Forward March

I love March.  I don't mind the wind, the chill or the rain and a rare day like today is a real blessing,  March is a hopeful month.  Spring will be here soon.  According to one of my favorite Google lists, March is Women's History Month and also National Umbrella Month.  This brings to mind a bit of my history. When I was about seven years old (did I mention this is ancient history?) my mother bought an umbrella for me from a peddlar who came to our door selling umbrellas and other goodies.  At that time I walked to school so an umbrella was a good idea.  This was a beautiful child-size green plaid umbrella with a carved squirrel for the handle. It was a beautiful umbrella and I loved it, especially that cute carved handle.  No idea whatever happened to that umbrella but I enjoyed it in the moment.  So there you are, a happy March memory,  

one more concern

Still pondering the problems being raised by this Coronavirus issue.  Besides the obvious - it will make you sick, and we all need to wash our hands - it's suggested that we stop shaking hands and do elbow bumps, and stand back and wave.  Believe me this is going to make the Sunday morning 'passing of the peace' at my church look really different.  But my concern is more personal.  Grace is not my middle name.  Friends who know me well, and most casual aquaintances, know that I am not very coordinated. There's a reason that archery was my best sport in college.  You don't need to move your hands and feet at the same time.  So now I'm being told that I need to bump elbows.  I'm going to be so embarrassed when I aim my elbow toward someone elses and miss completely or worse, poke someone in the eye.  Perhaps waving from a distance is my best option.  Tomorrow is Sunday.  We shall see.  

part two

I just read a comment someone posted in response to yesterday's blog.  The author made the very good point that, on one (very thoroughly washed) hand, we are being told to cough and sneeze into our elbow and then told to bump elbows as a form of greeting. My first thought when I read this was yes, but there are clothes covering peoples elbows.  However, sooner or later you will take your clothes off and touch those germ infested elbow covers as you do so.  So there's something to think about as you're getting ready for bed tonight.

just one more

Here's today's candy wrapper wisdom - "Life happens between an inhale and an exhale."  I hope this isn't some kind of prophecy about the Coronalvirus.  In case you think I'm really hung up about this virus, it's just that I have this stupid head cold that seems to be hanging on longer thna necessary.  I went to a play this evening, thinking I was feeling better, and had to leave because I started coughing and didn't want to disturb the rest of the audience.  I also didn;t want them to turn on me, suspecting I might have the Coronavirus and put me in quarantine somewhere. Although two weeks of R&R might not be all bad.  

Don't believe everything you read.

I will admit I have a fondness for chocolate, especially dark chocolate.  Among the things left behind when my weekend company left were some bite size Dove candies.;  I limit myself to two an evening but they are yummy.  They also have a message printed inside their colorful foil wrappers.  It's usually a kind  message, sometimes with a moral, like "Be the sculptor of your dreams."  Very nice, but the one I read this evening said "Hands are meant to be held."  What?  How old are these candies, or the wrappers?  Obviously they were produced and packaged before the Coronavirus became such a daily discussion item.  I would like to suggest some new, more appropriate messages.  How about "Face masks are scary but they show you care."  or "Show your love, bump elbows."  Maybe "Hands are made for waving from across the room."  You get the idea.  I welcome your suggestions.

Coincidence?

This past weekend my brother and sister-in-law visited from Washington state, where there have been some deaths from the Corona virus. All in the Seattle area while they live much farther east in Spokane.  Since they left I have developed a bad cold and sore throat.  Coincidence????  I certainly hope so.  

I,m back.

I have just finished up a rather intense, long weekend with lots of company.  The major purpose of the weekend was the interment service for my brother John's ashes.  That was on Sunday after church and only for immediate family.  John was quite adamant that he didn't want any kind of memorial service but we had this small service anyway and it was really quite comforting.  The pastor read two scripture readings, the appropriate prayers and a short paper that I wrote about my brother.  Our other brother spoke briefly and movingly and John's urn was placed in its niche (quite close to my husband's urn and where mine will be, which is very nice).  Afterwards we gathered back at my place for lunch and an exchange of memories - many quite funny.  My younger brother and his wife had flown in from Spokane on Thursday night and their son and his four-year=old son drove over from Maryland on Friday.  My apartment was happily crowded and felt very busy.  A lot of that was due to my great nephew (the above mentioned 4 year old) who is a perpetual motion machine.  He's a very nice child, just always moving.  We played games (I lost spectacularly at Mexican Train), took a walk in the park, did a little shopping, had dinner with some cousins from Woodburn, and generally kept busy.  All very nice but when my brother and sister-in-law flew out this morning I went back to bed and almost slept the day away.  Not depression, you understand, just exhaustion.