DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. 
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First up this week: Together … 
Together: Unity, solidarity, fellowship. Together: collectively in one place or united in purpose. It's key to maintaining community. Enforced isolation, whether from community or personal health, rather batters my sense of together. For years I've worked alone, just me and my keyboard. Relying on email, texting, and sometimes actual telephone conversations (those seem increasingly rare) for personal contact. And now I'm fully aware that my mood sinks when alone for too long. It floats when I've enjoyed actual human contact, when I'm together, with friends. The floating feeling lasts, too. It surprised me, at first. Now, I'm delighted.
 
Second up this week, Trust … 
Trust: Dependable, reliable, honest. Fostering a culture of kindness and compassion. Well, that just can't be beat. I seem to be in an end-of-year rumination mode. Thinking about how to be my best possible DAH. My friends, my true friends, are trusted. Trusted as I hope they trust me. We enjoy ourselves … laughing, joking, singing, and occasionally sharing confidences. At home we regularly stream British police and detective series on television. In these series we can trust that many lies are being told. I wouldn't trust any of the characters. The lying liars persist in untrustworthiness. Fortunately, they're not my friends.  

Third up this week, Tonic … 
Tonic: Restore, energize, invigorate. A tonic is something that refreshes. It aligns with self-care principles by rejuvenating mind and body. I do like tonic water, but I'd rather feel frisky and be a tonic myself. And, yes, I know that tonic could be a musical reference. But I don't mean that, either. I aim to be a tonic, whenever I'm able. If my presence and participation can provide the tonic in any situation, I'll be pleased. How marvelous to feel one's assisted with restoring and energizing. What a fine social behavior. So positive and encouraging.

A classic witty mystery novel …   
The Moving Toyshop, by Edmund Crispin
A DAH-favorite book by a DAH-favorite writer. The Moving Toyshop (1946) is a work of detective fiction by Edmund Crispin, featuring his regular sleuth, Gervase Fen, an Oxford professor of English Language and Literature. I find the Crispin / Fen books so delightful and amusing, even upon re-reading. In 2006, detective novelist P. D. James picked The Moving Toyshop as one of her five "most riveting crime novels". About Crispin (nom de plume of Bruce Montgomery), James said, "(He) is one of the few mystery writers able to combine situation comedy and high spirits with detection." Other crime writers have also given praise to Crispin for the paciness and humour of his work. Scottish crime writer Val McDermid called The Moving Toyshop, "A classic crime novel with a surreal streak … It's a clever, energetic romp, written with wit." DAH highly recommends, but is aware that some readers will find Fen annoying.


And a bit more … 

"Talking In Bed"
by Philip Larkin

Talking in bed ought to be easiest,
Lying together there goes back so far,
An emblem of two people being honest.
Yet more and more time passes silently.
Outside, the wind's incomplete unrest
Builds and disperses clouds in the sky,
And dark towns heap up on the horizon.
None of this cares for us. Nothing shows why
At this unique distance from isolation
It becomes still more difficult to find
Words at once true and kind,
Or not untrue and not unkind.


And that's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's "Sometimes"