First week last March a scheduled lunch with sons
Vaccines arrive. Like Brylcreem: a little jab'll do ya.
Charlie cancels: self-isolating
Had dined with New Rochelle Patient 2’s neighbor and brother-in-law
Washed my groceries
And wiped each surface,
Without, turns out, any purpose
Paper hunts at Sam’s Club
Score! TP galore!
But only one-ply
Daily Cuomo briefs
Must-see streaming. Then.
Summer outdoor dining
Too little, too late
Thanksgiving and Christmas just twosomes last year
Vaccines arrive. Like Brylcreem: a little jab’ll do ya.
Charlie calls last Sunday. We play remember when?
That dinner prompting self-isolation? Patent litigator Charlie and colleague
Talked of client Moderna’s mRNA technology. The circle closes.
RetroFlash
Tom SteenburgRetired attorney and investment management executive. I believe in life, liberty with accountability and the relentless pursuit of whimsy.
Characterizations:
funny, moving, right on!, well written
Without any purpose? Surely you have giving up looking for purpose by now?
Well, yes, Michael, but sometimes it looks for me
Wonderful Tom!
Who would have thought we’d rejoice when friends say they’ve been shot!
Absolutely, Dana. Just had my second this past Thursday. Had my first three weeks earlier in a snowstorm. Went to the second in a short sleeve T shirt.
Thank goodness we still have the seasons, I think Mother Nature is trying to comfort us!
I’m in Connecticut now, where are you Tom?
In the mid-Hudson Valley, Garrison. Just across the Hudson from West Point.
Love Hudson Valley, stay safe up there!
Yes, you have come full-circle in 100 words, Tom. We are all getting there. Charlie sounds like he has an interesting client.
Thanks, Betsy. Yes, he does. Only discovered that midyear last year when I asked him to clarify something: with Pfizer and Moderna both using mRNA technology, wouldn’t there be an issue vis a vis patents, and how would that work? He said, “That’s an interesting question and that’s all I’m going to say about that. For now. We represent Moderna.” Subsequent events may be interesting.
Each well chosen phrase evoked multiple memories! i kept wanting to find a tune and sing this; the closest I got was “12 days of Christmas” but it petered out after a few verses.
Thanks, Dale, much appreciated. As for a sound track, well, any kind of Round will work, yes?
Great Flash of where we started and where we’ve been, Tom! Amazing how so much of our conversations are about vaccine status, mRNA technology, monoclonal antibodies, and the like. On the Jewish calendar, this month is actually the first month of the year, and somehow that feels appropriate to this crazy time.
It sure does. Spring being the time of rebirth, it’s most welcome this year. Came back from my daily walk and listened for spring peepers and looked for early flowers. Still nothing but soon come. Meanwhile forecast low for tomorrow night in the teens. One step forward, etc.
Ah, Tom, I had to chuckle about washing groceries with no purpose. You even made it rhyme. Have finally let go of that routine. And dealing with 1-play toilet paper (how first world we are). It’s been quite a year!
Group comment – hectic day. I’ll reply to all tomorrow. Ish.
You can say that again. Went to the grocery store yesterday and realized, in looking at the paper products aisle, fully stocked, that I had buried the memory of shelves empty of any but the occasional package of grade Z toilet paper, tissues or paper towels.
Love the circle of Charlie and his client at the beginning and end. Wonderful summary of the year.
When you write a RetroFlash, please write the word RetroFlash at the end (it won’t count against your 100 words), so that if someone wants to search for all the RetroFlashes, they will find yours.
Thanks, Suzy. And thanks for the tip; I’ve adjusted the story accordingly although the edit page shows 101 words. Or is “RetroFlash” the emperor’s new word??
Really enjoyed this Retroflash–captured experience so well, so succinctly. Thanks.
Thanks, Khati
Great RetroFlash, Tom. You really captured a lot of the highlights and lowlights in just a few very well chosen words. And yes; may the circle close soon; no infinite spirals, please.