Moving on to brighter days...

Since I haven't posted in a while, here are some updates.  Booster shot number two today.  Feeling prepared for just about anything at the moment.  I'm throwing a party for my grandmother who turns 90 next month.  Since Covid began, I haven't seen her.  Her current situation is that she is in a nursing home, and since the previous variants were deadly, it was never a good time to visit.  Additionally, the nursing home had periodic lockdowns when its staff members tested positive.  Therefore, families could not visit their loved ones at the home for weeks on end.  Despite the difficulties, she will be overjoyed to see me as I will be to see her.  A phone call can only do so much, you know?  In that sense, I am looking forward to the memories we will make together and the fun to come.

And there's my Joe Jackson concert this summer.  The last live show I attended was at the end of 2019, so it will be nice to get out again.  However, I plan to take every precaution regardless of a sharp decline in cases and hospitalizations in June.  I won't enter the building until ten to fifteen minutes before showtime.  In my estimation, almost everyone will be seated during that time and the lobby will be less crowded.  As well as this, I will be seated in one of the private seating areas at my theater, which is better for me. Also, I will be masked, no doubt.  It may sound extreme, but this is the only way I can feel comfortable returning to live music.  I would rather ease my way back into it while feeling safe about it.

Within 10-15 minutes, I should also have enough time to peruse the merch table and grab a drink before getting to my seat.  I'm looking forward to what the merch table has to offer.  Last year, I was outbid at the last 30 seconds for an album I REALLY wanted on eBay.  It was Joe Jackson's Summer in the City: Live in New York vinyl double LP for only $36.00!  It is steeply priced everywhere else.  Hopefully he will have it at his show.  I often find that albums are cheaper at concerts, so I will be looking.  My last JJ gig netted me some pretty cool ceramic coasters, a mug, and a double LP album.  Merchandise is not listed on JJ's website, so hitting the merch table at his events is always a treat.  You find all kinds of treasures there.

I remember the excitement of Joe's instagram post last year:

It said, "Pull out your dancing shoes!" and showed a pic of Joe's shoes.  I vaguely remember his manager telling us Joe was working on a new album, and it sounded "danceable," which explains the Instagram photo.  Joe is working on a new album, does that mean we won't hear it before the tour?  He did that on another tour where he performed new, unreleased material.  It certainly wouldn't bother me, but I wonder if that's the case since there hasn't yet been an album released.  A music video may be forthcoming.  It would be great if he released the new album after the entire tour, letting his fans fully digest it at home, and scheduled another tour for next year!  Since he told us to put on dancing shoes, I wonder what songs he'll play.

I can think of one:

Besides the obvious upbeat "Steppin' Out," "Inbetweenies" is pretty danceable and bouncy too!  I hope to hear it during my show.  The cover song choices are as interesting as his original songs.  Can't wait to see the setlists next month.
This pandemic seems to be ending on a good note (pun intended).  In my opinion, we are becoming endemic, but it will be a gradual process.  Already, six U.S. states have declared endemicity.  There will be choices to be made from now on.  We must choose what is best for us.  If an activity is too risky, should we participate in it or stay home?  We no longer have lockdowns, and masks are optional on planes, trains, subways, and other forms of public transportation.  As for me, I am moving forward with my life after this crazy long ride that I never wanted.  None of us wanted it.  There was a disruption to everyone's lives with Covid, but think of the stories we can tell our grandchildren, or to anyone, in years to come.  You can tell stories about these times when asked, "What was it like living through a pandemic?" Sort of like hearing your grandfather talk about World War II.  My grandfather did not live to see Covid-19, but he fought a battle of his own.  Sometimes he talked about his wartime experiences, and when he wasn't talking about them, he watched war stories on A&E.  Those kind of memories stay with you forever.  We will always have stories to tell, and this pandemic will be ours.

Until next time...