Even though this is the very tail end of May, I wanted to get this very important topic in. It’s never too late to discuss mental health!

My jokey reason for writing this article is that my mental health is suffering from watching some of my teams not advance in the current NBA play-offs, of which I’ve watched every second since they began on April 15! No kidding—I’ve barely left the house since then! But I’m not complaining because I’m very willingly doing it to myself.

It’s this month.

The play-offs are actually where I first heard that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is worth discussing here. So I thank them for this info, especially so that I can get this article in before the last day of the month, which is tomorrow!

But actually, even though having a designated time frame to think about it, every month, week, and day is the right time for us all to take care of our mental health. This is the month to remind us, and because of that designation, more entities than ever talk about it publicly. But it’s a topic of whihc we should always be made aware.

Even before I realized the significance of this month, I had been thinking about the concept of depression very recently. It’s something I know a thing or two about. I had been in several deep depressions that started during the pandemic lockdown. I actually didn’t mind being stuck in the house for a year or two because Mr. X is the funniest person in the world, and I love having an excuse to be a couch potato. People thought that a bon vivette such as myself would be going nuts, but I was fine because I wasn’t missing anything—there were no events to go to!

So the depression took me totally by surprise. In life, in general, I had, of course, experienced what we all think of as “depression,” but I had no concept of the very painful deeper feeling which is what I guess is actually “clinical depression.” What made it worse was that during that entire time, I was still grateful for my life, and knew that I had no real reason to be depressed. So that depressed me even further. It was all a vicious circle.

I’m feeling better these days, without knowing why. I’m just thankful that the depression has lifted as much as it has.

Of course, medical professionals know what to tell you sooo much better than I do, but I do have some general thoughts on the whole mental wellness topic, apropos of this Mental Health Awareness month.

Take care of yourselves!

First of all, stop comparing your life to those of others! Especially of strangers, but even those of your pals! If you can’t help but compare your life to other people’s mainly-fake ones, please just stay off social media! That stuff causes jealousy that can make one crazy. People post their best, or most boosted-up, moments just for that purpose. None of us have any idea of what their real lives are like. Please, please, please remember that!

If you need confirmation of what I’m saying about it, the tragic proof is that many “influencers,” along with just people who just frequently share their posts, commit suicide, which is never the answer for anybody to begin with. But it proves just how phony their “happiness” is.

Actually, I just don’t understand suicide, no matter how bad you perceive your problems to be. If ever you’re considering this tragic act that cannot be taken back, please speak to someone first. And realize that every single person goes through it at some point. In my first college, I once stopped someone from committing suicide. And I did it on the phone. I stayed on with him overnight until the morning. And he was so grateful that he even gave me a gift, which was miraculous for a teen-ager to do. It was a beautiful star-shaped blue-and-purple candle, and guess what? I still have it today!!! It stayed on my bedroom dresser until I cleared-out my mother’s house eleven years ago, and I made sure to pack it up to move out here. It means that much to me because it symbolizes taking the time to help people in need.

I also must advise my younger readers, who might be experiencing problems with bullying and the like, I promise that you will grow out of what you’re going through at a young age! I knew girls who were not very popular in high school, and then got a new start in college, and made the most of it. Or they didn’t experience the good times they wanted in college, (such as that they didn’t get accepted into a sorority or get the boyfriend they were after,) but then they became the most successful people of all time! You just never know. You just have to always roll with the punches, and plan for things to get better, which they usually do.

Bob Myers and some of his trophies.

One real-life example of that nothing is over in life until the end has been on mind recently because of the play-offs. It’s this: When I was running dance clubs in the mid-90s, I became friends with most of the UCLA Championship basketball team. Besides coming out with me to clubs and parties, several of the guys took me to lunch, called me all the time, and even made sure to give me their “family and friends” tickets to every home game! Fast forward to 2012, and none of my popular, “Big Men On Campus” friends from that team has achieved much in life. But…Bob Myers, one of the few guys on that team who not only didn’t come out with us, (which means he was far from the hippest, most popular guy on the roster,) but whom I don’t even remember(!,) became…the General Manager of…the Golden State Warriors!!! You just never know what will happen as life goes along.

Malika Andrews.

And to continue in my sports theme, there’s this jaw-dropping story, which I just learned about last week. ESPN basketball shows host, Malika Andrews. seems like the most mentally stable person in the world. She’s beautiful, enunciates better than even I do, and succeeds in a man’s world without flirting or wearing tramp dresses, (as several of the other female sports hosts and interviewers do.) I’d be jealous of her except for the fact that I admire her so much. And have for a few years now. So I was shocked to discover, (just the other day, as a matter of fact,) that she’s suffered with mental illness since she was a teen! It just goes to show that you can’t judge anyone’s life. (It’s an incredible story, which is too long to tell in this article, but here’s the link to another that explains it all: people.com/espn-malika-andrews-shares-secret-teen-mental-health-trauma-exclusive-8661472.)

On an amusing addendum to that serious story, this one happened to me. When I was doing my TV show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, I was coming out of a supermarket early one Christmas Eve. I was used to people coming up to me and telling me they love my show, so when a woman approached me in the parking lot that evening, I assumed she was going to do the same, and perhaps wish me a happy holiday. She asked, “You’re that girl on TV, aren’t you?,” which is how most people described me back then. So I told her yes, and was just about to thank her for saying hi. And then she unpleasantly continued, “I just want to know what in your life has given you the permission to think so much of yourself!” I was really taken aback from that rude and unusual query, and came back with, “Can’t you tell from my show that I’m a mess? I’m like an open wound. I’m totally insecure!” So she said, “Oh you are? That’s okay then,” and walked away. Yeah, Merry Christmas to me, I guess. But the point is that it made her life better to know that my life wasn’t as perfect as she assumed it was from television. I was actually happy to help!

The point is to always be a good person, especially to yourself, and try your best to both appreciate and work on your lot in life, no matter what it is. Just remember that everything changes, both ways. As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever, not even your troubles.

But always talk to someone. I believe that there are free services in every city in America, and I feel that other countries have the same. No one wants others to have mental issues.

At the very least, you can lean on a wise and caring friend or family member. Make sure that they know it’s a serious situation so that they don’t just play it off.

Silver Linings Playbook.

Interestingly, on a movie channel this month, I heard director David O. Russell talking about that some of his movies, such as Mr. X’s favorite, Silver Linings Playbook, deal with mental illness, as do some classics; one that he pointed-out is A Streetcar Named Desire, which I had never thought of. (Neither about that film at all nor that it deals with mental illness!)

