My moon phase calendar tells me with plenty of forewarning of the Full Moons each month, but I always know. I was driving home last night from work, and the moon was shining brightly, just about full, but that is today it is actually full. And I knock Full Moons a lot, but on a clear night, it really is a beautiful sight to behold. In fact, it may be one of the only normal things going on right now.

People are nuts. I mean it is worse than normal and even the moon isn’t able to adjust properly. Now don’t get me wrong, I am still spending my time trying to look for the goods and positives during this Covid-19 thing, and I am finding them. But scrolling on Facebook is just a run through the Mental Ward these days. It’s a lovely morning, shut that app and go outside and take a few minutes to breathe, with or without your face mask. We can argue later about whether that mask is working or not. Dr. Fauci is not outside in your yard eyeballing you, and Bill Gates is busy working on the microchip. Enjoy yourself for a few minutes. Hell, crack a beer open or something. One Flew Over The Covid’s Nest.

Now for the Goods. A big part of what I have been doing while working the Costco, other than seeing my cousin Ted regularly, is sanitizing stuff. Shopping carts, gas pumps, and the handles on just about everything. Some days it is mind numbing, but people seem to appreciate it. The occasional person, usually old guys, will tell me they don’t care if their carts is sanitized and wiped. Gotcha, here you go!! But yesterday, I was in the freezer and cooler area spraying and wiping the doors and handles. A woman came up to me, and thanked me for cleaning. Not just a passing “Hey thanks for working!” But a very sincere and heartfelt moment of thanks. She said she has been in nearly every grocery store in town, and nobody is taking the care that we are for the people shopping. She told me I was helping her feel safer, and that she sure hoped I knew that people notice this stuff. She was so sweet, she is probably someone’s grandma, based on the awesome snacks and stuff in her cart, and I just enjoyed that moment of appreciation. It truly brought tears to my eyes, because people might say “Thanks” but it isn’t often they stop and really connect with you.

After days of people arguing about conspiracies, masks being effective or ineffective, of why are we safe at this store but not that one, and all of the stuff we are all seeing every day, I had a moment of Zen. With a lady I don’t know, in the middle of the frozen foods. It was damn near a Dan Fogelberg song, except she and I did not share a 6 pack of beer in her car. I was an Estrogen Filled Waterbag right there by the potato skins and corn dogs. I will tell you, it felt great. I thanked her for being so kind, and she went on her way. People like her should be mass produced. I am sure her family and people in her life are flying high on the wonderful things she does and says. At least that is what I will believe, because I have to. I have to have that woman be my rainbow right now. We all do.

How are you doing? Are you getting through this in a way that will make you appreciate people? Are you giving in to the conspiracies, the numbers, the funk that is getting to a lot of people? I know we need this to end. I wish a virus could be reasoned with, because I would have my Frozen Foods lady talk to it. It would feel better, and go on its way. I know people that need to get back to their businesses, start making their way again. Open the economy, I sure hope so soon. But while this continues, you can scowl and make the worst of it, or you can be that nice lady that thanked a complete stranger for just being there. Surfing the web looking for the plot that best fits your agenda isn’t healthy. You are doing some hard damage to your mental well being. I know it isn’t sunshine and daisies for most of us right now. But isn’t the burden of the paranoia bringing you down? Isn’t the weight of conspiracy ruining your sleep?

Take a minute, for you, and only you, and breathe. Take those deep breaths, in and out, and let go for the moment. Stretch a little, reach up towards that full moon today. You have gotten this far, hopefully healthy, and you can come the rest of the way. It isn’t being naïve, it isn’t hiding from your worries. It is an effort to manage what is happening around you. Because it will happen anyway. Letting the internet, the government, Bill Gates, and anyone else that you cannot control rule your days will leave you with nothing but pain if you don’t take a little time to reach back and pull yourself out of that mire. In spite of what you read elsewhere, we are a caring and nurturing bunch of Full Moon Lunatics. I have said it before, we get through this together, or we don’t get through at all. Reach out for that hand, and let me or whomever you need, pull you up. Namaste.

