Am I the only one who saw a disconnect when the state requirement that everyone over 65 should stay at home until we have a vaccine, while almost all the epidemiologists and politicians seen on television referring to us as the “most vulnerable” were themselves well over 65? The venerable Dr. Fauci himself will turn 80 this very Christmas Eve.

Back on Day 56 I asked, “How long?” That was May 5. Fifty days ago. I’m not asking anymore. I’ve simply reset my clock for about 18 months. Instead of railing against the plans I made and the things I miss, I’ve decided to align my expectations with the timetable of the four influenza pandemics of the twentieth century. There’s no point in asking “are we there yet” 156 miles into a 550-mile journey.

We’re seeing a lot in the news about “second waves” today. Who might be having one, whether we might have one, whether we believe in them. Two news stories suggest that South Korea and Australia are having a second wave. Some reports say that we might face one in the fall. Still others say there isn’t one. This strikes me as a term badly in need of definition.

We’ve been watching Season Six of a reality series called “Alone” on Netflix. Ten people compete to see who can survive the longest on their own in the Arctic wilderness. Last night on Day 29 they were struggling with isolation and loneliness even more than from hunger. Lying awake last night I thought, the worst part is that it’s open-ended. If they knew, for example, that it would be over on Day 35 they would make that final push.

A lesson from my avid traveler dad: When you arrive in a new place, take pictures right away. You only see things with fresh eyes once. Fortunately my friends and family are out there helping me with their fresh eyes, because I can’t be everywhere and things are changing so fast.

I’m planning a vacation this summer. Such ordinary words and yet I hesitate to admit it. What will people say?

Who would have thought four months ago that masks would create such a stir? Today they’re a fashion statement, a political statement, a requirement for admission to events and businesses, and, of course, a commodity. The media is full of contradictions, but the official guidelines have recently become more consistent. Still, when and whether to wear them remains a judgement call.

Reopening isn’t going to be easy. Businesses that are opening their doors after three months of lockdown now have to implement detailed guidelines, incurring costs for sanitizer, masks, and signage while admitting fewer customers. Customers who might or might not be willing to break habits formed during lockdown and face the new rules in order to shop, eat out, play, or worship.