This is an uncertain time for a lot of us. As I type this, I’m in my living room with my kids nearby, doing a video call with their music teacher. My spouse is preparing for an online meeting as well.
We’re the lucky ones.
We have the luxury, the privilege, of all working from home. I already do, and we live in a school district that can provide technology and food for every student, free of charge. My spouse works for a state educational agency. We have good enough health insurance to know we’ll be taken care of if any of us falls ill. None of us are going to struggle, aside from missing out on plans.
But that’s not true for a lot of people. Many people are lacking some or all of the things I take for granted.
I don’t have solutions for all of that, aside from knowing that it’s my duty to vote people into office who are competent and care enough to want everyone’s basic needs met. I don’t have the personal resources to take care of every person who needs it, though I think together, we could all make it happen.
What I can do is take care of my family. My younger child and I are at higher risk both of getting sick and of having complications. So we’re settled in for now, avoiding being out as much as possible.
And, of course, we’re reading.
We’re beating the loneliness and frustration of being isolated by reading aloud as a family. So far, we’re partway through Good Omens (and the teenagers are loving it, as well as loving being read to again!).
I’ve been on hiatus from writing, just due to general burnout and the stress of a complicated family schedule. But while we’re all home and trying to stay healthy, I’m feeling the itch to write again. With most of our lives on hold, maybe I’ll have the chance to finish a project.
Meanwhile, I have a long list of our own books to get through. We have plenty of books that are free or low-cost, which hopefully will be of benefit to our readers during confinement. Please help support our wonderful authors so we can all bring you more good books to take you to other worlds at this difficult time.
May you remain in good health, and happy reading!