Featured Refresh
Text & Image
How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I love Rick Astley! Yesterday, when I was bored out of my mind, I poured over his music videos on YouTube. The songs helped me to momentarily return to the '80s when life was simpler, clothing styles were horrendous, and I was 20 pounds lighter. Then I read about the continued popularity of “rick-rolling”—when a seemingly innocent hyperlink to some relevant site or additional information instead leads to a link to Astley’s music video “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Suddenly, I realized that since March 2020, the whole world has been rick-rolled. Well, maybe not actually rick-rolled, but perhaps COVID-rolled. No matter where you wanted to go or what you wanted to do, an ominous, unwanted COVID-19 “link” would always pop up. A wedding? Sorry, you’ve been COVID-rolled. A birthday party? Again, COVID-rolled. How about a funeral? Family reunion? Haircut? Airline flight? An outing for groceries? Yup, COVID-rolled again. (In the interest of transparency, I might or might not have been joyously swigging after-Christmas wine while warbling along with Rick and cursing COVID.) I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling Gotta make you understand (It's) Never gonna go away Never gonna set you free Always gonna float around and infect you Always gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Always gonna spread those germs that affect you.
January 7, 2021
Text & Image
How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I have uploaded artwork I have been creating in the last few years. I find creative outlets very good for my spirit. I create the artwork with a program on my iPad. I call the method digital abstract expressionism. The title of this work is Supernaturally Improbable. The pandemic reminds us that life is unpredictable and random. The serendipity of life encourages me to believe in luck. My father always said you can be one in million lucky and one in a million unlucky. I believe you can create your own luck by reaching out and trying to seize opportunities. I learned about the pandemic journal from a news article and now I enjoy registering my thoughts and experiences as part of a ritual. I have made it through the pandemic by doing daily exercises as part of an aging program. I still feel young in some ways and lucky that I avoided the coronavirus. I received both Pfizer vaccines. In terms of luck, I have won $100 everyday in the last three days. I hope its a harbinger to winning a major prize. I was able to take advantage of the beautiful weather in East Hampton, New York and get fresh air and take a walk. It opens up the mind and heart. Rituals like keeping a digital diary, buying lotto tickets, reading The New York Times, Washington Post and Boston Globe and writing many letters to the editor keeps me moving. A night of watching MSNBC, Netflix, HBO Max, Showtime, Comedy Central and Network Evening News feeds the brain food I need.
March 13, 2021