More thoughts in the time of COVID-19 …
Well … the catalpa is finally in bloom, but mainly in its very top. The lower branches are fully leafed with few blossoms.
Strange …
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Last week I went to what was advertised as a class in using herbs for healing, a subject in which I have been interested for quite some time. It was held at the local Seventh Day Adventist church. I should have known better.
No fault of the Adventists, but I should have anticipated the missionary aspect.
Still, during the rather short herb presentation, I did learn more about cayenne. I was unaware of its ability to blister skin. It seems like a no-brainer now that I know. Guess I just never thought of it. When I was a kid, my mother used to use a “mustard” plaster on my chest when I got bronchitis and she always put some kind of oil on my skin before putting the plaster in place. Now I know why.
The speaker told of an experience he had when flying intercontinental … his feet got cold so he powdered them with some cayenne he had with him. Ten minutes went by without feeling any heat, so he added more. Ten more minutes he did it again. And again … several more times until he felt warmer. When they landed an hour or so later, he put on his socks noticing his feet looked a bit red, stood up, and nearly fell over with the pain. The next morning his feet were blistered.
Lesson? It takes time for the heat to be felt so be patient.
Too much of something might not be a good thing, right?
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Spent the 4th very laidback. The day started out clear, but clouded by mid-afternoon. All was quiet until a little after nine (I was already in bed) when the sounds from the fireworks shows could be heard. They didn’t last long. And no fires started.
I wonder if celebrations of the 4th will stay the same as before or begin to resemble this year’s style?
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Another death …
Years ago, George and I had dinner partners named Elaine and Don Wirth. They lived about half a mile south of us as the crow flies, about two miles via the road. We had dinner together every two weeks, one time over there … the other here.
Elaine and I giggled together, did Weight Watchers together, took walks together, shared recipes, you name it … we did it. And we really were Mutt and Jeff. She was short and pudgy. I was tall and, even at my fattest, wasn’t pudgy.
Don and George were so far into model trains that they spent evenings going to various model clubs, a lot of time building layouts, watching train videos, comparing the “steals” they found at shows and sales …
The day after Thanksgiving was always a big one. That’s the day all the model train nuts, of all gauges, in central far northern California and inland southwestern Oregon get together at the Armory in Medford to talk, sell, buy, whatever. The four of us always went and, after wearing out all possibilities at the expo, we would go to McGrath’s Fish House for fish and chips.
He was a Brit who, as a child, had been evacuated from London during the Blitz to a farm in Cornwall. She was a Canuck farmer’s daughter from north of Toronto, eh.
Back in the early 2000s they moved to North Carolina to be closer to their daughter. We never saw them again, but didn’t lose contact.
Don had myasthenia gravis. He had to have his eyelids removed and caring for him was getting to be a full time thing. They were together back there for only six years before Elaine died of bladder cancer. We still kept in touch with Don via email (I learned to use the largest font available so Don could read it). A bit over a year ago, he stopped writing, but was still reading the blog. The last time I had a sign that he was reading the blog, or having it read to him, was three or four months ago.
Don died the day after George’s sister did … 30 June.
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Time for doing the lunch packing is getting short. I was reminded yesterday there are only five more weeks. My how time flies as you get older.
The number of lunches is now up to 129/day. The local boys’ and girls’ club opened as did one of the local parks’ play group. Some interesting rules … no adults allowed on those sites other than those working with the kids.
Did I tell you a local chef is planning and overseeing the lunch program this year? Last week on the days I worked we served a taco salad one day and a tortellini salad the other, both complete with fruit and cheeses. The kids are eating well.
I always end up with an aching lower back (counter heights are made for people shorter than six foot), but I also end up feeling useful. And I get to bring home scraps for the chickens.
Today is library day, so I’m looking forward to a new book or two. Maybe a gaslight era mystery.
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The neighborhood brouhaha is still in full swing. Interesting times …
It’s said that when we least deserve love is when we most need it. If, in response, I destroy you, I destroy myself. If I honor you, I honor myself.
–Hunbatz Men, MAYAN
So … ‘til next week …