Hey Tony,
You wouldn’t believe everything that has happened since you’ve been gone. Well, I think you had an idea of what was coming, but not even you could have imagined this.
The restaurant industry has been completely laid to waste… going out to eat isn’t really a thing most people do anymore. If a business can pivot to take-out they can limp along for now. Some of the biggest, most successful restaurants are gone.
You would probably laugh, at least to keep from crying, but remember how everyone was all excited to ban people from certain countries from traveling to the US? Now, most countries have bans on US citizens. But it doesn’t really matter as most people are more afraid to fly now then they were after 911. Both the airline and travel industry are pretty close to the edge and will go over if they aren’t bailed out by the government again.
And don’t even get me started on your beloved Beirut. It recently received a self inflicted blast of almost Biblical proportions. A staggeringly large percentage of its people left homeless and hungry, it’s government broken and resigning. Perhaps, some good change will be sparked by it and a new, better government will fill the void. But you know better than I, that this is at best hopelessly optimistic.
Back here at home, the frustration and anger at the social injustices and inequities present in all aspects of America have really come to a head. We couldn’t be more divided and at each other’s throats. Cities have been burned and confidence in our government and basic institutions has been rocked.
I go back and watch old episodes of your shows, seeking a distraction but instead get a constant reminder of how much has changed in such a short period of time. You and your point of view are sorely missed. I’m hopeful all of this change is all for the best and am currently hunkering down with a bowl of homemade noodles and broth. I’ll try to keep you updated.
