Even my dreams have gone down the drain.

For weeks now life has seemed strange, surreal, not grounded. This must be what suspended animation feels like.

Dear God, please let today be a good day, that is, a day in which I do not do anything too stupid.

In these stay-at-home days I am cleaning out my cellar and finding all sorts of interesting memorabilia from a lifetime of writing about travel.

I use the mug with the four leaf clovers, butter the bread made with Lost and Found Island flour, lay out the New York Times and Boston Globe near the rain soaked window.

My mantra is attitude and gratitude. Attitude for me (I’m 77 years old) is a bit of a shape shifter.