“Whatever gets you through the night

It's all right, it's all right.”

— John Lennon

“You're sure you're OK talking about this sensitive topic?”

“Absolutely, sweetheart. Don’t be silly.”

So began a 45 minute call the other day to an apartment in Queens, New York. It was my Aunt Val. She was gazing out her window at a tree where spring buds were sprouting — and a plastic shopping bag had annoyingly clung. 

Coronavirus had struck the building maintenance crew, which usually handles such things. 

It’s just another farkakte way this dreaded virus is changing everything.

Quarantine and COVID-19 seem to distill our emotions to their rawest states: panic, paranoia, hypochondria, followed by relief and vague self-assurances “everything” will be ok. 

No one does vast swings of raw emotion better than my family. And since my aunt was open to talking, especially about its effect on seniors, who are more susceptible to COVID-19’s effects, I called Valerie Diamond, 67. 

Valerie Diamond and her boyfriend, Bill. (Josh Robin, Spectrum News)

Following are lightly edited quotes — and music tips.

There was crying and laughing, one after the other. I wouldn’t want it any other way. 

ON VULNERABILITY

Last night, Bill (her boyfriend, 72) was just not himself. He would not let me take his temperature. And I said, ‘Why not?’ And he said, ‘Because I'm scared to death.’ I said to him, ‘Talk to me. Why are you scared to death?’ And he said, ‘Because I'm afraid that if I get sick, they’re not going to prioritize me.’

I think that there is this feeling that your life is worth less. At least with some idiots, in my opinion, at this point, because of one less older person, it doesn't matter. We're going to die within the next 20 years anyway.

ON THE TEXAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S SUGGESTION THAT GRANDPARENTS BE WILLING TO DIE FOR THE ECONOMY

(Expletive) Well, good for you. Good for you. You know, if that's what you want to do, by all means. You know, knock yourself out.

"In It’s a Wonderful Life, there’s this scene where George Bailey is rubbing his eyes and he comes out of this dream and he realizes that he is alive and he has so much to live for. 

And he's crying, you know, and he says, I just want to live. You know, that's exactly how I feel.

And I don't think I, quote unquote, deserve to die or have to sacrifice my life for the economy. The economy has changed anyway. How could you place a dollar on a human life? 

ON GOALS

My materialism has changed. I really don't want much anymore. I used to feel jealousy of people that had a lot of money and things like that.

But right now, my main goal is honestly just to continue our life the way it is, if it ever comes back to normal. And I'm talking up the simple things, going for a walk along the Cross Island (Parkway), hearing the cars, looking at the budding vegetation. Going to a diner. Seeing a movie in Kew Gardens. 

And we may not be able to travel, you know, as many places as we did in the beginning. But I don't care right now. I just want to see (my daughter). 

ON GETTING OLDER IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

You know, I have to be honest. I can't begin to tell you what a pleasure it is not to see the Kardashians on Google or any of this (expletive) that has been feeding our country for so many years that you cannot avoid.
That image that you have to be perfect is giving people body dysmorphic disorder. What about being a good person? What about your neshuma (soul)?

How about being a good person and knowing that if you see an older person, you'll try and help them? You talk to them. You don't shun them.

ON HER MUSIC IN QUARANTINE

Sanity Clause

UNCERTAINTY. Normally, not knowing is a sure path to anxiety. But what other choice have we now but to embrace — or at least tolerate — the phrase “I don’t know?” 

Trapped Parent Tip

DANCE PARTIES. There will be no shared photos, or even a confirmation or denial that I speak here from experience. But since we are talking about music, get up with the kids, shake it and don’t care what you or they look like.