I’m going to tell you of an over-the-counter supplement that used to help me a lot before I had to stop taking it due to its contraindications with my stroke meds. (Always, always check with your doctor, pharmacy, or at the very least, the internet before you take any supplements.) It’s called St. John’s Wort, and I was never depressed when I was taking it. But again, I caution you to check with your own medical professionals to see if it’s right for you.

But the easiest thing for you to do, either every day or even just when you’re getting a tad nutty and need to calm down a bit, is to breathe in positivity. I learned of it from a gold medal-winning Olympian, who talked about it on TV last summer. And I’ve been doing it ever since then. I try to do it for about a minute every day. I often forget, but the second I start having painful memories or getting stressed about something else, I do the short, easy practice, and in just thirty seconds, I feel better. So what you do is take a deep breath in through your nose as you concentrate on positivity. I just silently say the word “positivity,” nothing else special. And then as you breathe-out, through either your nose or mouth, just concentrate on the negativity going out. These are deep breaths, but quick enough. After I do just three of them I feel better. And, yes, the girl won the gold medal just two days after telling us that that’s what she does to calm herself down before competing! So it’s a win for all of us!

And I hope that’s exactly what this Mental Health Awareness Month has been for all of you—a win. Now let’s continue to help each other not only for the rest of this month, but always!

This is one of the most important life lessons that you will ever learn—you have to stick-up for your own health! No one else will do it for you.

If you really feel that something is amiss, (because we each know our own body better than anyone,) insist that your medical professionals investigate further, or keep looking until you find one who will.

Look-out for yourselves on even what you, (and possibly the friends you’ve “consulted,”) think are small health issues, so therefore, you don’t bother to have them checked-out.

Especially mysterious ones. For example, my brother, Edward, and I both had separate instances of our hair falling-out at different points in our life. His came first, and he chose to keep searching to find the right doctor to help him solve it. By sticking-up for his own health, he was lucky enough to come upon perhaps the only doctor who could have figured it out. And it was the easiest of solutions.

This is what happened: He was young-ish and living on a high-up floor of a walk-up in Manhattan. He had tons of hair, which all of a sudden started falling-out. After everyone else’s attitude was, “Oh well,” he found probably the only doctor in the world who could come up with the solution. The doc asked my brother if he lived near horses, if he had plants, and if his apartment windows were ever open. My brother answered yes to all three. It turned-out, the spores from the horses in Central Park were floating up to Edward’s apartment, flew in the open window, and landed on his plants. And he was allergic to those spores! And that’s what made his hair fall out. The doctor told him to throw the plants out and keep his window shut. And his hair all grew back pretty quickly!

One of the many NYC equines that could possibly be responsible for hair loss.

Edward’s story inspired me to figure-out my own follicles problem some years later, when even my most brilliant doctor was stumped. But I got it right, only because I would not let it go. (And my now butt-length tresses are the testament to that stick-to-itiveness!)

Here’s that story, so you can perhaps benefit from it one day: When I noticed that a lot of strand were leaving my head, and doctors were pooh-poohing my stressful situation, (they told me that I “have enough hair,”) I thought long and hard to figure it out. Then one day in the shower, after losing yet another giant chunk of hair as big as a mouse, it came to me. I called my pharmacy and asked them if there had been any change in either of the medications I was taking. I asked them to check for any kind of change at all. And it turns out that they were getting one of my drugs from a different lab than usual. And that one little change was the culprit; the new formulation had a “filler” ingredient that was making my hair fall out! I told them they had to go back to the old lab, which they did, and the rest is history–my locks are so long and luxurious now that I’m actually sitting on them! [Sidebar: One week ago, I asked Mr. X to trim an inch or two because I was going to a week-end wedding and wanted the ends of my hair to look neater, and instead he cut off…seven inches!!! And it was still the longest hair there!]

Karen Salkin’s tresses at one of her favorite events a few years ago, after she had stuck-up for herself with her pharmacy. Photo by Noelle Hannibal.

Here’s another example of needing to stick-up for oneself in medical situations: After a bit of oral surgery a couple of years ago, I didn’t receive any notes for my after-care; the surgeon left me to guess! So rather than doing that, I bombarded her with phone messages and long emails until she told me exactly how to proceed. I didn’t just let it go, or let her off the hook. She knew I wouldn’t stop until she did her job.

In cases of serious or very confusing symptoms, always get a second opinion. And don’t let anyone talk you into anything, like I did once for two totally unnecessary root canals!!! I’ve been miserable for a decade now because a new dentist and her periodontist crony were money-hungry. Always follow your gut and speak to as many medical personnel as necessary.

An example of a surgery after-care sheet, without which you should never leave any kind of surgery!

I have to share one last cautionary tale, to remind you how to seek-out the right medical peeps: Mr. X had developed some kind of lung situation during the pandemic. Two of our usual doctors sent him to one of their associates, who turned-out to be not great. (Most doctors have a system where they either trade recommendations, or get paid outright to send patients their way! So please watch-out for those shady practices.)

This lung doctor told Mr. X that he had to use a specific inhaler, and only that brand would do. But, even with insurance, it cost five hundred dollars a pop!!! I asked if there’s any other brand we could use, and he said absolutely not. So I called back a couple of days later, and got his nurse. I told her that I guess we’d have to do it because we were desperate for Mr. X to get better. And she said there were other brands of inhalers that he could use that were just as effective, (although she didn’t know the names.) I’m sure she wasn’t supposed to do that, but she was honest. And she wasn’t the one getting the kickback from the drug company.

Needless to say, we’re on our third lung doctor now. And this one gave us choices of brands of the same medicine, and said choose whichever one our insurance will pay for. So it took us several doctors to get to the truth. And Mr. X is doing much better now, knock on wood.

All that being said, I’m still definitely not saying that every doctor is corrupt, or doesn’t have the brain to come up with a real diagnosis and solution. I’m just saying that since all of that is a possibility, you have to do all the legwork for yourself, unfortunately, unless you’re one of the fortunate ones who has brilliant and caring doctors to begin with. But actually, if you do, and live in Southern California, please let me know about them because I’m just not finding many of those out here.

A doctor should give you this level of attention, at the least.

One last thing—I’m sure that asking strangers on social media platforms occasionally turns-out well, just be aware that those recommendations can also be tainted ones. So be aware of that, as well.

And remember to always stick-up for yourself, people! One’s own self is all anyone really has.

With so many atrocities being committed around the world right now, especially here in America, by people who appear to have serious mental health issues, this is the perfect time, (especially considering the designation of this entire month,) to discuss all of our minds, which can be quite fragile.

