New York

I also have a dear friend who will feel deep sorrow by his passing.
He grew up and lives in lower Manhattan, the Strand was and is a favorite place, and he had several friends work there over many years. I also frequented it before I left NYC in 2002.

My friend will turn 68 tomorrow. It will add a layer of sorrow, and he's been struggling with a number of issues lately. I hope we can offer our friends comfort and cheer over the phone.

As this year ends, I find myself more grateful than usual that I and my loved ones have survived to this point (especially but not exclusively with covid circulating). I had a period of 3 years (2014-17) where I lost 8 people close to me; 4 close friends and 4 older relatives, including my mom. It took a few years to start to reconfigure my life. And I'm still contemplating my future.

I think we need to make the most of the time we have, and to be grateful for what we have, even as we mourn losses and adjust to a rapidly changing world; and to be supportive and stay connected to our friends and loved ones virtually, if not in person.

Happy New Year!