Don’t let that title fool you. This isn’t that, really. My years of service industry work have given me all of these things, but usually not all at once. But what it has given me is a slightly jaded view of a certain type of person, and my fellow industry people have named her, and apparently she has found out and isn’t happy about it. Karen. Karen would like to speak to the manager about us recognizing her as a Karen.

This has been a thing for a couple of years, and it has been therapeutic for servers and bartenders all over. They named her, the lady with the high maintenance hairstyle, the expired coupons, and manager in her sights for a good talking to. I wish I knew who gave her the name, Karen, and how long it really took to recognize her as that person. We all knew who she was, she has a uniform of sorts, and an attitude that is tough to miss. She is usually in her 30s-40s. Her kids are old enough she can go out without them, and is out with her like-minded friends. We all know who she is, we all have a Karen in our lives. She likely has a “Live, Laugh, Love” sign hanging in her home, and she may have a shirt or hat that says “Blessed” on it. Tough to explain, easy to spot.

I miss so much about the restaurant life right now, but I don’t miss her. She is picky, wants modifications on everything she orders, she prefers to use a coupon and has no qualms about expiration dates, and likely orders a water with lemon but has never put that lemon into the actual water. Somehow, Karen has learned that we were on to her. I would assume that since she has been in quarantine, and has nobody to cater to her every whim, she researched and found out we hate her. She found the memes. (Which are fabulous, by the way, unless you are Karen.)

So she made a meme herself, in defense of Karens everywhere, and said how demeaning it is, how it is bullying to call them Karens. She even went to far as to say it is the equivalent of using the “N Word.” She is starting a “NO KAREN” movement of sorts, and she wants to speak to the manager of the world, and Karen us into not calling her Karen anymore. How appropriate. She is saying that it isn’t very “Live, Laugh, Love” of us to make fun of her and her Ladies in Lularoe. I get that she is riled up, with her salon closed, her severe reverse bob is out of whack and the blonde streaks are getting dull. She is lashing out at herself, without realizing that is what is happening. It’s ok Karen, it will all be ok. I know the expiration date on that coupon has passed and it is burning a hole in your Michael Kors wallet. But you will be ok, that manager will be off furlough soon, and you can rip him a new one. I promise.

I can tell you that Karen is ok. She has become an expert on infectious diseases, and she is carrying her Ziplock baggie of Lysol wipes and has her Bath and Body Works sanitizer clipped securely to her purse. She has her best pair of black leggings on and has dry shampooed her hair and is visiting the stores that remain open. Karen’s gotta Karen, you know? I am just happy my interactions with her now last less than 30 seconds usually. I’ll tell her that her cart is sanitized, as she still wipes it down because she knows better than I do, she always has.

So Karen, you may be on to us. Yes, we have abused you in private service industry groups and pages. And until we see some changes in you, we will continue. There may come a new name, we haven’t met yet to discuss this, but we will. When you come out of quarantine, and haven’t changed your ways, we may come up with some new things for you. Stay tuned, as long as you exist, we will always Live, Laugh and Love together in a battle of wills.

*** I know a lot of wonderful people named Karen. To all of you, I want you to know, this isn’t you. It’s an unfortunate thing that your name got dragged into such an ugly compilation of ugly people. The people/person that named this “woman” had to use some name, and I am sorry if it ever brought any judgement upon you. I like you ladies, I just don’t like “that” lady.

Twenty or so years ago, I met the one person who probably changed my life more than any other person. I have written about Marco, Papi, before. But he was a big personality, so he deserves another installment. Today would be his 48th birthday, if he hadn’t left us so abruptly a year and a half ago. I miss him. A lot.

People were drawn to Papi. He had a big smile and a big heart that always had room for more people. He loved talking, a lot. Most of what I heard out of him was BS, but I had a special filter when it came to his nonsense. He was a genuine guy, I just heard BS. One of my favorite things about him, really.

We worked together, but really the first time around we didn’t work together for very long. I can’t exactly remember how long, and I think that is because Papi kept me drunk most of the time. (He isn’t here to correct the story, so I tell it how I want, and he got me drunk.) I was in my early 30s and still hadn’t figured out how being a grown-up worked, and he wasn’t looking to help me mature at all. We had a lot of fun, he introduced me to his friends and family, and therefore introduced me to a Mexican culture that was warm and welcoming, and again, drunk.

