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Last night Jenny’s family set up a video conference call on Zoom. It was like Hollywood Squares. Originally I wasn’t going to be part of the call, but then Jenny got another Zoom call that she had to take, so I sat in. I took a screenshot to capture the moment. The family that zooms together, stays together.

When someone says “I came across this yesterday,” that usually means they found something online. In this time of contact free isolation, it feels like a rare taboo treat when you can see and touch something safely. I didn’t exactly touch it, but there is some sidewalk chalk art that’s across the street from our house that is a reflection of the times we’re living in. First I walked over it. Then I recorded it. Stay safe everyone.

Nancy Adamson will be the next guest on THE EPILOGUE CABIN. I mostly remember her playing in the high school band with my sister. Nancy has recently spent more time baking. She told me about her cinnamon rolls and green frosted pastries, but then she remembered baking something else that her family never ate while she was growing up…

We couldn’t all be together for a birthday party– but we could all drive in single file for a birthday parade! Over the weekend we met with 6 other vehicles in an undisclosed location to decorate our cars and trucks for the occasion. Lincoln and Adalyn turned 3– they are our great nephew and niece, Chris & Chelsea’s twins. Jenny & I decorated both sides of the truck because we knew we would drive by twice. Afterward we drove 45 minutes to Art & Tammi’s house to see their Easter display. They live east of the stadium.

We were quarantined. We wanted to connect to something. At one point, a small group of us were huddled around our computers, laptops, and smartphones to watch this old movie from 1924. Downbeat Coffee has been hosting watch parties in their small attic space for the last few years. With the recent shelter-in-place situation, they haven’t been able to do it– but last Saturday, they streamed it on Facebook. There were only 20 of us watching, but it was still cool. We were chatting online while the movie played, and it felt good to know we weren’t alone.

“… and the darkness has not overcome it.” That line is from my church’s Lenten service… and the bible. It represents how I felt when I read an article about how Generation X (folks around my age) are pros at social distancing and how we’re coping with the Coronavirus pandemic. The author, Courtney Dabney, must be in her mid-50′s like me. Here’s a bit from the article that I thought was spot on:
“Gen X folks can actually thrive on solitude and enjoy their downtime, due to our advanced tolerance for boredom. We spent untold hours alone in our homes after school, fending for ourselves, living off Ding-Dongs and macaroni and cheese, as the first generation of latchkey kids. Social isolation is not only tolerable for us, Gen X requires a regular dose of it to recharge our batteries. So, while you might already be flipping out, we are basking in the downtime.”
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My cousin Warren (also a Gen X’er) sent me the link to Courtney’s article, which can be read in its entirety here. Thanks cuz!

Man, could things get any weirder? To quote Hunter S. Thompson, “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” It’s April Fool’s Day, and I’m asking my podcast listeners to submit fake band names to be read on THE EPILOGUE CABIN. I didn’t realize the irony of the situation until I posted a couple of links on facebook.

The pandemic has generated two novelty songs that I know about. I’m starting my own playlist to score these weird times that are separating us together:
Isolation – John Lennon
I Am A Rock – Simon & Garfunkel
Missing You – John Waite
All By Myself – Eric Carmen
Message In A Bottle – The Police
Overtime – Lucinda Williams
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Nat King Cole
Miss You – The Rolling Stones
Hold On – John Lennon

#2 in the Faces in Formica series features Mo Neck or Stretch Pomp or any other name that emphasizes elongation. For this one I imagined a guy on a high school basketball team. The team is on a losing streak. This guy has just flung the ball at the basket from the other end of the court. The buzzer goes off while the ball is in the air. He doesn’t even come close to making the goal. Fans groan and someone takes a picture of him staring in disbelief at the missed shot.

For Wednesday night Lenten services there’s no need for an expensive camera or a fancy tripod when there’s a decent smartphone and a circuit board holder nearby. Art had the smartphone, I had the circuit board holder, Pastor Kris had the sermon, and Becky provided piano music. And just like that (snaps fingers) Overland Park Lutheran was streaming live!