Page 10 - My FlipBook 1

TWO WEEKS INTO THE QUAR- changed everything. The song college friends on a Zoom call. count on page 82 of the night
antine, I lost it. reminded me of when things felt We’d never done this previously. in January 1985 when the de-
Early one evening, as I was do- normal, and I longed for that. Now I can’t imagine a world cade’s greatest singers gath-
ing the dishes, “Night Moves” But this was also catharsis. I was without it. ered to record “We Are the
came on the radio. I have heard letting go of a bygone world so I find strength in the mere World.” (Most of them, anyway.
that song, by Bob Seger & the Sil- that I could start moving toward thought of observing these rit- Prince wasn’t there. Nor was
ver Bullet Band, one million whatever comes next. uals after the quarantine lifts, Bob Seger.)
times, and I’ve enjoyed it each Most forecasts for the “new and after the virus is subdued. On page 54, we’ve revived
time. But on the one million and normal” depict a world of masks The way we make a maga- and updated a classic Esquire
first, I cried. Not the sort of and Plexiglas, six feet of separa- zine has also changed. This is- feature, “What I’ve Learned.”
eye misting that’s easy to explain tion and vigilant handwashing. sue’s cover subject, John David This time it’s “What We’re
away. I openly wept. My wife I’m ready for that, but I’m not Washington—who stars in the Learning”: twenty perspectives
walked into the kitchen to find looking forward to it. Instead, summer’s most anticipated from across the country on how
that her husband had become since the night I sobbed over blockbuster, Christopher No- the virus has changed people.
the real-world avatar of the Cry- “Night Moves,” I’ve focused on lan’s Tenet—was photographed Participants include Washing-
ing Michael Jordan meme. I the moments of joy that I hope at home in Los Angeles by fam- ton governor Jay Inslee, Jimmy
wrapped my arms around her will evolve into new traditions. ily friend Dominic Miller (while Fallon, an ER physician in Geor-
and let my body go heavy. Before the pandemic, not observing all the necessary gia, a wildlife veterinarian at
I know what you’re thinking, once did I eat a weeknight din- safety protocols, of course). the Bronx Zoo, and a funeral di-
and I agree: “Night Moves” is a ner with my two young daugh- In the absence of a full crew, rector outside Detroit. Perhaps
terrific song. But it had never ters, because I returned from Dominic captured John David the most resonant words come
moved me to tears until that day. the office too late. Now we eat with a unique intimacy, which from an eight-year-old from
Not even close. This was grief. I together every night. I want this you can see on page 44. Else- Indiana named Katie. “Mostly,
THIS WAY IN A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
was mourning the one million to continue. where in the issue, you’ll find I’ve been sad,” she said, “but
times I’d heard “Night Moves” Every weekend for the past pure escapism—like the behind- then I get really happy.”
before the virus came and several weeks, I’ve joined my the-scenes, hour-by-hour ac- —Michael Sebastian

THE QUARANTINE CRACK-UP

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