my Aunt Mary, like many other older Americans, is feeling cut off from the world during this Covid 19 pandemic.

she lives in a city. she is retired, so is not an essential employee. she has nowhere to go...she can't volunteer at The Vaile as she has for many years, it is closed due to Covid. her church, her favorite cafe to meet friends for pie and coffee, the senior center, the library, her creative writing classes, the nursing homes where she visits old friends....all closed. does she feel safe enough to mask up and go to thrift stores? or are they open? she enjoyed buying stuff for her Christmas room at the Vaile...but the Vaile didn't have Christmas this year. Dr. appointments being rescheduled and rescheduled and rescheduled. her long time male friend passed away. The weather keeps her from walking and getting out. January is her least favorite month any year, but now even more so with the pandemic and losing Fred. She was home alone all day on Christmas Day, a first in her 80 years. her sister Freeda did call her that evening. (which is her only family now, since her brothers Roger and my dad are gone.) I feel bad for her. if she lived in a smaller town, like me, maybe she could get out more. it feels safer here. yeah, there are some Covid cases, and the chance of the occasional murder or robbery, but safer. but her life is in the city. she's been there since high school. she never got to have children (or grandchildren and great grandchildren) to ignore her at the holidays. she doesn't even have a computer or internet to keep in touch. I wish she did. it would open up a whole new world to her. she is an avid letter writer, just like her mother. and she has her land line. and a cellular phone. hang tough, Aunt Mary. hang tough. maybe you'll be enjoying pie and coffee with dear friends again soon. and going to church game night. and decorating that room at The Vaile. here's hoping.