In Memory of Francis Gritzmacher

If you think about it, Frank left us in the nick of time. Right at the start of all the pandemic stuff. Not just that if he caught COVID-19, it would have been the end, but if he hadn't, he would have been forced into quarantine and isolated. No more visits from friends. He really loved his visitors and having company made things bearable for him. Just another random thought from my isolation...

Well, we are in July and it feels no closer to getting out of this pandemic lockdown. It feels like we're stuck in time. Progress has been tough in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak and every time we make inroads here in NY, it seems like the rest of the country undoes it all. I was beginning to feel optimistic that we might be clear to get together by late summer or fall, but now with travel bans in place for people traveling from other states, it looks like the best hope is a vaccine, whenever that comes.
So I just wanted to put something up here to show some kind of activity and keep everyone aware that even if nothing is going on, it's not because we've forgotten.
Everyone be safe. Practice social distancing when appropriate. Wear your masks, please... Get out and get some fresh air and sunshine when you can and stay so we can all get through this. I know it's been tough for me to do, but I'm going to try to keep healthy in the meanwhile. You're all Frank's family, which makes us family, so take care and we can all get together to celebrate his time with us someday soon.

As time goes on in this Coronavirus world, it looks like it may be some time before we can safely hold a memorial celebration. New York has been doing a reasonable job of managing the pandemic, but other areas don't seem to be. And COVIDIOTS everywhere seem determined to throw our sacrifices out the window and plunge us into a second wave of the epidemic.

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I think we know now how Frank felt being confined to a hospital room. We're all cooped up and feeling pretty stressed about it. But he always tried to take it in stride and I'm trying to do so as well. I think of him often. I think of something he would know about and I would have wanted to ask him about. I realize I valued his thoughts and opinions a lot. He was a good friend, even to his ol' Dad.