At Lucille Ellson's home, inside her brimming drawers, are hints of how the present mirrors the past.

I can't be the only one nervously lifting the back of my (scrupulously washed) hand to my forehead for quick assurance I've eluded fever for another day.

Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx walked side-by-side in the 1980s on hospital rounds, watching young men die of a mysterious disease that had no cure.

We're living through strange times, and if the latest stay-at-home directives don't convince you of that, how about this: People are reading more than usual. They're buying more books than usual. Even if you can't browse your favorite local bookstore, consider supporting them by shopping online for gift certificates while you purchase a few of these titles in digital form. 

David C. Driskell, an artist, art historian, art collector, art teacher, author and curator who became a primary sponsor and advocate for the role of African American art in the national culture, died April 1 at a hospital in Washington, D.C. He was 88.