Today at RDP, Martha asks us to get creative
with the word ‘global’. Thanks, Martha!
The prompt took me back to something I
wrote in 2021. It’s always been a favorite.
Both men lived in the same apartment building, one on the ground floor and the other, two flights up. They would see each other in passing, nodding ‘hello’ or muttering the occasional “How ya doing?” They were approximately the same age and had seen each other often but a friendship never developed.
Then the corona virus hit; it was labeled a ‘global pandemic’. Everything changed.
They happened upon each other in a nearby park, masked up, walking their dogs. One had a golden retriever, the other a chocolate lab. They struck up a socially distanced conversation, at first talking about their dogs then, of course, the craziness of COVID.
They were both unemployed computer engineers, laid off because of company closures. Each one contemplated moving back in with parents but that was impossible; neither one came from accepting or understanding families.
They started biking and jogging together, often running the six miles that made up the full loop around Central Park. As they talked they discovered they had much in common: their nonexistent love lives, their passion for chess, a fascination with micro-brewing and their dream of working from home as computer app designers. And how gut-wrenching it was coming out as gay. Bittersweet commentaries.
The next step was so natural: moving in together. They could share one apartment and save money, work on ideas for web designs, dabble in a little home-made beer and totally, passionately, fiercely fall in love.
A new year, a new start. Love in the time of corona.
NAR©2021, 2025
This is “Living In A Ghost Town” by the Rolling Stones, recorded during lockdown in London 2023
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Very nice!
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Thanks, D. I always liked the believability of this little story. I’m glad I had a chance to bring it back.
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Two of a kind. Nice one, Nancy.
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Live and let live, that’s what I say, dear Keith. Thank you.
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Love that – a positive story finding love in Covid time 🩷
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Thanks so much, Ange. I have a good feeling about these two. ❤️
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So lovely to see a natural, loving coming together. You are a romantic this week!
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I’d rather be called a romantic than to have people complaining that I was writing too many stories about Christmas shopping! 🤣 😂
Thanks, Dale.
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Nothing wrong with being a romantic, I say!
💞
Always a pleasure, amica mia
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A sweet love story! And the dogs were a nice touch as well. 🙂
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A nod to all the dog lovers out there! Thanks very much. Debbie. 🐶
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Interesting finding out how gay guys meet.
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Well, I have no first hand knowledge or experience, but I would assume it’s pretty much the same way straight guys meet.
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Ooh la la! Nice story!
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Thank you, Christine. I hope they’ll be very happy.
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I just knew a something beautiful had to come out of that COVID lockdown!
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You and me both, sister! I’m glad it turned out so well for these two. Thanks, Jode.
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