Recent posts striking a note of hope were greatly encouraged by the fact that I made plans, out, with someone to whom I’m not married, for the first time in a year. We were able to make these plans because New York’s COVID protocols are now tolerating indoor dining for reduced guest populations which register in a contact tracing regime. My friend Chris suggested that he get a break from our shutdown routines, and he made a reservation for a Pappy van Winkle bourbon tasting flight at Fraunces Tavern, the oldest bar in the city. I headed down to Wall Street last Friday night where we met up.