"...wings"

I'm remembering Black pilots of the Caribbean fought in the "Battle of Britain". I had WW2 Caribbean relatives that flew with the RAF. Here's Group Capt. Adolph Gysbert Malan, South Africa, talking to Flight Sargent Vincent Bunting, Jamaica in 1942.

This paper butterfly was found among the possessions of Walt Whitman by his family after he passed. Of all the remembered folks from history. Uncle Walt is one of the very few that I would have wanted to meet, and speak a moment with.

I remember long ago it snowed like crazy all night. However of course schools were open, or so we thought. My brother John, and I fought our way through the deep windy Brooklyn drifts for five blocks! Only to discover that our school was closed. There was a last-minute decision or something, and we didn't get the word. I recall Johnny being less than happy.

(...doll stunt doubles for me, and Johnny. I'm on the right...ahem.)

"...static"

In the future we'll all get to be an insane "Angry Dictator". We'll be issued a truck driver, and sound system so we can be driven around town yelling all the demented whooie we want. This about the latest "golden age" we're bringing in or whatever. Democracy in action!

"...In the Presence of Mine Enemies"

Having a Queer family on the block is not a 21st century custom. It's actually been going on all along. On my block when I was a kiddie there was a Queer couple that lived a few doors down.

Everyone knew them. They were just folks.
Mind you it wasn't an open howdy sort of thing. However, no one bothered them. Neither were the kids on the block warned away from them.
They were just there.
Like the rest of the characters that made up any 1950's city 'hood.

I recall they fit the bill as to what regular folks thought Queers were. One butch one fem. In fact, the fem guy...I forget their names. Anyway, he had tits...not biggies, but they made the point. ...so, to speak.

Hormones, I guess.

In them days some Queers were still into the 19th century "Third Sex" thing. That or buying into that whole male female template. Some still are. As they should if that works for them.
It was the attitude of the adults around me that may seem odd now.

No overt hostility.

At least not in the way you'd think. It was more like amusement. Akin to having circus actors in the 'hood. In the culture context of those times these folks were exotic to them. Back in the day Queers to some were a fascinating species.

Me I didn't think anything of it.

It was just more stuff from the world like all the other weird shit that was going on. I think one had to be in Nebraska for this to be a serious problem. That or Staten Island. Still to this day a reserve for white xenophobia.

When David Dinkins our first black mayor was elected a majority of Staten Island attempted to secede from the City. They have not changed since.

As for me being a Queer little kid. It helped that both of my parents had been in show business for a time. So they were used to all sorts of gleeful perverts Dykes Queers, and whatever's always around.
Especially my dad. Playing jazz piano, and all.

Also, the annual Harlem "Faggots Ball".

This was a big deal. Everyone went. It was when Drag folks from all over the East came together to flaunt their stuff. Even the cops let it alone. It being protected by the mob. Eh the bars, and all that stuff.

So there was a roundabout acceptance within limits of Fag-World. So having a few on the block wasn't a big deal. Though I'm sure my Queer neighbors got hell every day in every way. Still, nobody was busting their windows where I was.

Like Quentin Crisp said, "You'll know you're free when no one cares." "When you become boring, you're free."

Well for a time in some places this was true.

Now it's in fewer places. As happened in pre-WW2 Germany. A short era of freedom followed by extinction. In our current times even missionary position conservative straight-gays must remember that they're in the presence of their enemies.

Those enemies want them all dead.

Watch ya backs comrades.
Watch ya sisters, and brothers backs as well.

"...magical"

I was just watching old 1950's episodes online of the "Mickey Mouse Club". That, and musing on my life. The journey from there to here, and the things that did, and did not happen between these points. I was watching sections of Disney's "Peter Pan" as well.

All this in touching relics of a life.

Then I find that a childhood friend has left. A friend from TV which in that sense never happened, but TV then as the 'net now has a kind of strange magic. So she was my Magical friend.

Doreen is gone.

"Doreen Tracey, one of the original Mouseketeers on the fabled kids program The Mickey Mouse Club, has died. She was 74.
Tracey died Wednesday at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California, after a two-year battle with cancer, Disney publicist Howard Green announced."

"A kid with a vivacious personality, Tracey appeared on Disney's Mickey Mouse Club throughout its original 1955-59 run on ABC. The series then lived on for decades in syndication."

