The US needs to adopt European-style universal healthcare NOW.

And European-style workers’ rights.

Europeans are struggling, too, though — and I still proudly consider myself part of that continent. The endless struggle of ensuring basic needs are met seques into the endless struggle of ensuring that emotional and psychological needs are met. Then there’s getting work done because the people we do business with genuinely need us.

And thanking our lucky stars. I had a sandwich yesterday, with actual bread. It was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted.

I feel close to tears most of the time, and I’m one of the lucky ones. My daughter is being an angel, but cries more easily these days. We are all a little bit brittle. “Tired but coping” was the health visitor’s assessment when she visited my newborn; I feel much the same right now.

Coping, but not OK.

I don’t recall where I read it, but I said it to my boss the other day:

You are not working from home; you are at home in the middle of a crisis, trying to work.

I needed her to ease off a little on herself, and not feel so guilty or push herself too hard. She doesn’t expect much of anything from me right now. I don’t expect much from anyone else.

Because we don’t have much of anything to give.

We’ll get through this, eventually, together — but the sheer endless ache of grief; the appalling weight of horror and sorrow makes even the most trivial chore an arduous challenge.

We need to recognise and accept that. Ease up on ourselves, on each other, and — especially — on our children.