2021 Silver Linings . . .

 

Dear you,

2021, just hours away and I am experiencing a dental drama.  Oh, the pain. This forced me out of my condo and into the masses, the mob scene of Publix down the road.  I am in serious need of mushy foods, beer, and Advil.  The mob scene is happening because New Year’s Eve celebrations in this area are proceeding as scheduled, like any other year.  Just like last year, but EVEN MORE CROWDED.  Evidence suggests, based on the visitor’s pouring in (just like summer, endless summer apparently), there is no pandemic and people aren’t dying every day. Quoting The Red Bar’s ad for their event:

“Ringing in the New Year at The Red Bar is a SoWal tradition for many locals and SoWal beach lovers.  You just gotta do it at least once in your life and party to Red Bar Jazz Band and then DJ dance music blaring from the bar for hours on end.  Party Favors, noise makers, balloons, hats and tiaras provided at no charge . . . Walk-ins Welcome . . .”

Tiaras.

Other bars and party venues have similar invitations. All options sound tacky as hell, but some people “just gotta do it” at least once in their life.  No occupancy limits, no safety requirements, no nothing but contagion.  As for the “locals” going to The Red Bar, they voted for Matt Gaetz, so, you know. But I do wonder what those party favors will be.  Free Covid-19 test-kits?  Tickets for the “front of the line” to get a vaccine?  Used MAGA hats?

Oh, the pain.

I need some kind of mental Advil.  I do not want to enter 2021 pissed off.  So, in pursuit of a not-pissed-off-state-of-mind, I turned on NPR during the drive home from the store.  I wanted something very not “local”.  Fresh Air (I think that was the show, unsure) was on, paying tribute to a Broadway singer-actress, Rebecca Luker.  She died in 2020; she died young.  And she was a friend of my NYC buddy, James. (The source of the “wherever you go, there you are” mantra).  One of the songs they played was “Look for the Silver Lining”, featuring Ms. Luker, of course.  It was impossibly sweet.  Pure.

I hear you, Ms. Luker.  I can do this.  Even in the mundane now.  Yes, my old root canal is going bad.  Whatever, I’m alive. And yes, I look like I have a tennis ball stuffed in my face from the swelling.  I look ridiculous.  Is this important?  Is there a silver lining?  Silver lining, anyone?  Where is it? There it is on my dresser.  The 2020 MASK!  The accessory of the year will not only hide the tennis ball swelling, but it will also protect those around me who are prepping for their “gotta do it” night at the Red Bar.  It’s a win-win situation.

Thank you for singing to me, Rebecca.   Your voice was the silver lining of my day.

Tributes to all those we lost in 2020.  We remember you, going into 2021. Silver linings, everywhere.

Love,

Joyce