Closed Temporarily

I remember when Woody Allen was asked, what was his favorite word in the English language, and he said, benign.

If I were asked that right now, I’d say, temporarily.

It’s what all the shops along Madison Avenue have printed in their windows…

CLOSED TEMPORARILY…

reminding me, this too shall pass.

I’m speaking of our lockdown, still in place, teasing my sanity much too long. Toss in looting reports that may delay it being lifted, and I’m bewildered, to say the least.

That might be my second favorite word at the moment.

The first month I did pretty well keeping to a routine that, though quirky, getting up at 3:30 to run in the mask-less dark, said, I came through with flying colors.

Crawling into my third month, let’s just say, those colors have frayed, like cotton when it’s washed too many times.

I cling to the promise of, this will end soon.

When hearing fear of the second wave, reject it, slamming that door good and hard, choosing to live my life, no matter what’s in store, since God has the last say, not Fox, Trump or the Co-op Board.

If I listen, my forefathers whisper to me.

Lincoln: My son Willie, whom I loved so much, died of Typhoid Fever. Despite no cure, I still got on a train to dedicate that cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Teddy: It’s no secret I lost my wife and mother on the same day, she of Typhoid, my darling Alice, Bright’s Disease. But, as hard as it was, I carried on. Life must continue, nonetheless.

FDR: When I got Polio in 1921, there was no hope for me to ever walk again, yet I stayed my course, though in a wheelchair, never living to see the vaccine that was brought to light in 1953.

I don’t know when we’ll have a vaccine for our virus. Some say soon, some not.

But what I do know is, this terror putting our lives on hold humbling each and every one of us, will have the power to do so, only temporarily.

I’m staring fear in the face today, letting her know the sun still shines, and so do I if I choose to, and I do, and so should you.  

A thin girl’s, with a questionable haircut, two cents.

SB