Thanksgiving Eve is historically the biggest bar night of the year. It is the night college students come home and catch up with their friends for a night out on the town before getting together with family on Thanksgiving Day. Because of Covid-19 the bars in Michigan are losing a large portion of their annual revenue tonight. As reported in Bridge Magazine Dan Kolander and his staff normally get ready for a surge of business on the night before Thanksgiving as regulars jam Dan’s Downtown Tavern. The bar and restaurant is an anchor among the handful of nightspots in downtown Saline. Kolander says he cannormally count on $15,000 in revenue on what’s now called “the biggest bar night of the year. Now it’s zero,” Kolander said. “It’s literally zero.” I truly feel for these small business owners who are an anchor in many of the small towns in Michigan.
In an expected move, President Trump pardoned Michael Flynn today. He is the second to be pardoned from the Russian probe. Expect many more pardons. I fully expect President Trump to attempt to pardon himself from any current or future investigations into his business, tax returns, or behavior prior to becoming president. I am not sure it is legally possible, but don’t be surprised if it is attempted one way or another.
Leah and I had to change our plans for Thanksgiving as a result of the increase in covid-19 cases. We will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner and delivering it to Chris and Katy and their respective families. Like so many, this will be our first Thanksgiving not spent with family. It is not something we want to do, but it is the right thing to do.
Today I had a two hour sense of normalcy as I watched the Michigan basketball game. It is the first time since March that I have sat down and watched a sporting event from start to finish. It felt good. It felt normal. I am already looking forward to watching the next game. College basketball will help get me through the dark days of winter.
My quote of the day: “I don’t worry about things I don’t have control over because I don’t have control over them. I don’t worry about things I have control over because I have contol over them.” Mickey Rivers.
Happy Thanksgiving. Stay safe, wear your mask, social distance, and wash your hands regularly.