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Corona-coaster

Let's end this dismal month with a bang! Corona-coster is not my creation, but it does pretty well describe the stages of lockdown. Cranking up the hill, no big deal, I’ll stay home for a few weeks, de-clutter everything. You get near the top and wonder- is this ride really a good idea? Even necessary? Then the fast rush of screaming down the hill. Terrified. Ok, maybe its just me. Then you see the death tolls go up, up, up, then “flatten the curve” poised at the next high point, before the dizzying corkscrew to the finish. By then I just stay at home, don’t even know who to believe, who is asymptomatic but carrying the virus. People have died. Often without family nearby. Yep. Sad and scary times! A few coffee shops are now doing takeaway coffee and goodies. I wish I could go for a catchup with friends…but its not possible yet. Its the friends which are important, not the coffee really. But I like the strong coffee we drink at home, and I can make a cup anytime with our tiny French press. Or tea, yep I drink that too. Not ice tea yet though. I have 8 tiny ice cubes in 1 tray, which really won’t cool anything. I need to get more soon!

Good things that have happened in May: J&E close on the new home today and move in over the weekend, hopefully with some help, as lockdown in their area has eased somewhat. The 2 of them did all the move out themselves, and it was brutal.

Jen had surgery on her knee, and is hobbling these days, but hopefully she will be back to running sometime soon.

We had a Mother’s Day zoom a few weeks ago for 2 hours! Truly wonderful to spend time with them and hear some very encouraging words. They “adult” well. Love them dearly! Got to FaceTime with my oldest grand, who turned 14. So tall, so handsome, such a great reader and student, so kind to others, and a great baseball player! More good things- my garden, planted by an amazing gardener has continued to burst into bloom, and I see new joys every few days. What a heritage to enjoy and care for this. In the fall I will need to divide and transplant some things as they are overflowing their areas. The English love the “overplanted” look. Another good news- the garden shops are open. I’ve made a few trips. Some of my pictures are from walks, but these are all in my back yard. Last week I got to meet a friend at a park, and walk a few miles, trying to stay 6 feet away from each other. I think we will do that again later this week. YAY, its good to get to know some folks here. Adult friendships take a long time to forge as there is no shared history. Although occasionally you meet someone you feel like you have known for years. That friendship is a shooting star. Haven’t had one of those in years. Its important to keep working on both old and new friendships- and I don’t take my long time (I didn’t say old) friends for granted, I think I feel that they understand me because we have shared the good and the bad over the years. This is the case with family as well. By now we are all “quirky” or a little crazy. But having family and pets, are special.

I’ve also been celebrating MeMadeMay2020, and that’s drawing to an end. Its been fun- but harder than normal to keep smiling and posting. You may know, that taking pictures and posting them is very uncomfortable. I’ve learned how to edit a bit…but nothing will make me be younger or weigh less. Here are a few shots. These are newish garments, but not necessarily made during May. I’m pictured below with a dress I made and my tiny mower. Isn’t it cute? I do all the yard work these days, even spreading weed and feed. I did a poor job, and you can tell the parts that got a lot are dark, the rest is light. Ah well, its a learning process!

Goodbye for now, dearests! Next week is June. There is something bright and shiny about flipping a new calendar page. Hoping this pandemic is winding down all over the earth. Keep washing your hands! Keep walking forward, at your own pace.