"Our Dodo, as we lovingly nicknamed her, always had a smile on her face," fellow Mouseketeer Tommy Cole said in a statement. "She never failed to make us all feel good, and we will miss her."

...BBC

"...folded paper"

One of my dreams has always been to open a little book store. Granted in this environment of the deliberate destruction of these by technology predatory capital, and general indifference. Despite that I still keep the dream.

I'd 'still' do it if I could. My hood has everything a working-class area needs. Bodegas church food pantries Social Security offices handy subway lines trigger happy cops...though oddly not that much violent crime. Almost none compared to the old days.
However, the cops are still trigger happy...tradition.

We have dozens of liquor stores too.

However, no book stores. ...not one. Well not counting the religious Botanica shops. These where you can get assorted religious scribblings, and near life sized plaster statues of the saint of you choice.
Mostly really big Jebus icons covered in blood from the scourging.
These are all over the place.
I prefer the Virgin Mary items...they're less dramatic. One doesn't get the feeling she was just shot, and or hacked by looking at her.

Folks need, and believe in weird stuff.

About that store I had in mind. I'd still do it. If only to see what would happen if one showed up. Showed up in a pre-gentrified way.

There's plenty of Book Shoppe's in the re-whited hoods of my part of town. That, and very high-priced health food supermarkets yoga studios. Also, white only store front pre-schools, and better services...cops' sanitation like that.

So I'd like to do a social experiment of a little book shop for real people. I might make a go having Zero competition. Yeah, there's the local Library however it's a ghost of what it was.
Just a few stacks a couple of computers. A pissed off bored uninterested civil service staff, and almost no one sitting, and reading...other than a few old folks like me.

Okay so far this post is a tale of urban horror, and almost makes you 'want' gentrification. Which I would if it weren't so much like what happened to the Plains Natives. In our case the settlers would be sitting over our bones eating tofu ice cream, and reading Proust.

Almost forgot...why I love the idea of a book store. Obviously because I love to bleeping read. I write draw, and used to publish my own books. Hand printing binding all that neat smarty pants crap. Back in the day. I was in with a whole gleeful deranged crowd that did just that.

We self-styled ourselves the "Micro-Press" movement. This just to generally have fun, and in reaction to the dreary hunting to sell movie rights bunch from of the "small press".
Before the internet folks used to read. That, and publish their dreams on office copiers offset presses hand cranked mimeo even carbon stencil. The latter like Soviet era dissidents. We had a fucking ball.

The memory of that happy noise stays with me as does the idea we all had of opening a book store. However as happens life, and responsibilities took over. I was just starting as a broadcast engineer. My comrades we also just beginning careers, and families. That, and so very many were lost in the AIDS pandemic...the rest is postponed history.

40+ plus years later the idea still swims drifts in the currents of my dreams. Yeah, a damned bookstore in the heart of a hood where they think no one would bother to even look at a book. I'd put it right between the liquor store, and the barber shop.
..cross over traffic.

The place would only need a core of 50 regular customers to pay the rent...so word of mouth, and weirdness of design might work.

Just 50 or so secret Dreamers.

"Uncle Sydney's Shop of Bewildered Wonderments"...and, "Curiosities"

Has possibilities. 

 

All the world prays.

Whenever wherever for whatever.
The prayers ascend through clouds past worlds even stars.
Till they fall.
They fall onto an abandoned side street.
There's an old phone booth there.
Slightly bent over from where a truck backed into it.
The phone is ringing.
These are prayers.
The rings.
Millions...Billions.
Ringing.
Recorded, but...
Not directly answered.
Never in the way we expect.

Amen.

 "...days go by"

I visited Earth early this morning. It was just as I remembered. Bright sun winds chilled leaves flying. I'm not sure, but I think it's a nice day.

"...Cincinnati"

I’m asked, “…Where da hell has Bob da Bunny got to?”

Well here’s Bob, and pal about to go out on da the town. Bob the Bunny what with his new fortune from inventing an app that makes you want to eat more pizza. Has a load of swanky pads all over town. Don't get me wrong. He’s still the same guy he was when he rented my extra room.

Just more stuck up stoned, and Republican.

Bob with his sweetheart Dubteppia Frankenstein.

