Lockdown season: Making the most of it
How to help a city heal
There’s no need to merely shake our heads over any damage left behind by many recent demonstrations, said Ellen Barry in The New York Times. “A hallmark of recent days in America is that, in cities troubled by contagion, grief, and now violence, people are coming out of the woodwork to clean.” On the mornings after rallies in Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and elsewhere, residents have gathered spontaneously to sweep up trash or broken glass and to scrub away graffiti using rags, pails, and Goo Gone. Most are supporters of the demonstrators or are demonstrators themselves; they want to make sure the rallies don’t become defined by incidents of vandalism and looting. One Boston woman said being part of the first night of protests was inspiring but nerve-racking. “What I really found,” she said, “is that the most beautiful moments were the aftermath.”
What it’s like to fly these days
Even at a major airport these days, “going through security is a breeze,” said Kathleen Elkins in CNBC.com. So much is strange, though, about air travel right now, as I learned on a recent trip from Los Angeles to Charlotte, N.C. Before I even leave home, I am reminded by email to wear a mask, and I arrive at an “uncharacteristically empty” LAX with mask and sanitizer ready. But while many boarding gates are empty and certain transactions modified, my own gate is packed— making social distancing impossible—and so is my plane. When I take my seat, “I am inches from the passenger in the middle seat, who is inches from the passenger in the window seat.” For the next five hours, we and others nearby share the same air. All I can do, once my dad picks me up, is self-isolate for two weeks to keep the family safe.
Why you should DIY everything
If a needed home repair is currently staring you in the face, “grab some tools and go for it,” said B.S. Harris in Popular Mechanics. Sure, “some jobs require a pro.” But if you have the time, if you do a little online research, and you’re willing to laugh off your mistakes, the rewards can be great. I adopted a tryanything attitude long ago, and over time I’ve repaired appliances, stopped plumbing leaks, trimmed trees, and re-roofed my house. “Even when it costs me extra time and money, my DIY efforts always feel worth it. They make me smarter, savvier, and most of the time no worse for wear.”