Writing, Opera, Wine...and a Virus!

Writing, Opera, Wine are key elements of my life. Therefore, it seems fitting to write my first posts about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on these topics. I'll take them in order so today's topic is writing.

Writers are already writing, blogging, and posting about how the pandemic and lockdown have impacted their work. Lockdown and quarantine have provided additional time to write - no commute, gyms, bars, restaurants, clubs, or theaters to distract from uninterrupted time for creativity. However, no daycare or school leaves little-to-no time for anything beyond being a teacher, friend, parent, and playmate. There's also the psychological influence of uncertainty and the sense of things being not quite right.

Yet, somehow, we write. We write through uncertainty and online math. We write shopping lists and social media posts and lunch bag notes that will be read in the kitchen. We write signs to thank healthcare workers and congratulate graduates. We write e-mails and e-cards to engage and stay connected. We write poems and plays and posts and prayers. We write to share our souls and lift our spirits. We write hoping to make the moment manageable for ourselves and the unknown reader.

We write...