Corona Beer Virus 2020

Well, here we are. We’ve made it to April. COVID-19 has turned out to be not nearly as funny as the thought of people bombarding the internet with inquiries about the Corona beer virus. And, it’s turned out to be a lot more deadly. I don’t think anyone had any idea that we would all be sitting at home in self-imposed isolation. Not everyone I see seems to be taking this seriously. The few times I’ve gone out to get groceries and such I see plenty of people being mighty cavalier about the social distancing limits and not wearing masks, gloves, etc. I’ve heard that Rush Limbaugh is telling his fans that the Corona virus is all a hoax. I for one don’t agree with him but I must admit I’m curious what his arguments are.

We’ve spent what seems like the last week and a half trying to get the JOBS4TN unemployment insurance forms filled out to the satisfaction of the state. Maybe it’s done now. I made a few stabs at it and failed, melted down, glazed over. Heidi took over the helm and worked on it last night for hours. She’s so much better at doing that kind of stuff than I am. But we’re both worn out with it. I hope it’s done because I think our friendship is suffering from it. I can tell that there is a growing anxiety about finances and having to distance oneself from all other humans. In so many ways life on these 2 1/2 acres isn’t much different and in others it feels confining. I suppose the difference is that it’s not really a matter of choice to mingle or not, it’s even dangerous to step off the premises if it’s not done sensibly.

All the artists I know are moving to the internet. I confess to not being frantic about getting online and just slamming out concert and workshop after concert and workshop. Everyone is doing it. But where else to go? I think the new business model for all or most self-employed persons will include a large internet presence, far more than previously. I really hate to think about putting my trust and livelihood in this infernal screen but it looks like the reality is that there is no reliable way to go, as I’m sure I mentioned in the last blog post “No Guarantees”. This is what we’ve got. The reality has been taking a while to sink in that things will not be going back to ‘normal’ and I think it shows on most everybody I've communicated with by phone, Messenger, Facetime, Skype. There is a visible anxiousness on everyone’s faces. Some hide it better than others, but eventually it comes through. People are frustrated, confused, terrified. So far I have not seen anyone that I can say looks angry. Amazing.

It’s really amazing to think about the reality that at this point in time everybody on the planet is finally on the same page. We’re all in the same boat. Think about it. What an extraordinary thing it is. Maybe at this point for a brief spell people will all come together to get things done and to do the right thing by each other, that being namely to care about each other and put aside all the crap that keeps us at each other’s throats so much of the time. The one thing that really matters to all people on the planet right now is to kill this virus before it kills so many of us. The only way to do that is for everybody to pull together and do the right thing.

I’ve been sitting up way late at night, a lot of it in the dark, and thinking about how my life has gone, what to do next. I’ve made a lot of really reckless and ignorant decisions over the last 64 years. I’ve spent a lot of my life not committing to anything or anyone, repeating mistakes over and over and still have been able to be part of some amazing things. I’ve met people from all over the planet and have some very dear and enduring friends who I cherish. But I’m not doing enough, I’m stalling out, I’m running out of enthusiasm. I want to do a ton more and a lot better. But it’s really unclear what to do or how to go about it and I think that’s what I’m sensing from everybody else, everything is so uncertain and unforeseen. I think it has been a big kick in the head to see just how fast everything as we knew it could go away right in front of our eyes. Yeah, it’s unnerving.

I’m obviously on a mental ramble here, but I would like to offer a small tidbit that might be helpful. I’m going to be giving it some effort. I received the book “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown, Ph. D. LMSW. (interesting TED Talk by her. Look it up). I read a bit in Ms. Brown’s book about a study that was done by U of TX professor James Pennebaker and colleagues about the healing power of expressive writing for persons who suffered traumas of different sorts. Apparently there is evidence that writing about your troubles for as little as 15-20 minutes a day for 3-4 days can measurably affect changes in mental and physical health and improve sleep habits, work efficiency and connections with others. Seems simple enough and gives big payoffs. This might even work to sit down and write a song, yes? I wonder if it works the same for music?

I don’t have anything else coherent to say right now. The smell of fried green tomatoes is coming from the kitchen and I feel compelled to be of any tasting assistance I can provide. Be good to yourselves and be good to your neighbors and realize that this predicament we find ourselves in is going to end. As they say in middle Tennessee…”Keep your tail up”.

Life is good yet. MC