Those issues can manifest themselves in the best of us, no matter who we are or our lot in life, which everyone needs to realize.

Apropos of the occasion, here’s a quick little tale of something I put myself through: I find myself occasionally thinking, where did my life go? I wanted to travel the world, and especially visit my friends all over. I had always planned to have a big house with a giant pool and cabanas.  And it would have enough rooms for me to do a different fun color scheme in each of them. (Paint cards are my favorite items in the world! And they’ve been so since I was just a tot. Perhaps my parents should have checked-out my mental health back then! I’m not even joking.)

An array of mouthwatering paint cards, which seriously help MY mental health just gazing upon them!!!

And now I think, rather know, there’s not enough time left in my life to get it all done before I slow down and become content being a total homebody. (No worries–that’s still decades away, but all the projects I want to do would take up every second of my life, and wouldn’t leave me much time to watch my beloved sports! Again, not joking.)

But then I calm myself down and remember how much I have done in my life. And how many good things I have now! I’ve lived with the man of my dreams for eons, and I had a few good boyfriends before him. I get to live in a city and area I’m grateful for every time I drive home from anywhere. I have a few good friends. And I’ve had an incredibly fun life, with lots of great times, knock on wood. And…I got to achieve my lifelong dream of being a guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carosn!!!

I was recently reminded of many of those wonderful times when I had to go through tons of old-school non-digital photos to find a few for articles on this very e-zine!

While I super-enjoyed those beautiful memories, at the same time I mourned not having times like those former ones anymore. (And, very shallowly, I also missed how much better-looking I was before I gained weight when I broke my back a dozen or so years ago!) So the photo project left me somewhat depressed.

That all led me to do some research to find-out if there’s such a thing as a National Mental Health Day, Week, or Month. And lo and behold—there it was! Mental Health Awareness Month.  And it was starting just two weeks later! Which actually cheered me up a bit, although I can’t put my finger on exactly why, except maybe because that reminded me that I’m far from alone in having those feelings. That’s something many of us need to remember, which is the reason I’m doing this article to begin with, rather than just keeping those insecure thoughts to myself.

It turns-out that every May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And it has been a thing since 1949! Who knew?! I was shocked to learn that anyone acknowledged mental issues way back then! I thought it was something people had to keep quiet about lest they be labeled “crazy!” As a matter of fact, my mother decided to try a psychiatrist once, (and I do mean once,) when I was little, and although it was way after 1949, it was still sort-of a frightening proposition. I have no idea why she brought us kids with her, but I remember looking at the other people in the waiting room and being a tad scared of them!

So, to honor this month, I, of course, have a few more thoughts to share on the subject. Here they are:

~ Several organizations have put out PSAs about mental health, to help reduce the stigma of it and make people realize they are not alone. Chief among them, for me, (because I watch multiple sports just about every day!,) is the one featuring NBA players discussing it. But curious to me is New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson being one of the people in it, and at the beginning, no less.

Tha amazing Zion Williamson doing this just at practice!

The reason that I’m confused about his inclusion is that he wasn’t playing recently, including when his team really needed him in a postseason tournament. When he was talking to the press about it, he said that he wasn’t hurt anymore, and he was capable of playing physically, but that he didn’t want to play until he felt like himself. He repeated that a couple of times. Some of the commentators picked up on that, and without saying that perhaps he was having a mental health issue, that’s kind of what they talked around. It was clear that he has a mental, psychological, or emotional problem, rather than a physical one. The first time I saw that presser, I noted to Mr. X that that poor boy needs some therapy. And then here he was on the PSA suggesting to other people that they get help.

So I just hope that he can take his own advice, or that someone close to him can suggest that he look into getting some help himself. I’m always wishing the best for that amazing talent.

~ I have to occasionally remind myself about something so wise that came from a very unexpected source. A television magazine show I watched a while ago did a story on two teenage girls who had been kidnapped and were now rescued. The interviewer asked them how they’re dealing with that horrible ordeal now. One of the girls explained that if everybody put their problems into the middle of a room, and then picked one out of it, most people would choose to have their own problem back. I was amazed at that young girl’s grace. And remembering that very astute counsel just when I need it, even in times of intense physical problems that could have broken me, has helped immeasurably.

A really true statement, on every level!

~ Another thing in a not-usual place has brought me some comfort over the years. A lawyer pal sends me a small appointment book every year. It’s too petite to use for its real purpose, but I usually go through it to read the little inspirational or informative quotes along the tops of the pages. One in particular, by very old school writer Arnold Glasow, caught my eye about a decade ago: “Nothing lasts forever, not even your troubles.” While you can take that as sad–that your good times are susceptible to ending, as well–it should more cheer you up that your problems will be over at some point. That’s the bigger message I took from it, as I’m sure it was intended. And it always helps to realize that it is correct.

~ On what I consider an amusing note, I was in a supermarket parking lot late one Christmas Eve during the run of my former television show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, on which I just talked for a half hour in a row, and everyone seemed to find it entertaining enough. A woman came over and asked me if I was the “girl on TV,” which tons of people did, so I thought nothing of it at first, and proudly said that I am, indeed, that girl. Then to my surprise, the woman said, “I want to know what in your life gave you the permission to…” something to the effect of me being so secure and confident. She worded it as an attack, not a compliment.

Karen Salkin (with Clarence, The Singing Dog,) doing an episode of her show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue. Photo by INAM staff.

I was taken aback a bit, and asked her how she could watch my show and not tell that I’m a wreck! That was part of the appeal of it to my audience! And she answered literally, “Oh, you are?! That’s okay, then.”

So, when she thought I was secure and always happy, that was not good with her. But when she knew that I, too, had issues, that made her day. She left without wishing me even a half-hearted “Merry Christmas.” Charming.

~ Once at a friend’s child’s birthday party, a boy of around four began screaming and crying. I rushed over to see what had happened to him, expecting a broken leg or something like it from the intensity of his suffering. As his mother put a comforting arm around him and asked what happened, he sobbingly answered, “That kid hurt my feelings!” I found it somewhat amusing at the time, but since then, I’ve silently applauded that someone so young can understand that situation.

~ Now, it would be weird to end this article by wishing you all a Happy Mental Health Awareness Month, but please just use this time to remember than none of us are alone, and we need each other more than ever now. And if there’s a way you can help yourself or others in that area, please just dive in and do it!

Do it maybe even in the form of just talking it out with friends. Many are happy to help. But please be mindful to not overburden them—they might have problems of their own. (Example: I had a friend a few years ago who always called me for an hour on the way to her therapist, for me to suggest what she should talk about with him, and then for another hour on the way back, to discuss what he had said in her session. So she gave the guy $200. for his fifty minutes, but used-up two hours of my time without a thought of even taking me to lunch! That is definitely way too much to expect from even a best friend or family member, let alone just a good pal! It actually began to affect my mental health! For the third time in this article, not joking.)

