The Family Zookeepers; Optimism Can Be Learned; A Lifetime Of Loving The Indigo Girls

Plus, churches and hotels may be forever changed by the pandemic

by Jill Hudson and Suzette Lohmeyer Sarah Stacke for NPR Stories and podcasts you may have missed ...  Family members have been taking on all kinds of unexpected roles during the pandemic. Here's a new one: zookeeper. With short-term changes becoming long term, the families who welcomed school pets into their upended lives are finding companionship, entertainment and learning opportunities. Here’s how it’s going, from snails to Chubby the frog.  Many people with disabilities or who have difficulty communicating rely on others to help them get medical care. But since the pandemic began, many of those family and support workers have been banned from hospitals, leaving those in need with no one to help communicate their needs.  COVID-19 has transformed home life — turning kitchen tables into home offices and classrooms and putting a spotlight on the countless household tasks typically performed by women. Author Brigid Schulte says the coronavirus crisis has laid bare the "grotesque inequality" that exists within many families. You mean no more minibars, pens or tiny shampoos? The hotel industry is adapting quickly in order to survive the current health and financial crisis — not just with extra-deep cleaning, but also with technology that allows for more contactless interactions. And some amenities that guests normally find in their rooms are going away. Will the changes be enough to bring guests back?  Lyndsay Tucker, a 25-year-old skin care consultant at a Sephora in San Jose, Calif., had never heard Tesla founder Elon Musk until a couple of years ago, when she began fielding a steady stream of calls and text messages intended for him."I asked my mom, 'Hey, I keep getting these text messages' — and I was also now starting to get phone calls — 'for this guy Elon Musk. I don't know who this is,' " Tucker said. "And my mom's jaw just dropped." Newsletter continues after sponsor message Listen Up! Credit: Vahram Muradyan for NPR In the past few years, there has been a growing fear about a possible consequence of climate change: zombie pathogens. Specifically, bacteria and viruses — preserved for centuries in frozen ground — coming back to life as the Arctic's permafrost starts to thaw. (Listen here or read the story) Christian worship in the United States appears to have been significantly altered by the pandemic. A new poll found that one-third or more of those who had previously attended church regularly were not bothering to watch online services — and the disconnect may be permanent. (Listen here or read the story) There's a lot of research showing that optimism is correlated with various good outcomes like increased life expectancy, better recovery rates, even success in work. But while we tend to think of optimism as a personality trait —  you're born with or without it — there is a completely different way to think about it: something that can be learned. (Listen here or read the transcript) Springtime is in full swing. Flowers are blooming, and pollinators are abuzz. But what about when flowers are not yet in bloom? Scientists have found that some bumblebees have a clever trick that may help that process along. They nibble on leaves instead. (Listen here or read the transcript) Our Picture Show Picks Sasha Nikolov A Russian art project intended to ward off the lockdown blues has become a viral Facebook sensation as pent-up Russian speakers from around the globe reenact paintings to pass the time amid the coronavirus pandemic. The creators tap into a Russian-influenced talent for laughing and creating through hard times.   Eslah Attar for NPR When the pandemic hit, photographer Eslah Attar made the unexpected decision to move back home to quarantine in Ohio with her parents. Over the past several weeks, Attar has grown closer to her Syrian mother through their lifelong love of cooking. “Moving back in has given me full access to Mama's world — her spices, her recipe books and the chaos that her kitchen turns into every time we cook or bake." How To, For You As businesses slowly reopen, many Americans who are being called back to work say they don't feel safe — especially those who work in restaurants, hair salons or other high-contact jobs. But if your employer offers you your job back and you refuse it, generally speaking, you're not supposed to be able to keep collecting unemployment benefits. So what do you do? This episode of the Life Kit podcast has tons of helpful advice.  Music Notes Jeremy Cowart/Courtesy of the artist Are you an Emily or an Amy? Few mainstream fans of the Indigo Girls would even consider that question, but for lesbians over age 40 who love them, it's an elemental personality test. Thinking about what it means to be part Emily and part Amy and how those identities or stances both merge and diverge,  has given many women a way to understand themselves along the lines of what the radical feminist poet Adrienne Rich called "the lesbian continuum." What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: bestofnpr@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. 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