With thanks to Jimmy Fallon for the inspiration, here are my Coronavirus thank-you notes.

Dear super gigantic carpenter bees. Thank you for making sure that my children will never exit our front door without screaming.

Dear new sixth grade ELA assignments. Thank you for reminding me that explaining something louder does not actually make Casey understand it better.

Dear pollen. Thank you for coming through our window screen to coat everything in our house, including my laptop and most of our furniture.

Dear Pilgrim Man Pepper Shaker. Thank you for coming out of hiding from behind a Pringles container to be reunited with Pilgrim Lady Salt Shaker to prove that true love does exist, even if you have to take a break sometimes.

Dear TikTok. Thank you for providing endless hours of amusement for Mallory and Ally, even if it is really loud and usually during conference calls.

Dear new mask guidelines. Thank you for making that Halloween-related purchase of two dozen assorted color bandanas look like a really savvy purchase now.

Dear last year’s cooking camp. Thank you for inspiring Mallory and Ally to make dinner and cinammon bread and homemade pretzels and a chocolate chip scone and a yellow cake.

Dear All American on Netflix. Thank you for being the most binge-worthy show to help pass the time.

Dear 11-year-old soccer team. Thank you for having the most chaotic and funniest Zoom meeting ever where not one lick of soccer was discussed.