Wow, a lot has happened since my last letter! Large, sweeping historical change and processes—such as pandemics—have ways of making themselves felt. And colossal events have indeed been occurring!
I am only qualified to speak of these events as they pertain to folklore, of course, being a folklorist. But the village economy is essential to the creation of good folklore, and over time folklorists have developed a method of discussing village economies with other villagers,…