Many areas of the country offer free or affordable therapists, so try to take advantage of those services. You can always check with a doctor to find someone.

Just take care of yourselves, this month and always! Maybe use this month of May as the starting point.

I don’t know if you know this about me, but, as much as I love Los Angeles, and always have tons of fun in my own backyard, I also love discovering new areas of California, especially if they’re not too far away. But, besides that I never seem to have any time to explore, even before the pandemic, you know that hermitic Mr. X doesn’t like to leave his home base much. (Unless it’s to go to Home Depot, of course.) So we’ve rarely ever traveled anywhere, except for work. (I’m not complaining, because both of our careers have taken us to many wonderful places; I’m just explaining.)

A pretty area of Orange County. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Enter Laura, one of my contributing writers and, more importantly, my most fun friend in years. We laugh about our many differences, (like that one of us adores make-up and nail polish, and the other shuns those cosmetics enhancements,) but we’re on so many of the same wavelengths. And exploring is a major one of them.

So, when we recently met a dentist from Ladera Ranch, (which, of course, we had never heard of, but later found-out is in Orange County,) we were interested. He told us that a specialty of his office is teeth whitening, (which I feel that everyone with natural choppers needs from time to time,) so we decided to take a day trip down there to check it out.  And then we just lingered.  For hours.

We so adored just about everything we did down there that Laura suggested I share some of our adventures with you, in case you’d like to emulate our trip. I’ll go in order.

The well-stocked water fridge in the dentist’s office. Photo by Karen Salkin.

First up was our teeth whitening at that dental office, Hales Parker. Let me tell you—the whole place was spacious, beautiful, and actually elegant. I’ve never seen anything like it before, even in Beverly Hills! The ladies who manned the front desk, Randy and Stacey, could not have been lovelier. And, as an H2O guzzler, I really appreciated that the glass-covered mini-fridge, (located right below the complimentary coffee and tea station,) was loaded with tons of bottles of cold water for us to partake in whenever the need arose.

Claudia and Lucia did our procedures, and stayed with us the whole time, explaining every step of the process. I had never had it done that way before, so it was comforting to know they were there the whole time. It was all new to Laura, who had never had her teeth whitened before; she was ecstatic with the results. And as the icing on the cake, all three cute young dentists stopped in to chill with us for a few minutes. It felt more like a fun frat party, (but at a high-class institution like Stanford,) than a dentist visit, which you know I loved! When does that ever happen?!

We had planned on having Afternoon Tea while we were down there. I had literally spent weeks researching places in the area, even though I had no idea what part of SoCal we’d be in. Laura had just taken me to tea in LA for my birthday earlier that week, so we were really looking forward to enjoying another one so soon, especially since that repast is hard to find in our neck of the woods. I had narrowed it down to about eight places in Orange County, and then Stacey and Randy had narrowed it down even further for us. We all agreed on The Tearoom at Los Rios, and from the pictures on-line, Laura and my mouths were watering for that fare.

The outside of The Tearoom at Los Rios. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But—and this is a major but—when Claudia finished doing my whitening, she told me the aftercare rules. She said for the next twenty-four hours, “No coffee or red wine,” to which I retorted, “I don’t ever drink either, so no problem.” And then she continued her list, “And no tea.” I heard Hitchcock music in my mind when I heard those dreaded words! So that was it for our planned and appetite-whetting Afternoon Tea. We were heartbroken.

But Stacey told us that there are some good places to eat around there, anyway, so we decided to explore the entire area. And that’s how we wound-up in the legendary town of San Juan Capistrano, for both of our first time ever! After scouting for a fun eatery, (we were starving at that point,) I remembered that Stacey had suggested Trevor’s at the Track’s. So that’s where we headed.

Part of the massive patio at Trevor’s at the Tracks, with Alex Toto on music. Photo by Karen Salkin.

And it was the perfect choice for that chilly-yet-crisp afternoon. We got to sit outside on their gigantic patio, at a table right next to the fireplace, overlooking the actual train tracks, (although we never saw a train itself.)  The poutine, (fries with gravy, and in this case, melted cheese,) was perfect, the entire restaurant was full of interesting spaces, and the whole time we were serenaded by Alex Toto, who accompanied himself on guitar. And all the people who worked there were nice. (Well, being completely honest, except for the woman who manned the separate cookie area.) So, perhaps we’ll go back there one day to do a full review of the place.

When we were done eating, we decided to torture ourselves and check-out the tea place, to see what we were missing. And it appeared that we were, indeed, missing a lot! The Tearoom at Los Rios is adorbs! So we hope to have the opportunity to review it for you, as well. (Now we want a full week-end there, not just a day trip! You always need to continue relaxing after Afternoon Tea!)

The interesting thing is that all of those adorable and charming places are in that same area along the train tracks! Those San Juan Capistrano denizens sure have it good!

Photo by Karen Salkin.

And all of that is only two hours away from Los Angeles! It was a revelation to us.

Even the drive was fun. We noticed plenty of unique drive-thrus along the way, but, alas, we didn’t have time for them. But that just means more for us to do on our next trip down there.

To ease us back into civilization, (i.e. LA,) we stopped at a–don’t judge us–99 cent store on the way back home, and even that felt a bit different from the ones here!

But don’t get me wrong—I was thrilled to be back home in the city that I’ve loved since I was a teen. That little trip just reminded me to explore the not-too-far-away towns more often, now that we’re emerging from the main throes of the pandemic. And to not wait for another excuse, (such as our newly-pearly whites,) to do so!

Mr. X and I always joke that if something ever happened to us, no one would ever know. He has always rarely* gone out socially, and the pandemic has kept me in the house so much that nobody thinks it’s odd to not see me at events nowadays. Yes, it’s not a lovely thing to joke about, but the most recent one reminded me to write this safety article! *[Note: I know “always rarely” sounds wrong, but it is correct in this case.]

Before the isolation of the pandemic, at least a few people saw me several times a week, so there were no worries there. But they’ve always had to just take my word about the okay-ness of my hermetic bae.

Then when the pandemic hit, I began worrying about everyone, especially my friends who live alone, even the young ‘uns. So I made sure to call at least one pal a day for the duration.

Yes, of course they, too, should have checked on us, but people, in general, seem to think that if a couple lives together, they’re always okay. And that is an applicable theory, to a point. But everyone needs to be checked in with, at least occasionally, and in some cases, often.

