All day sitting in the studio,  I set a thought in motion of discussing lost identities, or at least, confusing identities one may wrestle with during the COVID outbreak. Then in the midst of my studio day and intense editing, Governor Whitmer opened our county and region to restaurant and bar patrons. Well now, the identity discussion took a twist and bolted out my window. Enter the excitement of normal, yet the caution of disease. My main worry will be the ability of staff and patrons to remember there’s a live virus out there waiting in the wings to dismantle the progress. As we creep toward medical cures and vaccinations, prudence and caution must be maintained so as to endanger no one. I mean no one. All it takes is one positive infected persona and everyone within reach is at risk. We’ll seat every other table, we’ll have masks and hand sanitizer, throwaway menus (maybe), and a vigilance in the dishtank. Food will be safe, but the bartenders will be the most at risk as people sitting at the bar will be touching glassware and everything in sight. As long as distance is held and handwashing is done and people don’t wipe their faces, we should be good. As a droplet virus, nothing is guaranteed but we can mitigate the conflagration. I realize I’m tooting my horn, but I find my Sunday post as a foundation for what we expected. Perhaps a week off, but predictable nonetheless. As careful and cautious as I’ve had to be because of a new grandchild and living with a healthcare CEO who had to maintain her health, I feel excited to venture out and touch humanity again. Thank you Governor Whitmer for your leadership and guidance through the first wave of this pandemic, but more importantly, thank you for listening to the healthcare professionals behind the scenes who give advise without heroic intentions. That being said, I fully expect a rebound and a return to lockdowns. But if a short span of normal can be fostered, it will make a second wave of virus a little easier to handle and closer to the vaccine we should be expecting. Cheers!