Running today, I was not into it at all, it hurt, but I needed to do it, toward the end, on came Greg Holden’s song, “I Need an Energy”….first time I heard it was watching Chasing Mavericks, the simultaneous heartwarming and heartbreaking story of Jay Moriarity (if you’ve not seen it, it is so worth a bit of your time). The music I had run to this morning was nothing special it was just a way to dull the ache in my muscles, but then the mentioned song came on. I was actually walking toward the end, I’ve tried to do that after a run so, at my age, I don’t stiffen up and ache the rest of the day.

I’ve been sullen these last couple of days. I never, ever expected that a little over a year ago, when the vaccines hit, and then when we were able to get them quickly, and then to get our boosters down here in SC that the predominant story on the news, in sports, and all over, would be the continued proliferation of the infections and the virus.

I really thought that those of us who believed in the science and who embraced the clearly effective vaccines would be able to begin to live openly again. Contributing to my concern is that many of the fine folks here in South Carolina seem to believe that it does not exist, that there is no threat. Masks?? not many, indoor dining, full and thriving. The NFL is the biggest draw, more than any news story, yet each day there are reports of more and more break through cases and now game postponements….this reeks of the precursor to the shutdown of March 2020….where it was someone else’s problem and the NIMBY philosophy was what many believed in.

Sue and I, and “the gang” have been talking about various travel options for the summer (we are still trying to figure out something that works for everyone) but I can’t get excited about something that should be making me joyful, as I am currently concerned that we are headed in a way that will either limit travel or make it far too risky to engage in.

One of the great joys and excitements about retiring and moving was to be have the freedom to travel and enjoy life while still healthy and mobile….now, I can’t even discuss a simple trip to drive to Vero Beach for a few days in February or March because of what is going on and the uncertainty…. I nod and say yes, we need to talk about it….but …..

Am trying to embrace the next verse of the song but I’m struggling….

“There’s not a thing that you could say that could talk me down,
From all the things that I eat, sleep and dream about.
I’ve got a feeling that the whole world is watching now, oh
But I’m alone for the final minute of this hour.I need a lift, I need a shake,
I need to find another chance that I can take,
I need a fight, I need an energy,
I need something that will take me quickly.
I gotta just let go-whoa-oh”