Yeah ‘that’ Frankenstein. Seems the gal is the Great Great Great Grand Daughter of that world famous undead scary guy, and civil servant. Her grandpa Frankenstein taught high school in Texas after his Hollywood days. Later a bus driver in Cincinnati for a while.

He still gets hush money from the Army too. He was a secret weapon for the OSS against them Nazi Bastards. He’s currently on da dark side of the moon. Long story…aliens all that.

Dubteppia has a 1936 hand made sky blue Bugatti. Her Grandpa Frankenstein bought it from Mary Pickford. Bob, and “Dubbie” can be seen speeding around mid-town in the middle of the night. That mystery car that rammed the front window of Tiffany’s at 3:am Christmas Eve? ...well.

Don’t get me wrong our swell couple are nice folks. When they’re not making a scene at da Met or driving backwards on the sidewalk at 90mph. They’re home cooking Meth like everyone else.

 "...frosty"

On this day in 2018 we had an early snow storm.

Once upon a time.

Here's a post from that slushy day.

So it's mid-November the leaves are still somewhat on the trees, and the snow is coming down with attitude. Four inches, and counting. "We're back!" sez da snow. "Ya got a problem wit dat?!"

Well not personally just surprised is all. Please continue.

Listening to the Holiday music on cable. This as I sit watching snow get dumped into the backyards of my neighbors. I had thought to go but,...eh...no.

The narrow streets of the hood may have been the cat's meow for the horse, and buggies they were built for in 1880. However they're wind tunnels during 21st century rain, and snow storms. I pass.

I'll just watch.

"...exist"

I make my pretty things for their own sakes.

I make them so they will exist.

I make them because these are the worlds I want to live in.

Even if such worlds can never be.

 

"...Thunder Snow"

Memory from a snowy day in pre-COVID March 2017.

Well it started snowing for real with a serious wind so I went out.  No sane person would go,…so I went. The ground has about 6 inches of assorted semi-frozen liquids. Several yuckie layers of snow'n ice. 

I asked Bob da Bunny if he wanted to go exploring. He he turned pointed his pipe at me, and said “…Fuck No!!! ”, and went back to binge watching “Mayberry RFD”. He was up to the lost episode where Aunt Bee made Deputy Barry Fife’s Klan outfit for the rally. 

However she forgot to cut eye holes in the hood, and the stupid Kluxer wandered into the burning cross. He’s enveloped in flame runs into the grandstand sets that on fire which sets the parking lot on fire which has dozens of pick up trucks with large cans of gasoline for the Civil Rights church burnings.

Suffice to say “Mayberry” blows up.

I can see why they never let this Kluxer Nazi episode out of the can. Might contrast with the wholesome marketing of the series. 

Eh,…but I digress. 

Anyways I went stumbling about in the frozen slop with a real wind stirring up. Razor sharp daggers of hail tearing into me. I began to wonder if this was a mistake. I was the only idiot out there.

I saw the deli was open so went over, and forgot to buy ice cream again. I did get bread, and cheese though. I may go out later in the afternoon. Looking outside it’s doing the blizzard thing. Maybe not the three feet they hysterically warned, but a respectable 14 or so inches, and who could complain about having 14inches. Inconvenient, but still.

Now there’s brisk winds so we get a little blizzard after all. Great now it’s Thundering. Thunder Snow! …I’m suing. Above Snow Queen Skipper. Barbie’s kid sister on da scene. Now to nap.

 "...grandma"

So as the sun sets at 4:41pm in the afternoon. I'm, making soup. Just veggies a bit of noodles diced chicken. How blessed I am. Warm dry relatively safe,...not shot at today. Last week another matter. Have food fresh water power, and an online connection. This counts as a civilized life now. Modest, but civil. I even write really bad prose, and poetry. For a civilization to work humans need stability. A healthy diet traditions intact families tribes. Normalcy. Right now much of that is in flux. Grandma read tea leaves. Our palms too. What would my palm tell her now?

"...dumplings"

I love time wandering tales. I can see James Baldwin at dawn running into Walt Whitman. This outside of the 42nd street Library. The guys wander downtown chatting of leaves, and democracy. They later meet that smarty pants 16th century poet John Donne in Chinatown.

Our heroes decide to have a breakfast of dumplings. It’s a crisp fall day in September 2001. The century, and unlikely meetings hardly surprises them. They being mystics assume such is to be expected from time to time.

