2020 is not yet half over. Prior to Covid-19, an increasingly volatile United States of America has been politically and racially polarized like never before. Incidents of gender violence multiplied from the same period in 2019. Fairly or unfairly, the President of the United States was acquitted on impeachment charges. From last year forward, mass shootings were occurring at a rate of one per day. Australia was devastated by fires. The NATO alliance continued to be severely tested and this winter saw 69-degree weather in Antartica.

In February.

And then, the pandemic. And the world changed, likely forever.

As of this writing, 3.21 million people worldwide have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 986,000 have recovered, and over 228,000 have lost their lives.

Our new reality, and we’re all in it together.

Tomorrow is uncertain; that much is now punctuated. We don’t know if we’ll be alive by morning. In that event, and in the event of grave loss, how many of us are still able to celebrate life?

It’s a fair question, and posed with sensitivity. For those who cannot and are burdened with grief today, I want you to know I too have lost someone to the virus. I grieve along with you.

I’ve been pushing myself to move forward.

For those who can still celebrate life, note that our life-affirming art will survive.

And art, in whatever form, can be the most effective comfort there is.

In that event …

We’ll always have lips.