Papi came and went a lot. He went for a while to Florida with a buddy, and they lived and worked down there for a while. Having a cell phone was still a newer thing back then, and he loved talking on the phone, so I would get random phone calls all the time from him. I can’t say for sure if we ever talked about anything of substance, but it sure seemed important. I loved hearing from him, and he eventually moved back. He had a little gypsy spirit about him, and the fact that we kept a friendship going while he roamed around meant the world to me.

When I found myself needing a job 10 years ago, his brother was opening the Appleton Solea, and I called him and asked if they needed anyone. Boom, I had a job on the spot. Being a part of Papi’s world made you family, and he made me a bigger part of that family in a hot minute. All of a sudden we were working together again and it felt like coming home. He was a giant pain in my ass, mind you, but I loved that guy, so I may say that now, but I loved every minute of it.

His big personality came with big vices, and he loved eating and drinking in a grand way. All of that added up, and even though he would occasionally try to slow the roll, it wouldn’t be enough in the long run. His death hit hard, and it still does. There are days I can’t believe I will never get an annoying text or phone call from him again. His family and friends all feel it too. That’s a big gaping hole when you lose someone that large, it won’t get filled ever, but having a person that gave that much to you almost makes it ok once they’re gone. My life is better for having had that man in my life, even if he didn’t stick around nearly long enough. Jerk.

Happy Birthday Papi. Feliz Cumpleanos Amigo. I won’t let this day pass today, or ever, without celebrating you in some way. The hole in my heart is still there, but love pours out of it thanks to what you brought to my life. Thank you for teaching me stupid phrases in Spanish, teaching me things about chickens that are not correct, and for always being a giant pussy. I miss you forever. Salud!

I like telling people I am attention starved. I mean, why else would I do something like this blog? But I am not really attention starved, I get plenty of interaction with people, even now, and I know how to pull the plug on it when I have reached that point. I get to that place where I am over people, and then I retreat. There are good ways to get attention, and bad ways. We all know people that do both. The question is why are they looking so hard when they seem to have people around them who love them and give them what they need? Or maybe they don’t…

I always liked the performance aspect of bartending and serving. It is like having a split personality without needing medical or psychological assistance. I could smile and laugh with you, and walk away growling. It would feed my need for attention, while giving you attention, and I would get the instant gratification of cash. That’s a win for me! And I would observe behaviors of people, and it taught me a lot about dealing with people. Reading them and their needs. Some people want you interacting with them often, and others want to be left alone, bring the food and beverage, and move along. Read either scenario well, and it could pay well.

Transitioning out of the service industry is a little tough, but people still give you the body language and signals that they need something, they just move along faster and don’t hand me cash as a result. That’s a tougher transition, but a topic for another day. But the skills are fairly transferable, so it has been a good move for me. I had a 30 day review at the new gig, and it was really positive. The old customer service skills are still shining, in a different capacity. I guess you would say I got positive attention for doing what I do. Right on!

Now, attention seeking. That hits a little different. We all see a ton of it with social media. Things like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and those platforms are filled with people screaming for attention. Look at me!! And the more “likes” you get, the more comments you get, the more validated you are for posting the post. Build up those followers, and more attention gets heaped upon you. And people are hurting themselves, intentionally, for that attention. That’s a big leap to make, not everyone does it that way, but it is happening. Doing and saying things that will cause you harm, so that people will look at you, like you, acknowledge you, in the name of attention, is a growing problem. And it keeps going. You are already hurting, but you continue on, so that others will keep encouraging you, it brings the attention you are starving for, and you do not know where the line is that will stop it. Who else is getting hurt, or ignored, so that you can still feel that rush of attention, of gratification?

I am not an overly educated individual. I did a little time in college, but never finished it. The bulk of things I know I picked up as I went along. So I can’t speak much to why people do the things they do, but sometimes it is fairly easy to draw a line from one point to another. And I see it within myself too. I like the instant gratification I get when someone comments on my posts and blog. It’s a little thrill, it validates the time and thought I put into something. What I really want it so entertain you for a few minutes, but if I make you stop and think for a minute, that is a bonus. Attention. You gave me some attention. I am thankful for that. I guess I took a long way around to say that while you are out trying to get someone to notice you, please make sure you are not forgetting to acknowledge that someone else is watching what you are doing, and learning from it. Is it something good they are learning, or are you causing unintentional harm by seeking that outside attention, or validation, from someone else? Just something I consider, while I have your attention.

