social hug and the handshake greeting. I understand that logic, the health advantages of that...but I hope that isn't really true. Hugging feels important.

LARK CAMP VIRTUAL CABARET

There's a lot going on in the "virtual world" and Lark Camp doesn't want to be left out of the fun! There's going to be a Lark Camp Virtual Cabaret Friday, June 5 at 7:00pm PT. I don't have full information yet, but if you go to the Lark Camp Facebook Group page, you'll see how to watch it!

MORE COOL VIDEOS!

Ever wonder how to CALL YOUR PALS TO BATTLE? Why not use a Carnyx - the war trumpet from 80 - 200 AD!

OH, DON'T MISS THIS: A kid singing an original song - and it's gone viral. How? Many different folks have recorded a cover or remixed their own version of it - heavy metal, pop punk (watch first!), soft jazz...but this is my favorite one.

This is ONE OF THE SWEETEST ADS I've seen in awhile.

MY PAL STEVE BAUGHMAN did this video collaboration of a lovely Janis Ian song. There are lyrics so you can sing along!

Finally - put this one - Rock You by Dirty Loops - on and DANCE TO IT! Irresistible rhythm!