Actress Alicia Witt and her parents.

Take the case of actress Alicia Witt’s poor parents. They were found dead in their home in Boston at the end of last year, and nobody knew for days! According to many reliable reports, they both succumbed to what has been deemed to be “terminal exposure to the cold” due to their home not having enough heat because the whole place was in disrepair. Alicia has said that her parents didn’t want help, but, in my opinion, she still should have been calling them every single day! She has stated that she hadn’t heard from them in several days, so maybe they could have been saved if she had called the authorities right away.

But perhaps she felt as friends do about Mr. X and me—that we have each other, so nothing bad can happen. I pray that that is always our case, (knock on wood,) but I seriously hope that when we get old, we have at least one friend who will check on us daily.

If my mother left her house without letting me know beforehand, even though she was across the country from me, I got hysterical. I would even call my sister, to whom I didn’t speak otherwise, to make sure she could run over to the house to check on my little mo, if need be.

While looking for appropriate images for this article, I came upon this pic of Angie Dickinson in Ocean’s Eleven. And I realized how perfect it is here because…she’s one of my best friends, and one with whom I always check in!

So now, with rampant crime going on all over today, I think it’s especially important to check on people. Just a quick phone call, email, or text. Besides that it helps the peace of mind of the checker, it also can cheer up the checkee; most people, especially older ones, love being thought of!

So, please, if you know someone who lives alone, no matter what age, make it a practice to see how they’re doing from time to time.

And singletons—please stop whatever you’re doing right this minute, and make a pact with one friend to do daily check-ins. You can choose the method that takes the least amount of time.

I have to add one more note of something that just came up while I was writing this. I saw some beautiful pix that an old friend took of a lovely hiking trail near his new home in a city that I consider to be somewhat unsafe right now. And it reminded me of a petit park that I used to walk in when I stayed with my friends in Providence. It felt wonderful and peaceful to be enjoying that refreshing nature all the time, until one day I heard a noise, and started worrying that someone might jump out of the greenery and harm me. (Yes, I do watch way too many magazine shows.) So, here’s another admonition, this time on the “being checked on” side of things—as much as time alone with nature is a literal breath of fresh air, please let someone know where you’re going, and that you’ll let them when you’re, literally, out of the woods! (Or wherever your own place may be.)

Photo by Kerry Simons.

Perhaps you and one friend can make a plan to end the day with a quick text, just to say everything’s okay.* Of course, hearing someone’s voice is always better, but if that leads to a long phone chat, which you don’t have time for, a quick text or email is good enough. Or maybe set-up some kind of round robin. *[Note: you can always turn it into a fun ritual—my end-of-high-school best bud and I used to call each other to end every night dueting on Happy Trails! I still laugh at how crazy that was. You can create your own special memories while giving each other peace of mind.]

I’d write more, but proofreading this just convinced myself—I have to go call a few alone-living pals right now!

Stay safe, everyone!

Just when we thought that the world was getting back to normal, the Omicron variant of the Covid virus reared its very ugly head. So now we’re all back to near-constant worrying, over just about every little thing.

That concern manifests itself in most of us having some difficulty in getting a good night’s sleep, which I’m sure we all sorely need; I know that I do!

So, I realized that I have to do something to help all of us in this category.

To that end, I’ve recently done tons of research on the subject, and tried-out just about every tip I’ve come upon. And now I’ve broken it down to the top ones. If you’re in the category of insomniac, as I am, along with soooo many others, I hope that at least one of these suggestions helps you to get some sleep very soon. (And always, of course!)

Here they are:

~ Don’t eat or drink close to bedtime. (Duh!)

~ Stop looking at screens in bed!!! Even with blue light blocker glasses. It’s just too stimulating.

A mouthwatering image from one of Jacquie Lawson’s magnificent e-cards. If only ALL our baths were like this one!

~ Take a twenty-minute bath, (bubbles optional,) right before getting into bed. Do not make the water too hot. And if you have any aches and pains, a cupful of Epsom salts will do the trick.

~ Set the mood in the room. My best tip is that, even if you think you’re a person who’s often cold, make sure your bedroom, (or wherever you sleep,) is far from hot. Or even warm. If you can set the temperature for sixty-nine degrees or less, you really improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep. (And you get to use cozy comforters, which is always a bonus.)

~ Another tip on your environment is to use some sort of diffuser to impart lavender oil into the room. There are big diffusers, of course, but even a small one will work. Mr. X and I have a big one, but so far we’ve eschewed it for a small size bottle of the oil, in which you dip the little wooden sticks that come with all the sets. I swear, on the nights I remember to use it, I sleep for much longer than on others. (Why don’t I use it every night, you may ask? Because I’m usually so tired that I fall into bed, and then after a restless hour or two, I’m just too lazy to get out of bed. I don’t keep it on my nightstand because there’s no room there among all the items that are next on this list!) [Note: Do not use candles! The danger of doing that should be obvious.]

Lavender.

~ Soothe your outer self with a couple of healing accessories, such as hand cream and lip balm. Ones infused with lavender do double-duty. (Are you getting the tip that lavender is a key to sleep?)

~ Spray your pillow with products made to help you sleep, such as—you guessed it—lavender!

~ Gently cover your eyes. A night mask is wonderful, but sometimes the elastic that goes around your head can be too tight, which creates problems all their own. And, let’s be real, it can really mess up your hair! So I usually go with just a soft tee-shirt draped loosely over my eyes. That works wonders.

~ And while we’re on the topic of blocking the light, make the room as dark as possible. You can use blackout curtains, or as we did, just tape some black paper over the small windows above our bed. Or…simply close the bedroom door!

Small weighted blanket. Photo by INAM staff.

~ If you won’t be disturbing anyone else, play some “healing music” on one of your devices. There’s a plethora of choices out there; just find the one that works for you.

~ My newest sleep-go-to is what I refer to as my “emotional support blanket.” It’s a little weighted blanket, that weighs only seven pounds, so it’s easy to just push it off to the side if it gets too heavy. But it really does feel like a hug, and helps immensely on those nights when I can’t keep my mind from worrying about every little thing.

~ Or buy a “feather bed.” It’s a fluffy topper for your mattress. The first time I slept on one at my friend’s house in New York, I eschewed all my activities for the day, which were plentiful because of my limited time there, to stay put in the bed!!! I’ve had one on all my beds ever since then; I even leave one at my friend’s house in Manhattan where I stay when I’m there, and put it on that bed the second I arrive, no matter the time!

One of my very many non-winning Solitaire hands. Photo by Karen Salkin.

