Hello there, remember us.

I know, our podcast feed has been in want of new content for a while now.

We're still here, I promise.

It's been a struggle this past now more than a year to keep up with productivity while trying to adapt and make major adjustments, all the while managing the immense

stress and anxiety of life in a pandemic. And if that feels familiar to you, my friends,

just know we are definitely not alone. Hey, how about we forget about productivity, guilt, and all the other stresses, even for just a few moments.

I've got some inspiration in verse to share with you from our resident poet, Dr. David Linton.

With the efficiency of his form of rhythm and rhyme, he paints interesting and clever observations of

the idiosyncrasies of our time and culture. The first piece, Dear Grandma, contemplates

the contemporary arrogance of our era. Well, a pandemic is certainly a sobering slap in the

face. It's followed by the virtual feast, a pandemic is certainly a sobering slap in the face.

It's followed by the virtual feast,

a reflection on our social foodie culture,

dinner and cocktails with friends, family,

our modern rituals of breaking bread.

How do we continue those connections in an age of social distance?

Dear Grandma, I hope you're finding joy and love with the other angels up above.

I've been thinking of you a lot these days, of how you loved me in so many ways. I think of your stories about my dad, of when he was good or even bad. I remember your tales of the dear old

country. You could make me laugh or even amaze me. But lately, I think of your life with the flu, of how it made a widow of you,

and how it took away your brother and nearly to your loving mother.

When I heard you tell those long, sad stories, I always thought,

but I have no worries. We've got our pills, our shots, and potions. We get along with

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