It was easier back then—in the Before Times—to celebrate Independence Day. But now, it doesn’t feel like there’s much freedom to celebrate.

We spotted a red cardinal on our walk the other day. He was magnificent—perched at the top of the tallest tree, singing triumphantly, a splash of bright red against the gray Maine sky.

As I was picking apart mounting bolts and IKEA pieces, the first whispers of Coronavirus had already entered New York City. It was the beginning of real grief, real heartbreak, real loss—the kind that makes me cringe when I remember how sad I was for a minute over a piece of furniture. (Okay, more than a minute.)