After a couple of days of cutting back on sweets, I finally saw my weight drop back to normal. In the process, I also tried to increase my daily step count, slowly getting over the shock of a sluggish month-long self-quarantine. I feel there’s at least another month yet to go before some of the restrictions are lifted and we can start to think about traveling again. We still have plans to go to Florida twice, Glacier National Park, Egypt, and Hawaii before the year in over. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Before I started writing, I spent some time this morning updating my personal diary. I hadn’t filled it out for about two weeks, with little eventful going on. It’s really a memory aid, designed to settle a few arguments on where we were, did, ate, read, or watched on any given day. It goes back about twenty-two years, a lot longer than my deteriorating cerebral recall. The only things I could add over the past few weeks were some cable shows and take-out selections. The only true memorable day was our 19th wedding anniversary that we celebrated at our dining room table. We also had an extra pup for the night – so not quite a “Three Dog Night,” but at least we could “Celebrate.”

At this point, it’s important to celebrate every day that we’re alive and healthy. The State of Oregon continues to be one of the lowest in reported cases of COVID-19, but then we discover that it’s also one of the lowest in testing. Numbers can be deceptive, as everyone is looking for a positive spin on a deadly situation. The Stock Market continues its roller-coaster activity with the Dow hovering at about 24,000. For the year, it has approached 30 and has dropped below 20. Buckle Up!

We have some errands to run today, somewhat defying the stay-at-home rules. It’s my stepdaughter’s birthday next week and we have a custom gift to pick up. My wife’s mother had a five-diamond wedding ring that was re-made into five custom necklaces, one for each grand-daughter. The jewelry designer has been temporarily shuttered, so we’ve already had to delay the gifts for two recent birthday celebrations. My wife finally got in touch and has made arrangements for a drive-by-pick-up this afternoon, just in time for the…

Dress up tonight, why be lonely?
You’ll stay at home and you’ll be alone
So why be lonely?
Sittin’ alone, sittin’ on a pillow
Waitin’ to climb the walls
Maybe tonight, depending how your dream goes
She’ll open her eyes when he goes to the celebrity ball

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music
Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music
Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music

 
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Johnny Britt / Noam Kaniel / Otis Williams
Celebrate lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
 

Once again, I’ve uncovered a song that roughly relates to our current situation:

Lonely…Alone….Sittin’….Waitin’

The bottom line is to “open your eyes” and find something to “celebrate.” It could be something as simple as a another day of life – to as elaborate as a birthday or anniversary. Forget about your worries for a few hours today and “Dance to the Music.”