Despite news of vaccines and experimental treatments, people close to my family continue to test positive for the virus. I’m generally a stay at home kind of person for other health conditions, but even I like to get out and socialize once in a while. Not so in the past week. My wife, who works in education, sees more students and staff quarantined every day. It’s come as close as people she works with, and people she spends time with outside of work. All week, every little tickle in my throat or odd cough has been suspect. The worry is enough to derail my efforts to write, even when my mind is brimming with possibilities for the story. I’m pushing through as best I can, but paranoia in a pandemic is as dangerous as any other time. Fear vs. Hope – so far, hope wins!