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Riveting, up close and personal. Surreal. So much to process.

I would literally have to be out of my mind starving to eat any one of these dishes.

Self care is important no matter what’s going on in the world. Do what makes you feel good, uplifted - you’ll be better equipped to be present to those you love. Keeping my workouts, spiritual practices, healthy eating and grooming makes me feel more alive, awake and inspired to reach out to family and friends. It’s not that I’m ignoring the pandemic and all of it’s heartache, more trying to cope and help others to do the same.

Fascinating. Could not imagine living like this.

Brilliant, perfect, Rumi RULES!!!! Each line is so gorgeous, it takes my breath away. What passion, what originality, what inspiration. We need one a day of these Bill - words to ponder durning a pandemic. The Beauty and The Horror.

Really proactive solutions - love it. I agree with chrissetiana take away: “So let’s make empathy and connection even more contagious than fear.”

This was a fantastic find and discovery. I had never heard of the artist Herbert Crowley, who was a defining figure in the early 20th century avant-garde art scene in New York. After reading about him, I went on Google and viewed his amazing detailed pen and ink drawings that bore witness to his incredible, expansive imagination. To think that he would destroy a large amount of his own work is tragic. “In the end, by attempting to erase himself from the cultural record, Crowley proved that his highest allegiance was ultimately not to his work’s success but to the Temple of Silence in which he could pursue that work in peace.”

Unfortunately, I don’t think this was transcribed well.

Something I did not consider - eye opening. Very sad situation.

The only way my very strict Catholic upbringing prepared me for this pandemic, was by making me look elsewhere for answers to questions that my fear based religion raised. As a young person, the God that was presented to me never made any sense. So I started to investigate all the many religions and found my way to a spirituality that brings me great peace and joy. Meditation is my ground, my anchor, my center - without it I could see being Henny Penny the sky is falling!

I will be interested in how it all unfolds from here.

I was aware of time while reading this, which is never a good sign - even checked to see how long it was. I have read other similar stories about dating/relationships in this current era, which is so different from the one I grew up in - 60’s and 70’s. From my experience, a relationship grew out of friendship. So it was usually casual, of a longer duration and organic in the way it grew into something more. For me, this story seemed sad and uninteresting.

YESSSSSS!!!!! This is such a vital and inspiring article to read, and perhaps even reread, during this challenging and upending crisis. I could feel my entire body relax, my heart open, my breathing deepen with each word. There are so many wonderful, creative suggestions on how to respond to this time of quarantine. I love Chaban’s analogy of earth “catching us misbehaving and sending us all to our rooms - we are grounded”. I could not agree more that we, indeed, have a front row seat to our fragility. And that is a good thing - I feel we need to be humbled, to be awakened, to change. I also love the idea that ones home can become their monastery - “structuring their time and space to support the person you want to become”. And lastly, this incredible insight “ that as we struggle with respiratory illnesses, the earth is breathing better than it has in a long time”. Thank you Bill, Jeff and Readup, for this quality of writing, this community, is certainly a stronghold- grounding me, opening me, uplifting me. Beautiful.

Love this analogy: “Otherwise, it’s like having a belly-full meal that has been chewed but not digested, and hence can not nourish us.” The Feynman Technique is a great way to actually learn beyond just naming something. Really interesting.

OMG, the Waffle House is doing a Herculean job of giving Americans heart disease, diabetes and obesity! Green: The Waffle House is open, grease is hot Yellow: The Waffle House is open, the condiment caddy is off the table Red: The Waffle House is open and Joey’s making hand sanitizer Sorry, couldn’t help myself!

I had to give up drinking when I became ill about 10 years ago. Prior to this, my husband and I had a wine cellar and loved having wine with dinner and parties. It was really difficult to give it up - food didn’t taste as good, sunsets lacked vivid colors, celebrations weren’t as festive. But after about 3 months, I lost my craving for it and years later never really returned to it. What was as difficult as abstinence was the reactions of my family and friends. They seemed totally uneasy with me not “joining” them, as if I was now a different person. I found that people who love to drink find it difficult when the person they are with doesn’t join them.

“When Waffle House shuts down, that’s crisis mode.” Dear God, that says it all! The lack of intelligence and concern for others is as frightening as this deadly virus.

Another town that is about 50 miles from us. Unbelievable! This is why the government HAS to step in and get involved. People just do not have the intellect and/or awareness necessary to comprehend or care about the seriousness of this pandemic. This could be why it will take us much longer to get this virus under control. How disheartening for our healthcare workers to see such disregard for others when they are risking their lives. Shameful.

This is in a town about 10 miles from where I live. I am so sad that people are this ignorant and selfish that they are potentially burdening a healthcare system that is struggling already. I think a further step is needed - such as getting arrested and fined. There needs to be some type of penalty or it will continue. However, so many police and law enforcement personnel are also now becoming infected. This is serious people.