~ When I get settled in bed, I often play Solitaire on my iPad for a bit, (with its light turned all the way down,) because the repetitive motion exhausts my eyes (and brain,) and I usually fall asleep doing it.

~ Of course, all pet owners know that the absolute best way to fall asleep is by hugging our pets!!! For almost eighteen years, my beloved Clarence, The Singing Dog, and I shared a pillow, (just like The Princess and the Frog!) I could not fall asleep unless I was hugging him. (And it was reciprocal for him—every time I tried to sneak out of bed to write for awhile, he was right there with me in under a minute!!!) And ever since he left this level of life, my almost-life-long best friend, Froggy, (who is technically a stuffed animal, but ya know…,) has filled that connection need. On that same note, when my mother was suddenly widowed, she really could not sleep for months. And then I got her the cuddliest little stuffed dog, whom she strangely named “Beauvois” in about a nano-second, and even she was shocked that his presence helped her start sleeping again! So hug a pet, or a stuffed bestie, or even a favorite pillow, once you’re settled in bed. I swear—it’s my best advice ever!

Karen Salkin and her precious Clarance, racking-out together, as always. Photo by Mr. X.

Experts suggest we stick to the same bedtime routine each night, but for some of us, that’s just impossible. So just try some, or better yet—all–of my tips, and I’m confident that you’ll be catching your ZZZZZZZs very soon. [Note: I’m sure I forgot some, so if you have any other sleep recommendations, please share them in the Comments section below. Thanks in advance!]

Happy sleeping!!!

As I’m sure so many of you are, as well, I’m very into skin care these days. I want to fully foray back out into the world looking and feeling my best.

And these winter months can be extra-hard on our faces. The drying effects of the weather, no matter where you live, means that we have to be extra vigilant right now in taking care of our skin, especially on our faces and necks.

But the topic of just how to use the incredibly many skincare products on the market always brings up much debate. Everyone seems to be confused as to what to use and when. I’m no doctor, of course, (but my boyfriend did play one on TV, so does that count?,) but I did the next best thing. After reading many confusing and contradictory articles on the subject, I went right to the experts—dermatologists, estheticians, and product reps—for the definitive answers.

They all agree that you apply thinnest to thickest. So I have put together a regimen for you that I myself have been using to success. I’ve even gotten Mr. X to join me! And the routine of it, along with good results, of course, has kept him doing it for over a year now.

So here’s the basic order of products for both day and night. [Note: If you have special issues, such as acne or rosacea, please always consult your doctor about how to proceed with your own skincare.]

I know this sounds like common sense, but I promise that not everyone thinks of it: Always begin with clean hands. And don’t forget to brush your teeth before applying anything to your clean face; you’ll mess-up the products around your mouth if you have to brush, floss, and use mouthwash afterwards.

And, of course, start by cleansing your face, both morning and night. Almost any type of liquid cleanser or face-specific bar will work; just do not use a harsh one or an exfoliant, which should be applied only once a week.

I’m iffy on toner, for both day and night. Do what your skin is telling you. But many experts agree to wipe some toner across your face with a cotton ball or pad after your cleanse, to restore the PH in your skin before applying any other product.

Daytime:

After cleansing and gently toweling your face dry, (but not too dry—a touch of dampness helps the products sink in a bit,) Vitamin C is always first. As with all serums, a few drops will do. Just sort-of pat it in, rather than rubbing. (That applies to every face product!)

Then any form of anti-aging serum, even if you’re young. Trust me, aging catches-up to everyone!

Hyaluronic acid serum or lotion comes next.

Do not ever forgot this one! Neck cream, (which can wait until night time instead, if you like.) So many people neglect their necks; just look at all the celebrities who’ve had facial work, but still have old necks. That area is hard to fix with surgery.

Then comes eye cream—always dab, do not rub! It’s best to use your ring finger for this one. Apply it under your eye and also around the side, where crow’s feet are born. (And live—forever!)

If you use a lash-growth serum, you may as well apply it now, while all the other serum and creams soak in. You can do it at night instead, but never at both times in one day. If you wear eye make-up, even if you’re conscientious enough to remove it at night, I always feel like your eyelids and lashes have less residue after you wash your face in the morning.

The penultimate daytimes step is basic moisturizer, over your entire face and neck.

And never forget your sunscreen!!! Even on cloudy days. It’s the most important daytime step! Try to use one containing at least SPF 50. And remember to apply it to your ears, as well, along with any scalp that is exposed. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that if you wear face make-up with SPF in it, it’s enough to protect you from the powerful sun’s rays these days. It is not!!! So always apply sunscreen as the last daytime skincare step, before you start applying make-up.

There is one possible trade here: If you’re like me and work from home all day, and then just get ready to go out in the evening, you can skip the sunscreen if it’s already dark out, and end with face oil instead. Oil is not only occlusive, which means it will seal all the other serums and potions in, but it gives the skin a little dewiness, which makes you look younger. Most oils are okay for even people with acne to use, so just read the label before you commit to a certain product. (But never put oil over sunscreen; it will negate the layer of sun protection.)

Mid-day:

If you got ready at the crack of dawn, you might need a mid-afternoon refresher, especially if you’re going out right from work. So just very gently spray a water or make-up refresher onto your face, (with your eyes closed, of course,) and let it dry. That one little act will make you good to go.

Nighttime:

Always remove any make-up before you actually cleanse. There are plenty of specific make-up removers on the market. And then use a gentle cleaner with a wet washcloth, and finish by splashing your face until all the residue is gone.

There are only three or four products that should be applied at night. The most important one is retinol or another form of Vitamin A, including the new trendy Bakuchiol.

Then eye cream, and possibly your neck cream here, especially if you didn’t use it during the day.

Finish with a night-specific cream or lotion.

Extras: 

Please do not forget to use hand and body lotion every day.

And remember your lip balm, too, which should be applied after everything, both day and night, and often throughout the day.

When you have some time on occasion, luxuriate with a sheet mask. And on those days or nights, just rub in what’s left on your face when you remove the mask, and be done with it.

If you do this routine faithfully, you should begin to see an improvement in your skin in a month or two. Keep at it, even if you’re being health-cautious and spending most of your time at home right now.

Happy Beautifying!

I’ve basically been in the house for a year and half now because of the Covid pandemic. I’m not exaggerating–March 10th, 2020 was the last time I left the house for anything other than food shopping and medical appointments. [Note: The big pic at the top of the page is a current selfie of yours truly, while shooting yet another one of my YouTube videos in where else but my house! It will be up soon, and you can watch them all right here: www.youtube.com/channel/UCF7mwI2jwcB2xB9dBCBxLZg.]