Thank you, truly, for taking a little time to read my thoughts from time to time. You have given me attention, and I want you to know I am paying attention. I see what happens, I think about it. It sits with me sometimes for a long time, and I don’t always get the words to the screen. But it is there. As we are moving forward in a strange time, a lot of us need a little extra encouragement and attention. Give it to those who need it, but don’t take it away from someone else because you are feeling inadequate in some way. We are traveling together, through this, and we are not always going to be good travel partners, but moving forward, I hope we all get to the right destination in health and wellness, mentally and physically.

Since all of the Safe at Home orders and job changing and things, I have watched more TV, and movies, than I normally do. Don’t get me wrong, I watch plenty of TV, but usually re-runs of “The Big Bang Theory” or “Friends.” But my cable has graciously been rotating premium movie channels while this goes on, so I have watched more movies as of late. It’s cool, I sometimes DVR them so I can watch later too. But I like some classic stuff now and again, and I came across the original “Karate Kid” movie, that I have seen many times. And let me tell you, we all need us some Mr. Myagi in our lives.

Mr. Myagi in his very Myagi way, gets Daniel all schooled up in karate. But throughout what he is really teaching him is about Balance. Life is about balance, and most of us screw that up royally throughout our lives. It isn’t easy. Family, work, love, money, etc. And I see that, I know I am not the best at it. I have tried to do better, and occasionally I do better. It’s easier to screw up than get right, and that is why Mr. Myagi pushes Daniel so much for it.

Energy, we all have it to a degree. How do you use your energy? Do you feel like you have a negative or positive energy in your daily life? I like to think I have a positive energy, but I know full well the words I use under my breath when people wrong me in a way that I perceive to be “hurtful.” That is my negative energy, rearing its head to let me know it is there. It isn’t easy to balance it some days. It sneaks up on me sometimes, I could be in a great mood, then someone drives by in the wrong colored car and I bust out a string of swear words that would make a sailor blush. (I have a sailor in my family now, so I know how much they swear for real!!) Then I will talk myself off that particular ledge. “What was that about? They didn’t do anything to you! Well, it was the wrong color!! Ok whack job, whatever makes you happy!” Internal dialogue is just fantastic.

Alright, all of this is just a little prelude to this: How are you using your energy during this pandemic? Are you staying positive, or is it getting you and dragging you to a more negative place? And either answer is ok, as long as you learn to balance it a little bit. Our “Safer at Home” order just got extended, by a month. It stinks. It is going to negatively affect a lot of people I know who own small businesses, who work for themselves, and who are already stressed out working at home. I feel so bad for all of them. I see you, and I know it is hard right now. Another month and some of them may not make it back. But I try to see both sides, because that is how I have to get to my balance. If things go better with the numbers, the order can be lifted. They (the state) could use that time to develop a “soft open” for some of these businesses. A lot can change and I sure hope it does.

There is a protest planned for tomorrow at our state capital. I absolutely support people and their right to assemble, but I feel this thing is going to be all negative energy. Never mind the potential of people getting sick, that is another topic. But like many protests, this will only push one side of an agenda, and not offer any solutions, no plan. No plan, no balance. This can’t be an “All or Nothing” type of thing. I think you should come to the table, both sides, with a plan. How do you phase us back into a safe, yet open, place? Find that balance.

Not too many of us will be able to find that balance right now. I want my friends to get back to their businesses and jobs. I want the kids to be able to play together, and I want to go to a bar and have a drink with my friends. But I want it to be safe. I want that balance, for them and for me. We do deserve it, truly. We got knocked off our blocks by this pandemic. That block got knocked over. We need to set it straight before we can climb back onto it, or it won’t be stable and we will fall off again. Balance.

Cue Mr. Myagi knowingly nodding as the screen fades to black.