What keeps replaying in my mind is Biden’s response - “...the former Vice President issued a statement saying that “social norms have begun to change” around people’s personal space and that he would be more mindful of boundaries in the future.” This sounds like an admission to something that he, himself, is trivializing. Men + power = potential for abuse. I truly hate to admit this but since the #metoo movement and my overwhelming feelings of disappointment, disgust and anger at the treatment of women, it’s like the guy is guilty unless proven innocent. I have very little trust in men in powerful positions and good reasons to feel that way. I’m sitting here, with my coffee, on a rainy day sheltered in place during a grim pandemic, wondering who is ever going to truly lead our country?

This is incredibly sad and frightening. The consequences of this corrupt governments inaction and lack of concern for it’s people will have devastating results. The WHO recommends a ratio of one doctor for every 1,000 patients and India has one doctor for every 10,000 patients. And in a county that is extremely poor, the government is allowing private labs to charge $60 per Covid 19 test. This is, indeed, a callous response.

I was very unconventional as a young person. Fortunately, I found many other creatives in both my neighborhood and the schools I attended. It was also the late 60’s and the 70’s which was a revolution of counterculture, so I embraced it all with much enthusiasm. I still do. I wear the essential oil patchouli, long flowing skirts, turquoise jewelry and burn incense because it reminds me so much of my roots as a member of the Love Generation. Lots of great music was also created back then that has endured the test of time. Weird, to me, means original, outside the norm. And that has always brought me relief!

I appreciate this information. Before the pandemic, I would food shop at least twice a week because I shop organic, which tends to spoil easily. And I’m a person who loves to food shop, look for new items, talk to the regulars, and even strangers. Now it seems daunting. I’m fortunate to have a small health food store near by also. They limit the number of people allowed in. I try to go at odd times. If there are a lot of cars outside, I come back when it’s less busy. I certainly miss the ease of “the old days”.

Thank you Readup and Jeff for posting this. Its importance can not be overstated. By all of us bearing witness, perhaps this young man’s life will have an impact that is very much needed in today’s self absorbed world. Perspective is important and Bill Zeller gave us one of unimaginable pain, isolation, despair, shame, guilt, rage - a tsunami of suffering. It’s imperative to not only read this but to remember it. To carry it with you. To allow it to change you.

These lists are always fascinating and seem a white whale constructed by some Captain Ahab. The last thing I need or want is someone telling me what is important to read and why. I LOVE vegetables and reading and being my own authority.

I LOVE this article because I love surprises. I wasn’t going to even read the piece because Instagram always seemed like a platform that was contrived and just plain bullshit. But how the “shelter in place” has changed the dynamic! Kaitlyn Tiffany did an amazing job of convincing me that, indeed, Instagram is now worth watching because it is more authentic and creative in its content. We get to see the “un- glamorized” view of the people, their dwellings and how they are spending their time in the wake of Covid-19. I don’t anticipate joining in because I have a body, mind and spirit that requires attention with exercise and meditation, a stack of books I’m delirious to read, a garden and property that is needing a spring cleaning, as well as my home, a kitchen that is always humming with blenders, choppers, the clang of pots and pans. I have a strong feeling that a lot of good will come of this if we pay deep attention to how we are responding and changing. I sorely miss the close physical contact with my family and friends. I’m learning to accept FaceTime and even to Zoom with my Reiki group so we can continue to intentionally pray for a world that is in desperate need of such healing energy. Thank you Readup community for all your interesting comments and articles. Although I can not see your faces, I feel connected to you all. And wish you health and peace as we traverse this crisis together.

We can NOT go back to “business as usual.” The greed and self interest is sickening. We must change or face the consequences of our hedonistic ways.

A thoughtful, informative article. “Enthralled with virus as metaphor and the terms associated with it - spread, growth,reach,connectedness - we ceased to be vigilant. Jetting around the world, we stopped washing our hands.”

Yes, I agree, take matters into your own hands! Unless, of course, you have a partner.

I don’t believe these senators had “blind trusts” and therefore were “blind” as to what their financial advisors were doing - that’s bullshit. There are SO few in politics that one can trust. Power seems to be the ultimate cocktail of greed and self interest. The rules never apply to them. Despicable! This really makes me feel sick and hopeless about anyone being able to lead this country.

Bezos is so rich he said he didn’t know how to spend his money, so he started a space program - come on, this is crazy! Shortsighted and ego centric when so many in our country and the world could use some practical help. And shameful for his asking employees to donate their paid sick leave. Wow, that’s incredibly sad.

Shameful if true.

Excellent interview. So much to think about and consider. This will certainly become a more essential industry now that what this doctor predicted is our reality.

We are all being affected and therefore being forced to wake up and change. This is the beginning of a new era but it is still unknown what it will look like.

Very interesting. I remember picking up the book at a thrift store many years ago. I was into riding motorcycles and Buddhism and thought it would be a cool read, however, it never grabbed me. I would certainly be curious to look at it now. A brilliant mind, like exceptional beauty, almost seems a curse.

I can see that this is a huge emotional rollercoaster. You would have to get over the shock, which certainly is an individual process. I’m thinking they will work through it successfully.