Back to school

Lock down at home tough especially when involved in many social activities. One benefit has been Mary signing up for online history and art appreciation courses. These aren’t brief overviews but intensive examinations of events and the people involved. Already completed 12 hours each on Winston Churchill, Tchaikovsky, and George Orwell. Didn’t think Orwell could possibly require 12 hours but when concluded, we were left wanting more on this extraordinary, gifted visionary whose 'Animal Farm' and ‘1984’ echo down to today. Halfway thru 15 hours on WWII providing amazing insights not previously gained from dozens of histories and biographies. Mary so enthralled she emailed the Orwell prof to express her appreciation. He responded with news of his upcoming venture coming this fall: ‘60’s London and the Beatles.’ That’s on our watch list, quarantine or not. Watching that magic screen doesn’t quite match the ambiance of musty lecture halls at University of Chicago and Loyola seven decades past, but helps speed up the time till paroled back into society.