The stay-at-home directive was announced during the middle of tax season, my busiest time of the year. Even though IRS extended the due date until July 15, 2020, most of my clients still wanted to file by April 15. I was so busy during that time that I hardly even noticed the isolation and solitude until recently. Now the cabin fever has set in!

Some of the things I miss the most are browsing through bookstores, eating at my favorite restaurants, going to Target whenever I felt like it, and of course, the Kaligrafos meetings! But I have been good, staying home all the time, with only the occasional visit to the grocery store (and yes, I wear a mask [not the robbery kind!!] and only shop during non-peak hours).

I’ve spent my time reading, cleaning house, yard work, watching way too much Netflix and Amazon Prime, doing jigsaw puzzles, and playing with art supplies. I’ve finally caught up on my ink sample journal and reference cards (see photos). In case you’re not aware of it, Inkjournal.com has a subscription service for monthly ink samples, and I’ve been receiving a box of 7 or 8 ink sample vials each month for the last few years. It’s a really fun way to discover and try out new inks.

Looking forward to getting back to normal, or the new normal whatever that might be, and seeing everyone again, hopefully sooner than later!

-Rick Garlington