Said Donne, “This electricity,…you so depend on it”. “I saw it’s beginnings” said Walt. “My bill is overdue” grumbled James. There was a flash a rumble the floor shook. They looked up. A flying machine had crashed into one of the great towers. The sky was on fire.

“This is where I came in”,…said Donne not at all surprised.

 "...centuries"

Through these pandemic times. I’ve sat here for near two years. I’ve thought of my surroundings. The comings, and goings of life. Our lives all life. My digs as I say are in a building over 120 years old. This in local context is a Roman relic.

The European era in these lands are so recent our oldest makings are still new. In other parts of the world Asia, and Europe things are very different. People still live in places that have been in continuous use for centuries. 300 to 500+ years even longer. Yet still with folks hanging out carrying on living in, and around them.

I think of that S/F film “Brother from Another Planet”. An Alien ship quietly crashes into NYC harbor. It’s only crew who happens to be Black swims to Ellis Island. There as he touches the walls. Through his fingers he hears/feels the voices of the many generations that passed through that place.

So right now this moment I’d touch my walls. If I could I would hear Polish Yiddish Spanish French Creole even English. The murmurs of the generations that lived in these very rooms. Rooms from which I now post to the world.

"...faerie dust"

They just put up the Rockefeller Christmas Tree yesterday. Last night I had a Christmas Eve dream. Remember I mentioned being nuts was the source of my creativity. It was in a mish-mash of static from my whole life. Old schools places I worked traveled to all of them.

There I was a pissed off teen again in weird armor helmet a huge bleeping Excalibur too! See artist impression above. Family friends enemies folks from my whole life were extras in this epic. These from when I was a kid to this day. ...“And there was a War in Heaven!”

Yeah remember that? Well my inner knight sure did. The lot of us spent several sweaty gleeful installments hacking, and being hacked by hell’s underpaid Demons. I’d wake think WTF?!! Fall back to sleep, and pick up where I left off. We had a bleeping ball!

Fighting evil with the help of old pals. What could be better! Not only that, but I think we won. Well them Demons beat it da hell out'a there at least. Then this strange after battle mixing of other dreams. The normal blended with the surreal. That, and I lost my sword. Spent a few dream cycles looking for it. I may well find it when I crash, and sleep later.

Wadda Dream.

Must have been that Faerie dust in my in my Diet Pepsi.

"...remembering"

I found more posts from early in the Pandemic. This from April 11, 2020.

Once upon a time:

I sat on my fire~escape this afternoon reading the New Yorker.

Bright sun fresh breezes. Industry is sleeping as the air is fresh...I even sensed the ocean just a few miles away. Normally it might as well be hundreds.
Reading on there was a piece on how the Virus will decimate the country's homeless. It may well. I see them all the time as do you.
They have no masks because they have no money.
They can't shelter in place because they have no homes.
The city shelters like prisons or Navy ships are hot spots of infection.

So most Homeless stay away.

I think I mentioned seeing our blessed EMT folks removing bodies from homes. My 'Hood is a hot spot. The whole of the Emerald City is, but some areas worse than others. Queens was the first serious area now Brooklyn seems to have the crown. It moves around.

700 to 800 people are perishing in the Emerald City a day now.

They say it will level off. There's that lag time from infection to going critical to hospital to death. As less people are out less get infected. Lower numbers will take time.
That, and all the COVID deaths may not be getting counted. Some of those dying at home are perishing of other causes made worse by the Virus so are technically in another group.

Me I'm just sitting here reading at the end of the world.
Fran Leibowitz sez in the New Yorker that she has a special kind of sadness seeing the City she loves like this.

Sez she,... "New York is quiet. It's like a meadow.
A Meadow without flowers trees or restaurants."

March 31, 2020.

The Virus could kill as many as 200,000+ persons in this country. This the best case scenario. One Million…1,000,000 if we stay as we are. Or so real world virologists are saying despite #45.The real butcher’s bill will come out in the middle.

*(...As of Autumn 2021 counting every death including the numbers suppressed in the red states. We're at 1.2 Million perished.)*

This has had an effect on my view of the future. I fear for my family friends myself. This is as real as it can get. Many reading this including myself may not be here a year from now.

*(Six died in my building. 48 on the surrounding blocks so far.)

