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Hi Friends,

I hope you have been managing as well as can be. I have been staying inside my apartment for almost 5 weeks, and it’s starting to feel normal.

My guest this week is a talented humor writer whom I discovered in The New Yorker, and then met at a panel I hosted at our shared alma mater Brown University. Her name is Bess Kalb. Maybe you’ve followed her on Twitter or seen her on Jimmy Kimmel where she was a writer for eight years. Bess has written her first novel, an evocation of her grandma Bobbie called, Nobody Will Tell You This But Me.

One of my fears as we got used to living under an unpredictable and malevolent president was that we would begin to normalize our new reality. Even before there were life or death implications to staying home, we’ve been shrugging our shoulders as truths became “alternative facts”, as riots were caused by “some fine people”, and the double standards of a self-dealing family with no consequences became more and more brazen. I feel that my job is more “resistor” than podcaster, and sometimes it overwhelms me.

But since this is Five Things that Make Life Better, let me tell you what makes me feel better.

Lisa’s 5 Things:

1. You. You make masks, and raise money for food for those doing the saintly work in the hospitals and clinics. You applaud and strike pots and pans every night at 7 pm to express gratitude to the medical and essential personnel who keep your towns and cities operational. The actress and activist Celia Keenan-Bolger is part of a drive to provide dinners to essential hospital workers every night. You can give a little money to that effort. The link is here: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/7yw221/donate

2. So many go over and above the call of duty. For example, Broadway star, Brian Stokes Mitchell has recently recovered from COVID. To show his thanks he now sings his trademark song, “The Impossible Dream” from his apartment window every single evening. You can see him here: https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-brian-stokes-mitchell-impossible-dream-20200413-mhwcn72drrhabiipzcgpactr2a-story.html

I just learned on Facebook that a friend’s son, who practices medicine in Louisville, is en route to New York to volunteer in an emergency room in one of our city’s overworked hospitals. It is vital, just now, to remind ourselves of the decency that is innate in almost everyone.

3. Making your bed every day. In telling you this I am reminding myself too. If we forget to make our bed in the morning, it sends me the message that I am only temporarily up and about. And yet, strangely enough it is not welcoming. The made bed says you are ready for the day.

4. Try to use your new exercise equipment every day, if only for a short time. (Note to self.)

5. Dr. Anthony Fauci. Whomever he officially reports to, he is our beacon of scientific truth. I am worried about his safety and health and so grateful that he appears on tv daily.