I recently discovered a new docuseries called Dear…

Each episode features a well-known figure — Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Aly Raisman, Jane Goodall, among others — and letters they’ve received from people changed or influenced by their work. The content of the letters is woven into a biographical narrative, providing greater insight into the main figure and the life they’ve led.

One of the people profiled is musician and writer Lin-Manuel Miranda, of Hamilton fame.

This weekend, we passed Day 50 of shelter-in-place (or “pause” as we’re calling it here in NY State).

There are a few things I’ve learned so far:

• You can get a lot of things delivered.

• Teaching online is not as limited as I once thought.

• That being said, Zoom fatigue is real.

• I can give Steve a haircut.

• Time is passing very slowly. Also, what day is it?

• I can make pizza rolls (trying sourdough this week — wish me luck!).

• Puzzles are a great way to pass the time.

• Music is a gift we can give and receive right now.

It was a typical Monday afternoon.

My 2nd-grade student came bounding into the room, full of questions and things to tell me since I’d seen him last.

He sat down on the bench, eager to play an arrangement of “Sweet Molly Malone,” a piece I suggested last week might be good for our end-of-year recital.

Slowly, he made his way through, wincing out loud every time he missed a note. When he finished, I complimented him on his thorough practicing this week and offered a few suggestions: