I’m going to be political for a minute, then I’m going to get uncharacteristically warm and fuzzy.

Everyone should be appalled at, ashamed of and frightened by our blundering administration.  Our lying, know-nothing President and his pandering minions are a threat, like a “they’re-literally-trying-to-kill-us” threat.  Their lack of competence and compassion is epic.  In the midst of a combined health and economic crisis, unequalled in any of our lifetimes, as responsible public servants, led by Nancy Pelosi, attempt to pass legislation to alleviate the suffering, the President, Mike “Please-Mr. President-stop-kissing-your-own-ass-so-I-can-get-my-very-thin-evangelical-lips-on-that-big-beautiful-thing” Pence, his toady, melty-faced henchman Mnuchin and the most embarrassing excuse for a human being, McConnell, are trying to screw those most in need and ram through totally unrelated issues like abortion restrictions.  If we survive the Trump Pandemic, and they are not all removed from office and relegated to the slimiest chapter in American history, we will have squandered our forced times-out that have given us the time to ponder the things that matter most.

Meanwhile…in devastated Italy, neighbors are leaning out of their apartment windows and stepping onto their balconies to lift spirits by sharing music…and in the US, socially distanced yoga instructors, teachers, poets, storytellers and hundreds, if not thousands of musicians have taken to the InterNet to share their knowledge and talent.  In particular, Caffè Lena, the country’s longest continuously operating coffee house, disinfected, told the volunteers, staff able to work off site and, with deep regret, its loyal, devoted patrons to follow health guidelines, stay safe and watch streamed Stay Home Sessions from her iconic stage.  This week’s sessions have been enthusiastically received and Caffè Lena has applied for an exemption to allow them to continue.  Keep checking for added streams and posts on the Caffè Lena YouTube site, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH5Iqij-VpBAqUNbuzBIvpw.

I’m optimistic that we’ll get through this thing, albeit with unimaginable consequence and loss of life.  What’s most heartwarming, to a cynic such as I, is just how good and compassionate good and compassionate people can be; the so desperately needed army of health care workers, social service providers, the always vigilant first responders and those uncommon individuals who go the extra mile to alleviate the suffering of those less fortunate.  Tragedy is an unwelcome stimulus of the best in some people, unfortunately the opposite in too many others.  But today, I’m going to ponder and applaud all the better angels.