Wow, great report on your neck of the woods, Charmion. Everyone is having to jump through extra hoops for the few contacts they have. I'd love to have heard your performance, and I'm sure those who were logged on for the service were appreciative.

The reason I made the cardamom rolls today is because yesterday I couldn't force myself to drive over to Trader Joes to buy the bagels I wanted. It's located on one of the worst streets for shopping traffic this time of year, and TJ's has a reputation for making people line up to get into the store (good for them - but don't go there if you're in a hurry). I wanted something that went with the cream cheese I already had, and family today were happy to spread cream cheese on their cardamom rolls.

One of the friends who came over today stayed here late to work on a project on one of my computers - it's a frustrating process when you have a friend who is "high functioning" with a brain injury—patience is the only way to help. I think we solved the puzzle he was working on. I was pleased to see him join in when everyone responded to the story my daughter told of a trip to an Italian villa for a wine-tasting lunch last October (hysterical laughter as she got to the point where, on the way back, her partner opened both Audi passenger side doors to shield herself from passing traffic as she peed at the side of the high speed expressway outside Florence). Of the entire visit, sharing food and good conversation, the laughter probably did all of our hearts the most good.

It has been two years since I saw my son; now we wait out Omicron and see if travel becomes safe in 2022. We speak via video calls, but that isn't the same as an in-person visit.

The house is looking good now, always a nice by-product of social occasions at the house.