*(We were in an early hot spot.)
I’m stocking up on Chocolates, and diet Pepsi for the final act if it comes. I may sound un-serious, but what else can I feel as the world ends. Oddly everything but sweets is in short supply. 

We are in a culture changing moment, and need to act like it each in our way.

There below the USNHS-Comfort. 

She entered the Emerald City harbor this evening. She is very welcome.

March 25, 2020.

There, and back again. My short adventure out getting my meds, and paying my electric bill. Both the streets, and trains were empty. Like Sunday morning at 5am. I was not in 20 feet of anyone the whole time. There were so few folks. I took care of my affairs. Went to the also empty supermarket across the street. I checked first for crowds.
Of course I showered when I came in, and put my things in a laundry bag sprayed with disinfectants.
The trees are budding much more than when I was last out. Also Army helicopters buzzing about now, and then. Huey's, and Chinooks,...NY Air National Guard I assume. All is quiet.

March 16, 2020.

Went to laundry. My local is taking only ten loads a day. I was number 12. My friend the owner let me in. She said she was making exceptions for old customers. Bless her. The markets are open. Shelves perhaps 30% empty. This after being restocked from the earlier rush.

I assume the distributors are not topping off the locals,...holding back. A wait, and see. The library was closed. A note said fewer days new shorter hours. Also directions to the main branch downtown. This has a quarter day schedule.

The food take outs except for the chains were shut.
The Haitian Chinese Hispanic, and Indian take outs either closed or on shortened times.

Maybe one in six wearing masks.
Btw the drug store was out of these all week so far. Folks speaking to each other. ...without masks,...but still. New Yorker's open up when shit hits the fan. Folks telling their personal war stories of this thing. Blessing each other.

I'm listening to WQXR while posting this. These guys are one of the last Classical Station's in the region. We used to have several. They're reading listener email. Many artists in the audience. Musicians laid off from season concerts. 

Assorted painters writers the usual NPR creative crowd. 

The station is their community center. Playing requests even taking calls on the air. I don't think they've ever done that...these guys are a classical music station.

Many museum/gallery workers laid off. One called gave the low down on all that. Life in wartime. 

Stay tuned.

March 11, 2020

"...it just got real."
The World health Organization has finally declared COVID-19 a Pandemic. Being an Elder with Diabetes I should self quarantine now. Being a partial shut-in this won't be a problem. I'll have to make arraignments for shopping though. So yes I take this seriously. I lived through Polio, and AIDS. This one is different...very different. It's spreading like the last big one the 1918 Spanish Flu. I'm glad the WHO are finally being honest. It's a Pandemic. The use of the "P" word was held back I'm sure for economic reasons. That's as far as I go with any conspiracy. In fact it's likely been a Pandemic since Nov./December 2019. Certainly since January. We don't know because it wasn't taken seriously till now,...when it's too late. Please everyone be cautious be safe be smart,...but most of all be kind. 

March 8, 2020.

Right now in the Emerald City buses most lines are now free. This so essential workers can get where they need to be. Also Bike shops are now essential businesses. Folks are going there as alternatives to mass transit. The Subways as far as I know are still running all their lines. These are not yet free. Though there's political suggestion they should be.

Tho' I don't know where you could go. Also New York's Virus count doubles every three days.
It is now 'Double' what it was on the weekend. Cops finally enforcing 6-10 foot social distancing.
Stay Home.

March 3, 2020.

Went to market the shelves were somewhat light.  No bread little dairy no fresh meat. Tons of canned good though. Those $14 dollar packs of hot dogs are still sitting there. I think folks are refusing to buy them. Pandemic price gouging is a crime, but still not enforced. The upside no crazy crowds like last time.  I think it was general apprehension plus #45’s insane speech that sent folks rushing to the shops. I just read Spain might lock down. In another week or so. It’s moving fast now. 

Remember have enough for at least a week,…more if you can. Plus bottles of water. These are still cheap. At least for now. Be thoughtful take reasonable precautions. Put a backup supply of non-perishables aside...that, and all the Chocolate you can carry.

Keep cool, but prepare.

February 27, 2020.

Locally bleep is happening. Our governor has put a State Police, and National Guard ring around New Rochelle. A town just north of the Emerald City. That btw was the commuter town where Rob Petrie of the early 1960's Dick van Dyke show lived,...no it wasn't fictional it's a real place.

