The future is here, it's just not evenly distributed . . .   

With apologies to William Gibson, I am thinking about post-pandemic life as June begins. A few months ago I wrote a little manifesto, declaring that I would wear red lipstick every day when the pandemic was over.

But as June begins, I realize it's not "the" pandemic. It's "my" pandemic. I had the good fortune to have easy access to the vaccine. I live in San Francisco where 80% of residents have had at least one shot. I went to my first in person mask-less client meeting on May 28, to a Giants game at AT&T Park on June 4 (I almost cried). I have accepted three indoor dinner invitations for the next two weeks. California is lifting its mask mandate on June 15. We are waiting to see if San Francisco County will do the same.

So is "my" pandemic over even if "the" pandemic is still wreaking havoc all over the world? Should I start wearing red lipstick? Is it OK to celebrate my own emergence from isolation and fear when so many people around the world are nowhere near celebrating theirs?

At this five minutes in time I am thinking that it's vital to celebrate what can be celebrated while not being blind to my privilege. Perhaps the answer is that whenever I DO put on red lipstick in the next week and months, I'll do it to celebrate the end of "my" pandemic and to stand in solidarity with the millions of people for whom "the" pandemic is still very much a reality.

Here's to hope that's right in front of us and hope that's still a ways away . . .

June 7, 2021