People at the current Venice Film Festival, acting like there’s no Covid threat anymore!!!

Wait–I did go out three times back in April, when I was first fully-vaxxed, (which means two weeks after your last dose,) before the uber-deadly Delta variant reared its ugly head. Two outings were to business events where everyone was required to show proof of vaccination, wear masks, and be socially-distant, and the other was a memorial for a pal’s mother, (who was a very sweet fan of my show, so how could I not go?) It was outside, and on top of that, I was the only attendee who sat all by my lonesome the entire time. I didn’t even hug my friend to comfort her, which I felt bad about, but it was (and still is) just way too dangerous.

One of the many healthful meals I’ve made during the lockdown. It’s whole wheat pasta topped with checca, which is basically a sauce of room temperture tomatoes. The recipe is in my Recipes section (duh) if your mouth is watering now. Photo by Karen Salkin.

This entire eighteen months, people have constantly asked me how my bon vivette self, who was out at least five nights a week pre-pandemic, is faring being stuck in the house. For the first year, I was totally fine. Honestly. First of all, I live with the funniest guy on earth, with whom I adore spending time, so all that togetherness was great. (For the new readers out there, Mr. X does not like to go anywhere. One of my pals has dubbed him “The Unicorn” because no one sees him! So we spend quality time together only when I’m at home.)

On top of that, I always have tons to do in my house. Most importantly, I would have to stay in for another five years to clean-out all my clutter! And because while Covid was at its highest numbers, I didn’t trust strangers to be cautious enough when making our meals, (ergo, we couldn’t pick-up from restaurants,) I was forced to cook, (and for once, had the time to do so,) so that new pastime has given us the most healthful diet we’ve ever had, which is an unexpected bonus. And I can watch old movies 24/7, not to mention my beloved Perry Mason. (You can read about how he helped me through the pandemic here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/television-my-summer-of-perry-mason.)

But the main reason I didn’t have a problem staying in for so long is…there was nothing to go to!!! So I was not missing a thing.

People at last week’s US Open, with the roof closed, which requires them to wear masks. As you can see, unbelievably few complied. And the tournament did nothing to enforce the rule. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But now I’m getting a tad confused. Because of social media, I see that other people are going out all the time, seemingly without a care in the world, like it’s all safe out in the world now. So I don’t know if they’re crazy or I am. I see pix of so many friends and strangers alike at events, and they’re all hugging, kissing, eating together, etc., like Covid is over. The news outlets are all confusing, as well, telling us that it’s more dangerous than ever to be out now in one story, and then the next one features celebrities hanging all over each other at a movie premiere!

Meanwhile, I’m still scared to go out, especially when I see so many of my fellow fully-vaccinated peeps getting the virus. But for the past three or four months, I’ve been getting a plethora of invitations again. Believe me, I’m grateful for all of them! I feel bad to decline any of them, even though some are easier to turn down than others. (I absolutely cannot attend indoor venues yet.)

Karen Salkin’s pandemic-length hair, which proves how long she’s stayed at home! Photo by Mr. X.

But now this week I’m invited to several fun outdoor events for next week-end’s Emmys. (Yes, they are happening again already!) It will break my heart if I miss them, but it would crush me more if I got sick, or somehow, got someone else sick. So I’m considering my options very carefully.

I have people on both sides of the argument advising me, and they’re all very passionate about their opinions. I have a hard time seeing pictures of people out and about, both in the news and on social media, because I want to be as brave as they are while at the same time I don’t want to be as—how shall I put it?–judgement-challenged as they are!!!

I really don’t know what to do about the situation. So let me put the question to all of you—how are you living your lives these days? Anything you can share in the Comments section would be helpful.

And—I hope to see you all out there before another year and a half goes by. Stay safe, everybody!!!

I was planning to rant about the new “no masks if everyone is fully-vaccinated” rule on just Twitter (@MajorCelebrity,) Instagram (major celebrity,) and Facebook (It’s Not About Me TV,) but my thoughts wound-up to be longer than the two-hundred-eighty characters Twitter allows. (That platform is my main social media one, so I didn’t want to post on the others without tweeting it out first.)

So I’m discussing it all right here. The main problem with allowing the public to stop wearing masks boils down to one thing—everyone is either honest or a liar. Either way, this is one of the dumbest ideas ever.

This is the sign I STILL hope to see, at ALL businesses!

In case you haven’t heard, the CDC has recently stated that, “Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”

The most important words in that statement are “Fully vaccinated.” So, first of all, who’s checking on if you’re really vaccinated or not? And how would that even be done? We all know that holding people to the honor system does not work. At any place, at any time. Ever!!! Not in families, schools, nor buffets. And definitely not in society as a whole! And no places are allowed to ask for your vaccine card to make sure you’re safe to be around others now!

And we all absolutely know that, if asked to declare their vaccination status to determine if they can go maskless, the anti-vaxxers are going to lie. It’s a given. After being so vocal about how proud they are to not get vaccinated, and broadcasting tons of false information to convince others to follow them in their absolute stupidity, selfishness, and recklessness, if they know they’ll be turned away from places if they reveal their anti-vax stance, do you really think any of them will ‘fess up? I honestly can’t imagine that they will.

Only if EVERYONE involved is FULLY-VACCINATED!!!

What we’re told about giving up our masks now is that it’s safe to gather without them, if everyone—yes, everyone—involved is fully-vaccinated. How would we know that status any place other than our own homes?! Surely we won’t know about the people sitting next to us in a theatre or restaurant. And what about stores? We’re all going to have to just hope that we’re around other fully-vaccinated peeps.

Here’s just one tiny example of what can go wrong with people not continuing to wear masks right now: Several people in the New York Yankees organization, including one of their star players, all fully-vaccinated, (and at least one who has even had Covid before,) have recently tested positive for the virus!!! Stupid people think that’s not even a possibility, but the Yanks are living, walking, breathing (for now) proof! Do any of us really want to risk that? I, for one, do not.

Karen Salkin rocking her colorful mask. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Besides the health reasons for not ditching your masks so fast, there’s a plethora of other much less important arguments to be made. And I present them all to you right here:

On the economic front, so many mask businesses, both the medical and fashion types, have sprung-up from the pandemic. Now all those people will lose at least part of their important revenue. And some companies use that new face space as billboards of sorts, utilizing the masks to advertise themselves. Others make money from allowing them do so on their own visages, getting paid to wear those logo masks. We’re all just getting used to being creative with the new mask industry, and now we’re being told to ditch them! Go figure.

