So I was thinking that there should be a word or phrase for the feeling you get when you open the fridge or the cupboard to get that last ingredient or container of leftovers that you were planning to have for lunch, only to find that someone else has eaten it first.

German seems like a good language for these kinds of expressions, so I went looking but all I could find was “Kummerspeck,” which is a term for emotional overeating. “Kummer” means grief and “speck” means bacon, so this translates to “grief bacon,” as in “Wegen des pandemic habe ich viel getan Kummerspeck.” This too is true, but it’s not the word I want.

The more exciting news is that several skating friends and I went in together on renting ice for a couple of private sessions: six people, all respecting proper distancing measures and wearing masks. Of course there is still risk of infection, but hopefully this is less than a public session (which no one seems to be offering anyway). Plus if any of us get sick, we know who to call.

The first time out was pretty tentative. I have been bicycling and doing yoga, but it took a while to feel comfortable again on skates. However, the following week was better. I’ve been concentrating on skating alignment and all that hard work over the past few years seems to be paying off. I’m not fully back in shape but I also don’t feel like I’m all over the place.

Sometimes just staying balanced is a victory of sorts.

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Stay healthy and safe, friends!