I try to not let the state of the world get me down.  Between the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine and our divided country, one could become despondent.

I am among the luckiest of lucky people.  But I do have my moments of struggling, and the past few weeks have been challenging.

Three weeks ago, the son of a friend died in an avalanche in Colorado.  A skilled mountaineer, forty-nine years old--it’s heart-breaking. 

A single childhood friend died alone in her New York City apartment and wasn’t found until the doorman missed her.  Within days, a beloved former work colleague passed away.  Two other good friends are ill, one with Alzheimer’s and one not-yet-diagnosed, suffering from debilitating pain.

We are fortunate to live this long.  But some things are just hard.