Dear J,

P’s mom loved the Mamas and Papas. I found an old recording of Mama Cass doing ‘Dream a little dream of me’ and added the song to the house playlist. Geez Louise, Mama Cass could sing!

P went back to work today. I showered, emptied the litter box, took the trash down the alley to the dumpster, went to the bank and visited the dispensary. My new PC arrived! I’ll set the machine up tonight.

I’ve been marooned in the gray zone you describe so well. Didn’t shower for four or five days because… I couldn’t be bothered. My throat and cheeks itched from my wispy beard, but the effort required to pull out the clippers, shave, and clean up after myself seemed Herculean. So I didn’t bother. I slept a bunch. I brushed my teeth, but otherwise… I smelled bad. But showering remained too much of an effort.  (I had a similar thought as you about those early hominids who hibernated: hey, my kind of people!)

As Christmas recedes in the rear view window, my spirits are slowly improving. P and I have been watching a lot of comfort TV; British cooking shows, crazy comic book style romps… we’re watching episodes of the original Bob Newhart show, too, the one set in Chicago?

P and I are also trying to live more mindfully. We’re trying new routines. Sundays, we work together on a meal; the lasagna we put together yesterday wasn’t bad! Probably would have been better if Amazon didn’t substitute a pound of mozzarella for the ricotta we requested, but… no complaints. Next week we’ll try grilling steaks on the stove and some sort of potato side (twice baked?)

Love,

C/