Sheltering in place

That’s what our local governments have told us to do in the six Bay Area counties surrounding—and including—San Francisco. All “non-essential” businesses were to close at midnight on Monday night. The streets are empty of people and cars. (See extra: a normally traffic-laden Berkeley street at what would normally be the morning rush hour.)
On Monday evening, I poured myself a gin-and-tonic, put out a bowl of my favorite Japanese treats, and began reading the third volume in Hilary Mantel’s marvelous Cromwell trilogy. What could be nicer? The illusion of enjoyable seclusion was no doubt temporary, but it was great while it lasted.