The conversation seems to be shifting from staying home, staying safe, to when and how we open this thing back up. While I do think it’s a conversation that needs to happen, hopefully soon, I wonder about the people pushing the topic. Are we there yet? I don’t really know. Because I have been working, I haven’t been at home much when the briefings occur, I am vaguely aware of numbers that get talked about in regards to positive tests, deaths, recoveries, etc. I have no intention of turning this into a political conversation, but it could happen. Sorry.

I saw my boss, well, my old boss, yesterday. He is doing ok, but I worry about him. He is worried that it could be mid-May before he can get reopened fully. That’s another month. That is scary. They are doing carryout and delivery and it is ok. But it is hard to keep a business afloat under ideal circumstances. I also think about all of the employees. Most aren’t working for the carryout time period. He just can’t afford to be paying too many people right now. So it is a skeleton crew, and limited hours. That is how most of the places that are open are operating, and some places thrive, some are just scraping by. This whole thing, while I believe it is necessary, it is scary for the people living paycheck to paycheck that are not getting that paycheck right now. So check with your neighbors and friends. If you can, try to help them. This isn’t over, not yet.

The stimulus checks are arriving. Mine is “pending” which means it officially gets deposited tomorrow. I am thankful it is coming, it will give me a little cushion, a safety net as I am adjusting from the world of being a tipped employee to a paycheck person. I am used to having cash, all the time. And while this past month has not been a money spending orgy, not having cash in hand on a daily basis has caused some anxiety. I have had it with the people and their posts on Facebook about the money. Who should not be accepting it because you hate a certain someone, or it’s socialism so you shouldn’t take it either. You know what? Shut up. Most of us need it, and do need it now. Someone is going to be pissed about it, and about how you should choose to spend it. People need to shut it right now about that. You have no idea how much I wish we didn’t need this little safety net right now. I wish I were making the money I was a month ago. Try to keep those thoughts in mind when you think about judging others.

A lot of people have turned into infectious disease experts the past few weeks. In the service industry we have what we have come to know as the “Karen.” The memes are hilarious, because if you have dealt with her, you just know. So Karen is out there, and she is alive and well, wielding her sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, looking to speak to the manager about why the guy shopping in aisle 5 isn’t wearing a mask. And I will say this, and mean it: Mind Your Own Pandemic Business, Karen. The majority of people know what they should be doing. How they should conduct themselves if they are out. Not everyone has been able to get their hands on masks and gloves, because Karen hoarded them. Some people, believe it or not, aren’t into this whole thing. They believe it’s been overblown. And the thing is, that is ok for them, if that is how they wish to operate. You cannot convince them in a 5 minute soliloquy in the canned goods aisle at the Food King. Take care of yourself when you are out. Soon this will pass, and Karen will be back in the restaurants with her expired coupons while bending the manager’s ear.

I got off track. I was excited about putting Karen out of the restaurant business for a while. So we will get back to our lives, with or without Karen. But when? I don’t know. I know that Trump is pushing, because if he doesn’t, the crumbling economy falls on him, because he is the guy in the White House now. That’s how it works. And against advice from his “task force” he will continue to push. That we know. He made the comment about absolute authority, and it made a lot of people cringe, as it should. We will see how that works out for him. But people do need a date on the calendar, as it were. Some kind of date to look forward to, but I don’t know how you pick that arbitrary date. But when you can get back out there, please take the lessons you are learning with you. Please don’t make all of this have been for nothing. Take your patience, kindness, and humility with you. Let’s hope it isn’t another month, but if it is, remember to reach out for what you need, and check on the ones you care about.

I have spent many Easters not exactly celebrating Easter. I used to have to work on Easter, a big family day in the restaurants. Not everyone can bust out a decent ham dinner for their family, so they would go out for brunch, family style dinners, etc. People all dressed up, whether they had been to church services or not, a lot of kids coming off a sugar buzz, you get the idea. Then for a few years I worked at a sports bar, and depending when Easter fell on a calendar, it could be a good day. Not everyone has family to spend the holiday with, or some just don’t want to spend it with their family. The past 10 years I had off on Easter, my boss saw that as a family day, and he kept the restaurant closed. I have been to baseball games on Easter, and most recently the last couple of years I volunteered serving or delivering meals on Easter with a local group that hosted a free gathering for those that have nowhere else to go for Easter.