Btw some now call it "New Roach Hell".

Public gatherings are prohibited, and other measures are being taken. For example the NY National Guard Bio-Units are involved with disinfections some public areas.

The Gov sez this is the largest Cluster in the Nation.  ..............??!!!
How the fuck did that happen?!!
He calls it a "Containment Area". I better get serious about laying in a vast supply of instant noodles Diet Pepsi, and sugar-free Chocolate. 

We're being told to bathe, and shower a few times a day.  Wash every time we go out. Use rubbing alcohol if hand sanitizer ain't around, and it ain't. I've never been so clean in my life. I may get sick, but at least I'll smell nice.

Which after all is what really matters.

*(This below are more posts from early in the Pandemic. I had put this up last month. I figured I should gather them together here. The dates over lap with the above. February through April were extreme months in the City during the early pandemic. Near 1000 dying a day. 

As Spring moved to Summer it leveled off as we bent the curve of infections by staying home. Life was not normal, but somewhat less deadly. It was also in summer that it was clear that some states refused to do anything. That, and supporters of the president who said the Pandemic didn't matter agreed with him. They lived as if nothing was happening. 

They died in their thousands because of this. They got infected very ill, and died. Yet refusing some of them on their death beds to admit it's COVID that's killing them. #45 tho' voted out in November not only refused to accept he lost, but still didn't give a fuck about this world disaster. That, and his making it worse. This is a dark, and disturbed era.)

Once upon a time:

I’ve been gathering posts from my pandemic Journals onto one site. Not that anyone will read them. No one wants to remember. Like the 1918 pandemic this will vanish. A few grainy videos maybe not much more. Still it happened, and some noted down what they lived. 

There was a call at the start for people to do this. Not for the present, but for history. This below from April 9th 2020. How quickly we forget what happened to us.

“The State of Illinois is trying to obtain 12,000 body bags. Just that…what more to say than that. Me I’ve no intention of dying in the bedlam of an overwhelmed hospital. That or a field hospital in a city park. I’m staying home. I have one serious regret. My mother wanted to die at home. This was not possible given the advanced cancer. 

However I should have let her die where she wished. So I’ll die at Home. My Ma had no control over her fate. Tho’ we should have given her that.  This time I’m doing it right.  I’m kicking the bucket at home. With my books my stuff my memories all around me. This is who we are, and how it is.”

*Even I forgot this post.

Perhaps this is why near all memory of the 1918 Pandemic is gone. Just a faded photo, and a short paragraph in history books. …if that. It must have been too terrible to want to remember. It’s more complicated this time. Near a third or more in this country didn’t, and still don’t believe anything happened. This with near a million bodies at their demented feet.

If Peter pan is reading this will you please fucking get me out'a here!

April 5th, 2020

Woke bathed sat. Listened to Dvorak’s “Song to the Moon” on my fav radio station. Found a 15 year old post card from a radio pal congratulating me. This on getting an audience rich time slot. Good timeslots is the currency of live broadcasting. Planned dinner,…first things first. Went to market. I stocked up last month. However that’s my reserve for when it gets bad. No it’s not bad yet. A few thousand dead. This is now considered,…not bad.

Went out. More wear masks now. The message months late is getting through. On my block two ambulances. Rainbow lights flashing. Around the corner another. I looked down the parkway. In either direction I counted five more. This at a random time on my few blocks. 

The Virus is hitting it’s first peak in the Emerald City. There will be more though this isn’t in mainstream media yet. Look on the international medical sites these are speaking about it. Few at market. No dairy nor paper goods,…none. Little bread. Meats very marked up. A pack of beef hot dogs is $14. dollars. However plenty of canned goods at normal prices. That, and about half of the frozen goods they used to have. 

It’s the end of the weekend. I imagine they’ll restock Monday or Tuesday…but will still price gouge. It getting warmer. 60’s for a few days, but nights still sometimes cold. Trees budding more, and the sky is noticeably bluer. Industries in the region shut down or reduced. Such is the day,…so far. Stay safe.

April 4th, 2020

The Apocalypse is slow. Internet works,…even pizza if you can find it. The end gusts through bare trees. A quiet death watch in a Central Park field hospital.

April 2nd 2020. 

