April 10, 2020

GOOD FRIDAY, 10th April -- Thank you for all your well wishes for my knee -- I'm going to try to hike today -- on FLAT ground -- if such a thing is possible in the wilderness.

I'm really enjoying all the pet photos -- MORE, PLEASE. And all animal personalities are different from each other. It's amazing, just like people.
I haven't yet answered all your comments, but I'll get to them this afternoon -- I really have to get my butt to work -- running a bit on the late side.

All of you sound like you're hanging in there, you're doing stuff you never do normally, and really important: try to be extra kind to those in living with you. Everyone is under tremendous stress -- do not add to it with impatience or anger. Kindness is the only key -- and it's hard to remember when you want to smack someone or throw something. Here's what you do: Take a deep breath -- it makes your brain turn on the pause button -- then force a smile. Make it as real as you can and you'll see, a smile is disarming, a smile makes you feel virtuous and lowers your blood pressure. Keep calm and be kind -- your watchwords. We'll all get through this (and yes, I really try to heed my own advice -- and I know it's tough, believe me, believe me) Trying times, but again, we can do it.

Funny for the day: Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.