This year is so different. I am not doing the volunteer thing, I don’t even think they are doing it. Which makes me sad, thinking of the hundreds of people that affects. People are not in the churches this year. The restaurants are closed, and there are no sports to watch. This virus has cast us adrift, as it were. My job is not open today, and it is needed day of rest for me, it has been a very physically tough week. But I am thankful for it. So today is a rest day, a Zelda Day as she and I will be spending the day together at home. No visiting family, and most people are in the same situation.

I am not overly religious, and I do not visit church more than a couple of times a year. I mean even many funerals have gotten away from being “church” events, so I don’t even get a mark for going then. But I am spiritual. I believe in God, and I believe that Jesus died for our sins. Today is a big day, the biggest day on the Christian calendar really. A day to celebrate the day He rose from the dead, a miracle and something we need in the spring to remind us of life, love and the things we get from our spiritual epicenter. People would go to church, and for that hour or so, share that sense of community. With that not being an option today, it is still a good time to celebrate Easter, but to do it in a more reflective way. Church, the actual building, is not where God lives, but where you gather to be around others. We can’t do that, but it will be ok, because God, and Jesus, live in your heart anyway. Church is just where you let them out to wander around for a few minutes each week.

Not everyone is going to have an easy Easter, but it doesn’t mean anything less because you didn’t hit up the Sunday morning services. Or the brunch buffet. I am not a huge fan of ham either, so I don’t feel like I am missing much there either. Make the most of your day with what, and who, you have around you. I just had a nice video chat with my BFF, Amy. She isn’t a big Easter celebration person either, but we had our own little “fellowship” together anyway. Look into your heart, that is where the worship begins, and where you will find the peace you are looking for.

Or you could just sit around and eat candy all day. That’s all good too, all bets are off this year.

*A side note, since I wasn’t out in many stores this year, I don’t have much candy around, but I also have not seen any Easter Grass. That doesn’t mean I am not thinking today, and every Easter, about my stepmom, Darlene, who cursed Easter basket grass every year. I join you Dar, in cursing it, because tradition is tradition. I miss you, and I miss you bitching about Easter Grass.

Things have changed so much in 3 weeks, I kind of don’t even know what’s what here. I had a job, got “laid off” from that job, then found a “temporary” job and a few days later lost my regular job permanently. I started the temporary job, now I hope it can become a permanent job, but I just have to work through it and see what happens. The important thing is that I do not have to rely on unemployment to try to carry through, and once all of this clears, I can get a new job, if needed, as I have had several people reach out and say if I need a gig, they may need me. It just stinks not knowing where things will be a month from now, but you all get that, I am sure.

I am not the best at this quarantine thing. I am out every day so far. Working, as it has been made clear that people like me are essential. I just stick to the work then home thing, but I don’t feel like it is as tough for me as it is for so many others that are doing it, staying home. I live alone, with Zelda the Whack Job Dog, so I am not potentially contaminating anyone when I do return home, and Zelda is not about to start socially distancing herself from me, thank goodness! But even on days off, I have gone grocery shopping, to the bank (drive through only, that’s all they have now) and even though that is about it, I am still not quite hunkered down.

I miss the gym, terribly. That has been the worst thing. I miss my people there, I miss the structure and routine of it. And even though the new job is active, physical and beats me up, it is not the same as the designed workouts. I have done a few of the online camps my FIRE is doing every day, but Zelda is pretty sure I am in danger during them, and she will save me. So they are not as effective as I would hope. So while I haven’t exactly gained weight back, things aren’t as firm as they were, so I need to get back. This is the thing that scares me the most.

On that note, I am not eating as great as I should, or had been. I have quarantine snacks. I may well be the main purchaser of Dot’s Pretzels in the Midwest. The Heroin of pretzels, as it were. Highly addictive, and delicious. I have not eaten all of them, but they are here. Also, I have been eating my own cooking for 3 weeks now. I pack a lunch for the new job every day. I can cook, but I don’t like to do it all the time. And we know what that leads to: Dishes. Lots and lots of dishes. I don’t have a dishwasher, I am the dishwasher. Even if I use the grill, paper plates and drink out of a can or bottle, I end up with 40 dishes for the day. What the hell? I miss working in a restaurant, where I could eat something someone else cooked for me, and I could drop my dishes off by Roberto, who always smiled and thanked me. It’s not fair.