I walked past a house where the EMT folks were removing a body. The remains were on a wheeled stretcher. This being moved down the walkway, and stairs. Then into the ambulance. People neighbors were watching from their windows. An older woman,…the wife? Stood watching at the top of the stairs. As is required next of kin cannot accompany either the infected nor the deceased. There she was alone in their home. A home of a lifetime decades,…a life together. I’m assuming this. It looked like it.  

784 people have perished to the Virus since yesterday in NYC. This one was different. This one I saw. Stay safe stay well stay brave. 

March 28, 2020  

The Emerald City is empty. Manhattan is striking. Empty. This at mid-day. Including Times Square. You can see such online. There are plenty of video’s. In fact I didn’t even plan on going into Manhattan. I just stayed on the empty subway till I got there. I had gone to my pharmacy for my diabetes meds re-fill. They’ve stopped deliveries. Instead of going home I stayed on the #3 to Manhattan.

I wanted pizza or hot dogs,…nothing was open.  …Nothing. That’s when I decided to walk down the middle traffic line. No cops no cars just some bikes now, and then. Saw a few Army supply trucks, but no real traffic. It looked like those end of the world movies. Think “On the Beach”….art, and life mixing it up.

Things smelled different. It might have been fresh air. As I mentioned in another post. The sky is noticeably bluer. My social distance was three blocks. Sometimes farther. Literally no foot traffic. Well folks far blocks ahead. That was all. Likely tourists. These dummies I read came here on a cruise ship. Did you know these are still going around the world? Madness.

Stay safe stay the fuck home. 

March 22nd, 2020

So the first thing I see online when I wake up. The Virus took hundreds of souls as we slept. Hundreds more have died in the City since this time yesterday. What is one to do with such knowing. How are we to internalized this? This event is so beyond living with. This, and the suffering in all the world. I witness it before me where I live,…still I can barely believe. It’s heart breakingly insane. ‘But you know this. I only post as a way of bearing witness. Be well be safe be brave be kind.

March 19th, 2020

#45 wants to Quarantine that is blockade New York New Jersey, and southern New England. Odd since he keeps saying the Virus doesn't exist. He would. Shutting the country down will wreck the economy, and he'll lose in November. He'd kill you, and yours to stay president. I just have this thumbnail of info, and even that is rough to read Blockade a whole national region. Life has become science fiction. Is the Army going stop all traffic, and people from leaving or entering? The interstate borders are profoundly porous. Anyone can wander in or out. Driving back roads or just walking. This is going to be messy. 

March 17, 2020

As I post this on the evening of March 17th 2020. I hear Bells. Saint Marks with her new bells barely two years old in her 120 year old steeple. Saint Gregory’s further down with her 146 year old brass. Bells of Saint Greg’s above. Both chiming as the sun sets.

With a hymn of Bells, and Blessings on the lips of many. That’s Brooklyn or my part of it on this dusk. Be safe be kind be well.

March 12th, 2020

I went out today. This to try to get assorted supplies. Folks about. More behind masks. No traffic. Only a few allowed into shops at a time. That, and many closed altogether. Despite this I felt a calmness today here in the Emerald City. Beneath grey skies a quietness. Life goes on, but with a difference. An awareness. You all be well you be safe. 

March 10, 2020.

Been watching City-Cams around the world. Italian cities look empty,…like in a sci/fi movie. Seattle the same. Various cities around the world are in various stages of slowing down. 

We are witnessing history. A history that is moving faster than we’re used to. For the first time I’m more than concerned. When I went to the Hospital earlier this week. This to get checked up, and renew my meds. I saw things. Whole sections closed off. Bright orange signs saying “Special Procedure Area. No Admittance”. That, and security there. 

They’re getting ready. 

There’s going to be great sickness, and maybe death here. We know that knew that we all did. It’s was just seeing this that changed things. Made it finally viscerally real. I have the same feeling we all had in the Emerald City when Storm Sandy was inching it’s way here. Apprehension. Will it be as hard as they say or will it just blow past. We have to be ready. Brave cautious, and kind.

February 26th, 2020

I was always a solitary person.  However this is very different. This is “The Quiet Earth”. Like so many I have fits of profound sorrow anger boredom confusion, and attempted gluttony. However I know there is no other way.  We have to stand down. Maybe,…especially in big cities for a year to 18 months.  

This till the vaccines are generally available. 

A long road is still ahead. 

Stand fast.