Today was the warmest it’s been in many weeks: 64 degrees! I quit work early to get out for a walk, knowing I’d be on a Zoom call for two hours this evening. The near-full moon was high in the sky at 4 o’clock. Not surprisingly everyone else was outside as well, skateboarding, golfing, walking (1 guy in a kilt), cycling, and having drinks in the outdoor restaurant spaces in our little downtown. Didn’t see a whole lotta masking or physical distancing, however. Flags were half-mast, but I couldn’t figure out why until I searched online later; it’s to mark the death of more half a million Americans from Covid. According to the news, America has the highest number of fatalities and makes up 20% of all Covid-related deaths worldwide. In the meantime, I the number of daily Covid cases in Australia can be counted on two hands. Australia is cautiously open for business. Wear a mask people. This isn’t over.