I miss people. I am lucky that everyone in town apparently shops at Costco. I have seen people I know every day. But it isn’t the same. I want to be around people, for more than a 3 minute transaction. (I don’t seem to know any of the people that overload their carts with every grocery item we have.) But I think everyone feels this way. We miss the little interactions we didn’t even notice prior to all of this. The gas station guy, the drive through bank people, the crossing guard at the grade school I waved to every day on my way home from the gym. I miss hugs. I worked with Hispanic people for 10 years. We hugged everybody everyday multiple times. It’s a whole thing. I am worried about them, and me, we are huggers. And proud of it.

As we don’t know how long this will go on, bouts of depression and despair are bound to happen. This little rant is a part of working through that for me, but I know a lot of you are going through it too. I guess I just miss knowing what my life was. It wasn’t this glorious thing, but it was mine. I knew what each day was likely to bring. I have none of that now except knowing that Zelda is nuts. And I have that, which is great. I hope you have something that is being the constant for you, getting you from yesterday to today, and that today will get you to tomorrow. Hang in there. Please. When all of this is over, I welcome you to come help me with dishes.

I always say, there’s no fool like an April Fool. Well, we are all getting set up this year, and it really takes a lot of fun out of what is usually a fun day. I am feeling bad for my friends that take full advantage of April Fool’s Day. Hunkered down at home, if they have kids, the kiddos are probably April Fooling them to the point where looking up adoption agencies or buyers looking for kids on the internet isn’t that big of a joke.

What are you doing to get through? I am thinking about burning the March page of the calendar, but then I would lose the cool April picture. I have a calendar this year that has all of the moon phases on it, with a cool moon picture for each month. That joke’s on me too, without the restaurant job, I don’t need to be as aware of the full moon’s monthly arrival. It’s the 7th this month, by the way. Today is the first quarter. Besides, I could always tell anyway, people give plenty of signals.

April is usually a month of hope, and the weather improving. I think with the Covid-19 regulations and the target date getting moved to April 30th, a lot of us kind of are giving up hope on this month too. Sure, ruin March. Other than basketball tournaments, baseball, St. Patrick’s Day, the First Day of Spring, and my nephew Will’s birthday, what is there in March? But April? That’s off the table too? Easter is kind of wrecked, still no baseball, and spring breaks aren’t going to happen. But it won’t be a total bust if you don’t let it.

The weather will get better, gradually as we move along. You can enjoy time outside, just be aware and distant from other people. Easter will still come. Plan something within your circle, eat some more food. What’s one more ridiculous meal with candy at this point? Making the best out of this situation will get you through it. April is a 30 day month. Shorter than March, right? It’s a day, but that little distinction can be a bright side, if you choose to look at it that way.

The things you are doing, and the way you do them, will get you through this. Be aware of the news, but please don’t obsess about it. Wash your hands, keep your six feet zone about you if you have to go out. And be kind. After about 2 weeks working at the new job, I can tell you the majority of the people I come across are awesome. There are a couple of Grouchy Gus and Crabby Karens out there, but most people are aware of what this whole situation is doing to people. Patience and kindness will serve you well, just like it always should.

One more thing, if you are doing carryout, curbside, delivery or anything to support the local restaurants, please consider the workers. A lot are working limited hours, if their bosses are able to keep them working. Please consider a little extra gratuity. Particularly if they are coming to your home. Even with all of the “touchless” options they are coming up with, they are still serving YOU. They left their safe at home place, their families or loved ones, to take care of you. A couple of extra dollars will mean the world to them, believe me. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money, just a little something, please. I am not working a restaurant job at the moment, but that is my heart and soul, and they are my brothers and sisters in the industry, I have to look out for them and boost them up in any way I can. Thank you.

I wish you all a good April ahead. No Fooling. I want it to get better for all of us. We get through it together, there is no better way through. It will mean more on the other side if we can say we held it together. Take care of yourself, and wash those hands!!