As Things Open Up

April is the cruellest month, breeding

Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing

Memory and desire, stirring

Dull roots with spring rain.

Winter kept us warm, covering

Earth in forgetful snow, feeding

A little life with dried tubers.

T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land

Now that the mask mandate is over for the moment in Chicago, life seems to be kind of, sort of back to normal. Masks are still required on public transportation and in Chicago theaters. Other venues, like the United Center and most stores, are not requiring them. I always have one or two in my pocket, and use them as needed while I wait for the next round of vaccine boosters. Especially because I am a Chicago Transit Authority rider.

From now through the end of April will be busier than usual for me. Besides getting my manuscript to the editor by April 10, I have a lot coming up. On Saturday I went to the movies for the first time since late December and saw "The Lost City" with a friend.

The end of the opera season is here. Yesterday I saw a new opera, "Fire Shut Up In My Bones," and next Sunday I finish off with "Tosca." I find it easier to have lunch downtown on those days, so my choice yesterday was Russian Tea Time, near Symphony Hall (down some way from my destination, the Civic Opera House).

Tuesday, as Chicago Restaurant Week gets into full swing, a friend and I are going to Brindille for a special Julia Child menu. Wednesday, I am seeing "Six" with family after dinner at Miller's Pub. I have another restaurant week dinner at Avec coming up next week. Wow!

And on and on it goes, culminating with Spring Fling, the biannual writing conference held in Chicago by Chicago-North Romance Writers. It won't be my first in-person writers' conference this year, but it will be my first signing and will mark the debut of my new retractable banner.

Last weekend I attended the conference put on by Chicago Writers Association. I don't see myself as an overly social person, but I have enjoyed getting together with others after so much time spent mostly writing or on Zoom.

Wherever you are, enjoy the spring weather--we're in another cold spell here after some unseasonably warm days--whatever it may be.

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At First Sight is available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, GooglePlay, and Apple Books.

At the Crossroads releases on May 25, 2022, and is available for preorder.