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
This has been a strange week! I had a bit of a melt-down, with the news of several deaths of friends - unrelated to the virus - and a health issue of my own (my back crashed on me!) So I am not my usual heel-clicking ebullient self today. One of the issues that I am finding interesting is how - after 3 months - I have gotten used to this isolation. I wonder if it will be easy to go back to normal. There is a strange kind of comfort in the repetitiveness of these days. Several of my friends are struggling with the same awareness. We may be permanently changed!!??
February 25, 2021