JAB-JAB JOY

Isn't it funny that someone poking you with a needle twice can bring you joy? Or maybe it's not so much joy, as hope? "I hope I can do the things I used to do, soon!" As a fully vaccinated human, I have had a few social interactions IN PERSON that I couldn't have a week ago. I suspect that in the new normal, some things will remain changed in ways that we still can't anticipate. But after more than a full year of sheltering-in, at least we're shifting to a period of time that looks more friendly-like, even if we still must be masked to protect the unprotected!

Here in Napa, things are really opening up. Restaurants keep adding parklets for diners—why did it take a pandemic for us to get on board with sidewalk dining? But the Uptown Theater marquee says it all: "One year dark. No shows since 3-13-20. Save our stages." I just attended a fraught panel discussion at a National Folk Organization conference about what the dance community could expect in upcoming months. I saw the names of a few of my California pals on the Zoom gallery, and I suspect all of us were feeling a tad more excited – since Gavin Newsom's June 15 announcement yesterday – than we ought to. Caution was the advice given; caution and "follow the most strict rulings to protect yourselves from liability...because you can't get a better super spreader event than a contra dance!"

There is much unknown about how this will proceed. It seems like we might be about to step out of the shadow of the pandemic, into the sunshine of the company of our friends. I know there are some folks who literally cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, but I really hope that those who can be, will jump at the opportunity to do so. We've worked hard to quarantine, and the one thing that can make it all for nought is too many unvaccinated people causing new spikes in cases, effectively holding their communities hostage.

Sorry; I usually keep my personal peeves to myself when writing my newsletter. Forgive me for that little leak of desperation.