Life in the Age of Corona

A Daily Diary

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

#46

Today was very much in dominated by the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris. I had taken a half day to spend with EM and our bubble family, well half of the bubble family, to watch the entire inauguration. Admittedly, like many, I fear some sort of disaster, which fortunately did not come to pass. It was a beautiful ceremony. President Biden’s speech was inspiring and conciliatory. He extended far more than an olive branch to all those who had not voted for him. If anyone can bring some semblance of unity to this country it would be him.

Moscow Mitch has shown the minimum of decorum and outreach, but it is a start. Less so the behavior of some GoP Senators who seem to be set on being obstructive, delaying the confirmation of President Biden’s cabinet picks.

What is encouraging is to see the incoming administration hitting the ground running. Hours after being sworn in President Biden signed 17 executive orders and directives. In the background the transition team has also been working with law makers on a proposal for immigration reform. It feels like President Biden is going to get a lot done in the first 100 days, which is laudable. I wish him all the success in the world. It is so refreshing to have a sane person leading this country again. I am suitably impressed.

For our inauguration watch party, I prepared a brunch consisting of a sweet potato rosti with avocado and smoked salmon, a frittata, oven roasted portabello mushrooms with bacon,  lamb meat balls with a sweet-salty yoghurt sauce, green asparagus salad and cranberry scones made by EM. It was a feast. We just never got around to the champagne, but it did not matter.

The ceremony itself was beautiful. After listening to the national anthem about twice a month Lady Gaga’s rendition today was the first time I had goosebumps listening to it, rather than my usual reaction of despising the excess patriotism. The inauguration committee also had a young (22 years) poet read one of her poems. It was not only very moving, but inspiring. She is looking to run for president in 2036. when she would be old enough to do so. Way to go! An African American girl brought up by a single mother who is a direct descendant of a slave. Her aspirations are inspired by Vice-President Harris. This is seriously cool.

I had not heard of palindrome before. Apparently, it is when a date reads the same forward and backward and there are a ten consecutive of those starting with President Joe Biden’s inauguration. I am hoping this is a good omen! May he pass the ten times ten most important executive orders in those ten days.

Sadly, the virus has not taken a break to for the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris (I just love to write President Biden and Vice President Harris, especially she is amazing). Germany, like the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Ohio and California, now also has its very own mutant.  The super virus, as it has been termed in the US, is spreading rapidly. 174k new infections have been added over the past 24 hours, bringing the US total up to 24.9 million.

Recent surveys indicate more people are willing to wear masks even after the pandemic ends. This is spurring new businesses in mask design, one of them inspired by origami. I wish them well and I will happily join others continuing to wear masks post pandemic, seeing it has brought flu infections and other illness down!