On the fun front, masks have become festive fashion accessories/statements. I haven’t felt more proud all year than when I rocked my handmade (by someone else) “RBG” mask! And I got to display my love of colors with a paint-splat one. Masks are also a game nowadays; it’s fun to try to figure-out who people are by just half of their faces! Mr. X and I amused ourselves by guessing who everyone was at the recent Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony.

Masks can work out great on the social front, as well. For example, if you’re at a function, and recognize someone you don’t like, (with their masks on, of course,) you have the out to avoid them, and can feign that you didn’t recognize them if they wind-up going over to you. (And what a relief it must be to be able to go totally incognito if you’re a celeb!)

Karen Salkin, using her polished nails as a mask. Photo by Mr. X.

And on the very-least-important vanity front, some of us just look better when rocking the masks! I know I do. Right before the pandemic, I actually joked to Mr. X that I was going to start wearing a burka because my eyes are the best part of my looks. (Or lack thereof nowadays.) But he pointed-out that I also have excellent hair, (if I do agree with him myself,) so I was trying to figure-out some way to feature just my hair and eyes, and then, voila–here it was! Granted, few have seen me for fourteen months, to know what any parts of me look like anymore, but the timing of the “no mandatory masks” edict is not great for me–just as I was about to start going out again, with my colorful and/or statement masks, the powers-that-be want me to present my naked face, (and susceptible lungs,) to the public-at-large. Not gonna happen. (By the way, many people have told me that when they saw others without masks, they were surprised by how different the bottom parts of their faces made them look! So that observation is far from mine alone.)

So now that I’ve broken-down all the ways that masks are benefiting us these days, I’m extra-sad that the mandate will be ending soon, (if not already!) Most of my pro arguments here are for just entertainment purposes, of course, valid though they may be. I’m really only worried about Covid transmission. At the beginning of the pandemic, we were told that masks were absolutely not necessary, only to have that thought changed, big-time, a short while later. I always wonder how many lives could have been saved by telling us to wear them sooner. So now I have to hope that the CDC is not just bowing to pressure from the complainers, and that it really is safe to go maskless. But until all the danger is definitely, positively, undisputedly over, my way-too-many lipsticks will go unused for a while longer.

When I started writing this article, it was about finding joy in little things. But as I continued working on it, I found myself ranting on about the many people in America who seem to think the pandemic is over, when in reality it’s still in its critical stages!

If these numbers don’t scare you, I don’t know what will.

So my suggestions of how to find joy in this crazy year will have to wait a bit, while I break life down for you right now. (And that’s a clue—it gives you the joy of having something to look forward to!)

What upsets me most these days is seeing people acting like it’s all clear now. I don’t understand how anyone can be dancing on TV, dining out, getting their hair and nails done, having get-togethers, going to sporting events (when allowed by the organizers,) etc., like there’s not a care in the world. Even worse is that many of them make believe they’re wearing masks and socially-distancing!

Just last week, I received an invitation for a cocktail party in the tiniest eatery in New York. It’s bad enough that they’re having a soiree now to begin with, but the invite said, “Masks must be worn upon entry; Social Distancing practices apply.” Notice the “upon entry” part—it means you can take it off for the duration of the party since everyone will be eating and drinking. And in this self-described “cozy” fifteen-seat space, no more than a handful of guests will be able to be 6’ apart, which is how “social distancing” is basically defined at the moment. (The experts say it really should be much more than that, though.) Despite my admiration for the food and atmosphere in that place, you couldn’t pay me to attend! (Nor to fly now, to get there!)

Here’s the pertinent part of that current tiny-place cocktail party invitation.

And here’s an awful recent experience I had that takes the cake!: I was invited to a friend’s wedding shower in her mother’s massive backyard. I hadn’t been anywhere but the market and an emergency dentist visit in over seven months, (and still have not, other than for the debacle I’m about to describe for you,) but I love this friend. So, even though she was good enough to let me off the hook about it, I decided to attend because her mother and aunt assured me that it would be only fourteen people, who would be staying 6″ apart, and would all be wearing masks, (except when eating.) I even told them both that I would be bringing a pool noodle to make sure everyone was at least that far away from me, (which I forgot to do.)

But…not one single person was wearing a mask (except for me, of course, who was even rocking a shield over my masked face,) they were all sitting together at tables with no distancing whatsoever, and there were at least eighteen guests and six staff members!!!

And the kicker is—a couple of them (not the bride) made fun of me for sitting apart and wearing a mask and not even walking near the others! The mother even had the nerve to tell me that I’m upsetting everyone!!! Needless to say, I was in and out of there in about fifteen minutes, (which the bride totally understood. I have yet to hear from the mother and aunt, though, and it’s been almost a month!)

On top of all that, I know people who: have flown places…for fun, (not out of necessity!); eaten inside restaurants; been in cars with people not from their households; gotten pedicures; had parties; been in very large groups, either for protests, celebrations, or events; and have even gone on blind-dates! [Note: I’m happy for them to be having a good time; I just don’t want to be at their funerals, wishing that they had not engaged in that dangerous behavior.]

What is wrong with everyone??? Why did so few people learn to listen to directions in grade school??? This is really of the utmost importance right now! Are Mr. X and I the only people who are still worried about the virus???

Yes, we are a couple of the lucky ones during all this, knock on wood—we have each other, so neither of us is alone, (though I’m sure he would prefer to be!) I’m especially blessed to be locked-up with the funniest person in the world, who also appreciates my mind and humor, so we’re laughing all the time. We can pay our bills, and don’t have children or elderly parents to worry about. (Which may be why I worry about everybody else!) I’ve become a great cook and don’t mind doing it (too much.)

But it seems to me that people like us are the ones who are flouting the rules the most! I’m not surprised that lunatics who think the virus is a hoax don’t heed the advice of experts in the field. And I totally understand that my friends who are doctors, nurses, medical personnel, supermarket staff, etc., have no real choice but to continue to work, for the greater good.

Infectious disease expert, Michael Osterholm.

But at this point, other than those essential workers, there is no excuse whatsoever to be going on trips, dining out, going shopping for other-than-necessary supplies, and congregating in general. Just stay the frig home already!!! It’s not that difficult. If the ultimate Bon Vivette of life, moi, can do it, I guarantee that everybody has that ability!

A highly-regarded infectious disease expert, Michael Osterholm, just issued an ominous warning, that we all need to pay absolute attention to. On this week’s reputable news show, Meet the Press, he said, “The next six to twelve weeks are going to be the darkest of the pandemic.” So can everyone please be a good person, if even just to themselves, for the next three months, and stay home, if you have that luxury, so that we can all get back to life safely after that?

Thank you. End of rant.