Regardless of your political views, this week has been a stressful one all around, on top of a year that has stretched us all again and again. So today, I offer this scene as a moment of calm in your day. The quote about the bird struck me when I heard it yesterday - a reminder that we not only have far more in common than differences, but also that ultimately we survive together - not apart.

Regardless of your political views, this week has been a stressful one all around, on top of a year that has stretched us all again and again. So today, I offer this scene as a moment of calm in your day. The quote about the bird struck me when I heard it yesterday - a reminder that we not only have far more in common than differences, but also that ultimately we survive together - not apart.

This morning I put on a jacket I hadn’t worn since late winter. It always amuses me to see what I’ve left in my pockets from the prior season – usually a pair of gloves that I’ve stashed there on purpose, perhaps one of the kids’ treasures, maybe even a $20 bill.

This time when I reached my hand into the pocket, I pulled out a mask.