People still don't get it. As things stand now, we cannot beat The Great Corona, we have to live with it. That's the only way. Because people and economies cannot stay locked down indefinitely. So if face masks become the number one fashion accessory on the planet, so be it. I see many apparel companies already licking their fingers at the possibilities the humble face mask will have to offer. For women for example a lingerie set might now include a lacy variant. For the lads, well, as long as we don't have something that says 'Jockey' on it in big bold letters, we're fine. And in spite of all the precautions, if some unlucky soul still manages to contract the damn pestilence, we'll just say what we always say when misfortune befalls, -- 'Shit happens!

So if anybody wants to come out of this pandemic making a killing (no pun intended), start making designer masks. There could be formal masks for work and casual masks for the weekend, but what might really catch on are those that make a statement. For instance, I'd love one that says, -- Temporarily closed for business!

***

Doesn't it seem like people have gone a little overboard with the whole video-calling thing these days? Especially friends and relatives in other countries. Suddenly they don't just want to hear your voice, they want to see your damn face. I was forced to install a new video-calling app called Zoom that has all the Indians in the Middle East very excited because the Arabs haven't blocked it yet. It's bad enough having to spend so much time on calls with the folk from work, now you have to video-chat with people outside of work. I don't know about you, but I find it quite exhausting having to carry on a video conversation beyond the hi-howareyou with someone I used to speak to once every few months, if not more. And what does one say anyway? How are things there? Lockdown. How are things here? Lockdown. So the topic of discussion invariably centres around how each one is managing their version of this godawful lockdown. And just hearing about it is not enough, they need visual evidence too. Luckily on weekdays I've been able to cut these interactions short by saying I have just 5 minutes before I get onto an office call. On weekends options for escape are limited.

***

A friend on Facebook shared an old speech by Donny Trump where he told his countrymen to get their butts out there and vote no matter how sick they were. I  hope he doesn't do a replay of that at election time this year. With someone like him you never know -- he pushes the envelope like it's made of spandex! Some will call it stupidity, but I say the man has great testicular fortitude ... even if his testicles happen to be in the wrong place!

One thing I do agree with him though is his argument that the US should not be the largest financial contributor to the WHO. If you ask me that honour should now be passed on to China. In fact I say move the headquarters of the WHO from Geneva to somewhere closer to ground zero, like Wuhan! 

Peace, love, and the right geography!

How many times can you forgive someone for treating you like garbage? You can do it once, twice, maybe even the third time. But when they do it again, you gotta ask yourself, -- Do I really need this? It's heartbreaking losing a friend, more so when it's someone you've known a long time and shared so much with. Even more when it's someone you love. Or thought you loved. Until you realize they don't know what love is. And probably never will.

***

As I get older my head seems to be turning into this big repository of memories. I have frequent flashbacks of things like the first girl I had a crush on in school. She was a gentle, kind human being, unlike so many I've encountered since. I also remember all the wonderful music that I grew up with, which shaped me in more ways than I can think of. And now that the world is in the grip of darkness, and life as we know it will probably never be the same again, it's only these happy recollections that keep me going. 

***

I don't really want to talk about lockdown and isolation and social distancing which are the words on everybody's lips right now. Because it doesn't matter anymore. And frankly it doesn't affect me all that much. I've always been a loner, quite happy in my own company. Funny thing is sometimes even a loner needs someone to be alone with. Confusing as that may sound. 

***

I'm glad I started writing again. This little space on the www has brought me in contact with so many people, all of who I cherish, and some that I've had to forgive more than once, and probably will again, if they'd only say the word. One of the things this pandemic has taught us is that life is more fragile and shorter than we think. Too short to keep grudges. Too short not to forgive. Because love is greater than all the ingratitude and ugliness in the world.

***

One of my favourite songs, which again brings back a flood of memories. Ever wonder what it's like to sail all alone in a tiny little boat, just the water below you and the sky above. That's what love is in a way. Love is not having company on the trip, love is that little boat that keeps you from sinking to the bottom. Love is something you trust your life with. Sad how we get it so wrong so often.

From 1975, Rod Stewart - Sailing.             

So now we're doing 500+ cases a day! Thanks largely to that big gathering in Delhi of a group I will refer to as Total Jackasses. Chinese torture is what they deserve. But come to think of it, Covid-19 is in a way the new and improved form of Chinese torture.

And people are coping, yes. New skills are being learnt -- women are giving the men haircuts (though I reckon it'll be a while before the men can return the favour) and men are discovering the joys of housework.

We have a small open gym tucked away in one corner of the colony which nobody ever uses. Well, this evening I did for the very first time, even though I could see some of the wimmen in the neighbouring buildings quietly observing me from their balconies, probably wishing their old men would get off their asses. But no, let them watch Mahabharat; I'm very happy having the equipment all to myself. My favourite is the parallel bars which always makes me feel like a Russian gymnast, even though I can't do a handstand yet (and probably never will without serious injury). But I love the shoulder workout it gives me just doing dips. Burns like a biatch!

But leaving aside the gym/exercise bit, wouldn't you say we're actually keeping better health these days? It occurred to me this morning when performing my start-of-day duties, that my plumbing, and I'm talking end-to-end, has never been better, no Drainex needed. Goes to show how much crap goes into everything we eat outside. Frankly I don't ever want to go back to that again, most of which is overpriced garbage anyway! 

Great Leader wants us to switch off our lights at 9 p.m tomorrow and flash whatever illuminating stuff we want to flash. Now he clearly said lights, so why have people taken that to include ACs, coolers and fans? He just wants it to get dark, not hot. The poor guy must be feeling the heat anyway. It can't be easy keeping things in control when you have folks like those Total Jackasses running around. One Whatsapp forward I got says something about the light shining having astrological significance, which rings a bell from two Sundays back. But if it makes this damn pestilence go away I say let's do it. Though I'm pretty sure people will find ways to overdo it again: Last time it was the crackers, tomorrow I'm expecting a full fledged rocket show!

I say a prayer for New York City every night. I was awe-struck the first time I went there, everything was so big and bright. Must be all sad and gloomy now. No city should have to suffer the way New York has; I hope things get beter soon. Governor Cuomo is the kind of man the USA should have as President, not some specimen that belongs in a zoo.

Peace, love, and the right choices.