Wednesday early evening,,,,,

a nice sense of relaxation has come over me. It has been an interesting day. The highlight: picking up three of the books I requested that the library hold for me. There are seven books that are directly to the right of my bed, but somehow, I could not motivate myself to read any of them. So they sat there. Now these three books; already I have dove into them. Yes, I am excited that they are in my presence! Emma Smith's essays on about twenty of Shakespeare's plays;  The Purpose of Power, a dialogue with black writer Alicia Garza, and last but not least, The Wars of the Roses, by English historian, Dan Jones. Yes, I am familiar with those "wars", but reading about the twists and turns of the English crown from 1420 to 1485, always excites me. So there it is. I have already read two of Ms. Smith's essays: one on Richard II, and one on The Comedy of Errors. She makes some good points about the two plays---interesting that there are so many ways of looking at each individual Shakespeare play.  This afternoon I felt a little down after reading a little of each book---must I always be passive, instead of active, I thought, but this evening I am simply happy that they have and will add a little to my life---a life that---because of the pandemic and my illness---needs some adding to.

I had come to the library early---I thought they opened at 11, but today they opened at 12, so with a half hour to kill, I walked east past the Lincoln Center complex ( a ghost town now) and visited Target and Best Buy, a few blocks away. I had never been to a Target before---I did not realize how many things they had to sell---maybe I will return there for some inexpensive clothing. I visited Best Buy in search of an inexpensive television. Do I really want or need one? Especially with all the reading I have given myself. Still, if the city is going to shut down even more--which might mean no coffee at an indoor hotel lobby, which has become something that I enjoy---a tv might be good---at least I can watch some pro football and basketball on the free tv channels over the holiday. It's tempting and fairly reasonable for my careful budget. Well, we will take it day by day.

My brother  David, passed away last Friday--I have lots of thoughts and memories about him over the years. As time goes on, I will share them---right now let me just say that I am really happy that his memorial on facebook has received so many strong statements about just how wonderful a person and performer (let's not forget that) he was. We had great times together during my college and his high school years---going to plays and baseball games, waiting for any chorus or featured actor who had been in the original cast of West Side Story to leave the stage door of whatever musical he or she was in now, so we could talk to them. Exciting and meaningful times--I will always remember them. More as we go on---I will report soon.