I was introduced to huge free city concerts in July of 1969. The Rolling Stones performed before me and a half million fans at Hyde Park.  I was hooked on the grand scale and energy of the colossal show.   Through the years I tried to be at Central Park for the spectacle shows.  I saw Elton John, Diana Ross, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, The Black Keys, Foo Fighters, and The NY Philharmonic, etc.  Sharing the NYC skyline views and the energy of the crowd was always a cause for celebration.  

  They say everything in life is a learning experience. The last week, I’ve been learning a lot.

My kids tell me that your phone is always listening. Or, at least, someone out there in the virtual universe is tracking your online searches and purchases.    

Finally (and in honor of this blog, taking my coffee black this morning)!  

Everyone seems to be on edge. On the road and in the stores as I experienced.  

Both Joanne and I have been vaccinated and were becoming comfortable with life as it used to be.  We returned to the gym, dined indoors and enjoyed breathing fresh air without the annoying hindrance of a mask.   And then along came this insidious Delta Variant and our world was thrown akimbo! What to do?  Who to listen to? It’s scary.  It’s complicated and it could be life and death. We are compelled to return to the annoying masks and outdoors become a safer haven. What next?

Last weekend we were at the beach. Have you ever noticed how many balls there are at the beach?There were kids kicking balls and grownups throwing them—on the sand and in the surf. There were people throwing balls to dogs who charged with glee to retrieve them in the waves. There were men smacking a little ball with paddles...trying to keep the volleys going.

The cultural world is changing quickly.  And, COVID has impacted how we consume movies, theater, museums, and books.  Using our screens to watch movies, plays, and museum shows has helped us cope.  But, how has the book business been impacted by COVID?   The Audible book market was exploding before COVID put a dent into car commuting and book listening.  In 2020, audiobooks were released at a record rate. Even after a slight dip due to the pandemic, the business is still growing, yearly, at a double digit rate.