Dear Readers,

I hope this missive finds you well. I’ve spend the past week working with my publisher on edits to Molly’s Song. I got to see it in print layout format which is kind of cool because it makes it all seem real. If you haven’t already, head over to Molly’s website where you can read an interview with her and get some more behind the scenes information on the book and its creation. With the publisher’s permission, I am trying to track down the rights holder of the photo that inspired the novel with an eye towards obtaining the necessary permissions to incorporate it into the cover, but that is a long shot as I may not be able to hear back from them in time and, even if I do, the cost could be prohibitive. But it is worth a shot, for sure.

It has been a little over two weeks since I had my first Rona vaccine. I have not turned into a mutant. Other than my arm being sore for three days, I handled it okay. Originally, I was supposed to be getting my second shot on 2/17. That’s what they told me when I got my first one. They said I would get an email within 24 hours with the specific time to come in. Ten days went by and I got no email. Eventually I got a text message that told me that I was on a waiting list to get my second shot once they became available. This concerns me. We were told that if we got our first shot, we were guaranteed a second shot. Now the county is backtracking on that. So I don’t know when I’ll get my second dose, or even if I will be able to get a second dose. Even if I do, it may not be within the specified 28 days (I got the Moderna shot). All that concern about not being able to get a first shot has now been replaced by worry that I won’t be able to get a second.

On a more positive note, the Six Nations Rugby Championship starts today. Obviously, I’m an Ireland fan and they play tomorrow (Sunday, 2/7), but today I got to watch Italy v. France and now I am watching Scotland v. England. And in case you are wondering, yes, I have a flag from every country except England and I fly the colors of whoever is playing England at the time along with my Irish tricolor. Tomorrow, I’ll be waving the flag while clad in my Ireland jersey and randomly singing Amhrán na bhFiann when I watch the lads take on Wales. And tomorrow is the Super Bowel and my wife is a big Chiefs fan, so she’ll be completely decked out in Chiefs gear, including underwear and socks, and pacing back and forth in the living room until game time. So, it’ll be an interesting day around the house.

Until next time, Dear Readers, take care of yourselves, and each other.

L.H.