Overwhelmed with (mostly) Good Things™

I'd been sad the week before my birthday, thinking how I couldn't throw a 60th birthday cocktail party, because pandemic. [Has "because x" entered permanent grammatical use? I hope so.]
Also, that week before, temps were below-zero F.

Then it warmed up for my birthday week, and over several days I got to see lots of people outside––"lots" for pandemic times, and for socially sensitive me. And got lots of lovely cards and emails:
I felt overwhelmed, in the good way. Which made me very happy!

I've also felt overwhelmed because the trial is starting for Derek Chauvin, the former-policeman who killed George Floyd.
Right now they're choosing jury members---that will take a few weeks.
The Government Center downtown where the trial will be held is wrapped in barbed-wire.

People are on edge.
Will justice be done? [maaaaybe . . .  not?]
If not, will the city explode? [probably]
How can we help? [This is ongoing work: listen to one another, drink water, put up signs, etc.]

I have a dim but real hope that justice will be done, and this will be a turning point. Wouldn't that be amazing?!
But...
New York Times: "Few Police Officers Who Cause Deaths Are Charged or Convicted"

"The prosecutor [in the Floyd case], Attorney General Keith Ellison, has warned of the difficulty of prosecuting officers. “Trying this case will not be an easy thing. Winning a conviction will be hard”.

On a happier not, lots of people I know have gotten vaccinated against Covid-19! The pandemic continues, but, OMG, what a miracle of science.

Marz, just this week. YAY! Sadly, she and her coworkers felt quite ill for 24+ hours. Ick.  (Most of the people I know haven't had anything worse than a sore arm.)

I contacted my clinic who wrote back, "You are a bit too young and healthy for this clinic, you have to wait for the State".
A good problem to have, but working with the public, which I told them, is higher-risk... (And lots of customers and coworkers say they won't get vaccinated, swapping stories of how many people have died.
[No deaths confirmed because of the vaccine, per the CDC:
"An average of 8,000 people die each day in the United States. Some of them may have just received a coronavirus vaccine."]

I continue to keep my distance at work and wear my respirator, and with warmer weather (40s & 50s), the garage door where we accept donations is open A LOT, so there's great air flow.

Anyway, in the midst of pandemic and killer cops, here's a little catch-up of My Happy Birthday.

Maura (below, center) & bink (seated) even threw me a Pandemic Porch Party for the three of us (and their dog Astro, in window--not safe around cake) on my actual birthday, after bink took me to the zoo & conservatory:

With the sun coming in, it was plenty warm, even with the windows open. (Maura takes extra-care, living with a recently diagnosed auto-immune disorder.)

The day had started with an email from my best fan-friend--(we met on youTube in 2008, she inspired me to make my first Star Trek fanvid)-- sending me this painting she made me of the older Fraser & RayK, from due South:
"I think Ray and Fraser would turn 60 around now as well".
(That's them, young, from the show, on the wall.)

She based it on me saying (repeatedly) that reading in bed with someone you love is my idea of the best thing.

Her photo reference for the pose came from the book (interview and photos here): Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850–1950" curated by Hugh Nini & Neal Treadwell, who say the photos show, "Love is not straight, it’s not gay, it’s not bi, it’s just love & we all feel it the same way.”

More of her slashy (homoerotic) art and related fannish research on her Tumblr.

The big winners this birthday were the girlettes, and IT WASN'T EVEN THEIR BIRTHDAY!

A friend knit a teeny tiny washcloth & towel set for Penny Cooper:

My sister crocheted 15 mini–Mad Hatter top hats for the girlettes.
It was sweet of her to make one for each, but the only doll who loves to wear one is FrankColumbo, below, right--here at the lake near by place.
(That's sister's doll, to the left.)

BELOW: Linda Sue's girlettes Nat, Marden, and Maple made me a card!

Marz gave the girlettes a couple great (official Madeline) outfits---a magician and a soccer outfit!
This is not a birthday present, it's Marz's team in costumes she made for them: