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New York Times Letter by Sally Currie

By Sally Currie

I clicked "send" and off went my little paragraph and I thought no more about it until... less than a week after it was published in the New York Times on August 3rd (of which I was unaware) I got a letter in my snail mail sending me some positive thoughts. This was followed by five more over the next six weeks!! One young woman even sent two examples of her toddlers' art work. Two sent their poems.

This all happened during a time I was feeling rather unhappy about the state of the climate, the nation and my health, so it was wonderful to know that there are still some very caring and loving people out there who care about old people. My respondents varied in age and were from Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut, Nebraska and California. All had my old apartment number from when I lived here five years ago, so I am in the cloud somewhere from that time. The article just gave my name and city.

Here's what I wrote: 

" I live in as assisted living where masking has been optional. I, therefore, have stayed almost entirely in my apartment, avoiding the dining room and all activities. I do go out to get supplemental food and take long walks early before it gets hot. I do not leave my apartment without a mask. I zoom a lot to stay sane and write poetry, as well as read and play computer games. At 89, most of my friends are gone, so I don't have many phone contacts. Don't really mind being alone because most of the people here are demented and not much fun to talk to."