In the years I’ve lived with and been married to Maria, I don’t recall us ever going to a movie matinee on a weekday. We both are workaholics, but Maria is close to a fanatic regarding being disciplined about her work.

I spread my work over a whole day and night she starts doing and keeps going in her studio until she’s ready to drop.

This week, we both agreed we would work every day and take it easy to slow down, rest, and read. We are both worn down by work and cold weather. I am still getting over being sick; I’m almost there.

I started the day with my precious Zoom gathering of blog people, now a gathering of friends. Then I got to work.

We’re going to a 3:15 show of The Fabelmans, in part a cinematic memoir of Steilberg’s young life and his determination to pursue a creative life rather than a lucrative one.

Spielberg directed the movie and wrote much of it. After the movie, we’ll pick up some sushi take-out from one of our favorite restaurants in Bennington, Vt.

We’ll come home. Both of us are deep into our books, both reading novels. Maria is reading Kate Atkinson’s new story, Shrines Of Gaiety, which I also read and loved.

I’m reading The Magic Kingdom, a new book by Russell Banks. I am really into it and was from the first page.

We’ll be eager to get home and spend the evening reading.

Neither of us is sure about what it means to take it easy. It isn’t something we know much about. But going to the movies on a weekday afternoon is groundbreaking for us, a good start.

I need to shake this virus.

I’m aware that older people with diabetes and heart disease take longer to heal from Covid if they are lucky. I’m fortunate; I’m almost there; resting and relaxing are essential.

Like my wife, I’ve never been good at relaxing.

But the pandemic pops up now and then; I believe I would be dead if I were not vaccinated and boosted. Vaccines have saved my life more than once; I believe in them.

So I guess we’re both agreed that this week will be a lighter working holiday with some time for fun. I like it. More later.