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| From the top left to right: Larry (Claymont, DE), me (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Stuart (Boca Raton, Florida), (bottom row left to right), Pat (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) and Glenn (Chatsworth, California) |
Good evening folks!
Usually I compose my daily blog post in the morning. However, today I was busy with FaceTime and Zoom calls with my friends.
This morning was my usual Sunday Zoom call with Stuart and Larry, two of my old classmates (grade school) whom I have known over seventy years. God we're old. My friend Pat also joins in our regularly scheduled Sunday Zoom calls. I've only known Pat since 2013 but Pat has met both Stuart and Larry in person. We all get along just fine and we have no trouble yakking just about anything on our weekly Zoom calls. Today was no exception.
Stuart lives in Florida and Larry lives in northern Delaware about ninety miles from me. And of course Pat lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
This morning my new friend Glenn (Miller, not the bandleader) joined us. Glenn lives in Los Angeles, California. I've never met Glenn in person but I've know of him for about twelve years and met him this past January, over FaceTime. Glenn's late partner Michael used to follow my blog. I met Glenn over FaceTime when I responded to his letter informing me of his Michael's passing last December. It was pure serendipity when I received and read Glenn's letter, January 14th, the day Bill was airlifted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. When I got home from work at the hotel the evening (11:30 PM), I was distraught. I thought I had lost Bill. And there was this letter from Glenn, whom I had never had contact with before, I only knew he was Michael's partner, informing me of Michael's passing. I was beside myself with grief over the abrupt loss of Bill, afraid I would never see him again and I didn't have a chance to even say "goodbye", I called Glenn. He answered his phone. I asked him if he could do FaceTime (I prefer to see who I'm taking to, I hate to talk on the phone). He said he could and thus began a great friendship. The following months we consoled each other and became fast friends. Someday, if we ever get out of this COVID nightmare, perhaps Glenn and I will meet in person, in Palm Springs of course where he is planning to move.
I have other Zoom friends. Both of my brothers, one in Pennsylvania and the other in South Carolina. Also a former boss and good friend of mine who lives near Pittsburgh, PA. Not all of my friends are on Zoom though, some I just can't convince to use this modern technology. They prefer to use the old fashion phone where you can't see their facial expressions and that interaction which means so much. I accede to their wishes, they prefer not to use Zoom. Another longtime friend, Don who lives in Philadelphia, we have trouble connecting on Zoom. We finally got the video image up but can't seem to get the audio. We're still working on that, would love to include Don on our multiple Zoom calls. And of course last but not least there is Dr. Spo of Phoenix, Arizona. Once in a great while we can connect with him on Zoom, which is a rare pleasure as is he, but he's pretty busy and not as accessible as my other friends on Zoom on short notice.
Even though we're all old and have our challenges these days, especially in the Age of COVID, isn't Zoom a wonderful thing? What a great way to stay in touch with friends. To enjoy each other's company. To tease and laugh just as if we were together in person but without the risk of giving each other a life threatening disease like COVID. And think of all the money we save by not traveling but instead interact with each other in the comfort of our own homes. But someday, if this COVID nightmare ever ends we'll get back on our planes, trains and cars and see each other in person. Give each other hugs and kisses and continue to enjoy life as we did this morning.
Sometimes life is wonderful in spite of all the hardships we have these days. And today was one of those days.
Thank you Larry, Stuart, Pat and Glenn for a wonderful Sunday. See you all next week!