April 5 - Negative to Positive

It was explained to me once that Gratitude is not about having everything you want, it's about wanting everything you have. Nancy has been my wife for almost 21 years. I proposed to her on New Year's Eve, 1998 at a dance put on by the entertainment committee of a spiritual fellowship we belong to. We were married the following New Year's Eve, in 1999, the eve of the millenium. I planned that part well because if I ever get forgetful and can't remember how long we've been married, I just have to look and see what year it will be and that's how many years. This time it's 21 years.

Over the years, I've done a few things to keep the moment alive. At 10 years, I wrote a story and had it printed in a magazine that is published by the Fellowship we belong to. It was the story of our first date.

At 15 years, the dance was being held in the same church it had been held at the night of my proposal, so I re-created that moment and had a friend videotape it.

Basically, we've been at the dance each year, to let everyone know that we are still together and still committed to the relationship we began many years ago.

This year, due to Covid-19, there won't be a dance on New Year's Eve. At first, I was disappointed. But, just because there isn't going to be a dance doesn't mean we won't be dancing. I have lots of music and something half decent to play it on. I've also taken steps to create a similar ambience here in our home that might make us feel we are at the actual dance.

There may be a pandemic going on but Nancy and I will still celebrate our wedding anniversary the same way we do every year; there just won't be a hundred people here to celebrate it with us.

And there is one other piece of bad news. I hear the Mayor canceled the fireworks they put on for us every year, but I think when Nancy kisses me at midnight, I'll see those too.

To Mask or Not To Mask

When the pandemic first hit, back in March, I was put on a paid leave of absence from work. My employer probably thought this would only last a week or two. I did not return to work for 12 weeks. During the time I was off, I heard someone somewhere say that one of the best ways to slow the spread of the virus was to wear a face mask. So, I began wearing a face mask. I wear one when I am in public transit, I wear one when I am anywhere that I cannot practice safe distancing. Do I like wearing a face mask? No. Do I complain about wearing a face mask? No. Do I resist wearing one? No. It's necessary now. It has become a part of my wardrobe.

It's just the way things are. It won't be a permanent thing, we hope.