How are you doing? Write me back with the best and worst things that have happened during the virus.

For David Lobenberg

Self portrait
acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(I did this portrait for David Lobenberg's

June Paint Off in 2009

You can read about it here

Sadly David Lobenberg was 

coming to teach in Oakville

in the fall, this year and I don't

 think that will happen. I was so

looking forward to actually

meeting my blogger friend.)

Here's an idea for today.  What are the five best, and

five worst things that have happened to you recently

because of COVID 19?  My list is just an attempt to

talk about the subject.  I'm sure yours is better.

Before I start I went to a local small grocery store

today to pick up avocados and tulips.  And the same man

was behind me as was behind me last week (the

last time I went shopping) when we went out for some

Easter goodies at a drug store quite a ways north of our

neighbourhood.  That time the man told me that my mask 

was useless. This time before I recognized him

I asked him to please social distance.  Then I said, 

"I know you!"  And he recognized me and laughed.

"And I'm still wearing the same useless mask," I said.

And he laughed again.  This man had trained in

hazardous protective gear in the British Army and knew

what he was talking about.  So I said, "but now we're

Besties."  And that is a happy COVID story. 

Bests: (not in order)

1. Realizing how lucky we are to live in Canada where

health care is universal.

2. Talking to family members on the phone.

3. Seeing friends from far away when on a walk.

4. Talking to artist friends on Skype, and 

feeling joyous (so needed).

5 . Getting wonderful work from my students.

Worsts:  (not in order)

1. Dealing with people who are so stressed out

by the isolation that they are uncharacteristically nasty.

2.  Not seeing any of the people I usually see in my

life -- family, friends, my printer, art store people.

3. Hearing about the hardship of friends and family

working on the frontline, or living in the worst

areas of the virus.

4. Cancelled art shows, school classes, parties, 

almost everything.

5. The daily worry and uncertainty.

Now you.  How is it going?  Please stay safe and

stay healthy.

Have a living your best life day.