In the first days of March 2020 I stood on Kilimanjaro with the Kili Iniitative Climb group. Once again I did not summit. At dawn I descended from the 16000 feet camp across the Saddle to the Horombo camp, where I met my friend Pendaeli.

The Tanzanian park ranger said, “You can get the Internet here with your phone. You should hear what is happening in the world.”

All the guides and porter were gathered by a hut, speaking to wives and lovers.

I tried to call my family in Thailand. The signal wasn’t strong enough to speak, but I texted that I was okay and then search for The Guardian online. The news wasn’t good. Italy was ravaged by Covid-19. Iran too and the virus was creeping across the planet. Pendaeli knew I had the sight sometimes and asked, “What do you think will happen?”

“I don’t know.” I hadn’t a clue. My sight saw nothing, but I said, “All I can say is this will not be good.”

For ten months the world has shut down human contact. There is no real work for millions. The leader of the USA has denied lethalness of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In November FDTrump lost the election to Joe Biden and he abandoned the White House after a few photo-ops before a Christmas tree with a few wrapped packages under the boughs.

There was no one in the White House.

Down in Palm Beach he gave a speech rejecting the Congressional Relief Bill. Now everyone was sure that nothing of value under that Christmas tree. Trump tweetered through the night.

On Christmas he did not attend church or wish the nation a Merry Christmas.

Trump went golfing at his golf course, charging everything to the American taxpayer.

Tens of millions sick across the country, as he shouts, “Fore.” in Florida.

We are so fucked, but things will either go back to the way the were or collapse completely.

We are so fucked, but we always were.

Good luck everyone.