Saturday Slight

This cool restored truck was sitting across the street from Skip and Helen's when I stopped by for a visit. 

I went to town yesterday and ended up stopping by my friend and blog editor Helen's house. 

My object in stopping was to see Helen "in person," something I haven't done since the Pandemic began.

As we sat at a distance outside her back door, I told her I just wanted to see what she looked like these days.

Of course, she talked about her hair----a subject which I'm sure comes up with a lot of women who have stayed in their safety bubble for the past six months.  

Seems like a strange phenomenon to see a close friend for the first time in more than six months, but it's the norm these days.  We, who believe in keeping ourselves safe from Covid, see very few of our friends these days.

While on this subject, it seems to me that more visits with friends like Helen are necessary while the weather allows outdoor interactions. 

If the Pandemic continues to go on through the winter, more months could go by without the traditional socializing we all enjoy. 

Anyway, during my short visit with Helen and, later with her hubby Skip, I was moved to take pictures of their stunning "town flower" displays.  

For some reason, town flowers seem to outdo their country cousins tenfold.   

The multi-colored petunia wall, along the Newton garage and shop is breath-taking, to say the least. 

Of course, Skip has a green thumb, which is evident with pretty much everything he grows, but those petunias and other flowers extending upward for several feet make my very best flower displays look pathetic.

And, speaking of extending upward, Helen summoned me to around the house to see the 16-foot sunflower which reaches to their second-story window. 

Amazing and deflating to me when I thought my 12-footer was pretty impressive.

Actually, don't get the wrong idea.  

I'm not jealous and not feeling bad.  I just drove home yearning to be able to grow flowers like Skip and Helen's.

And, then I contemplate that it's "all in the journey."  During this Pandemic the journey toward any accomplishment has meant so much more than usual AND has saved our sanity. 

This has been and continues to be an experience like none of us have had in our lifetimes.  

It has tested us in so many ways----hey, shouldn't we quit that testing to make things look better?

This period of uncertainty has tested our patience, our tolerance, our ability to dream of the future and our routines. 

Nonetheless, in a good way, the Pandemic has pushed us toward creative strategies and innovative ways to make our lives as normal as possible. 

It has brought out a range of emotions, some of which we'd rather not see in ourselves or in others. 

Still, there have been happy moments over this past six months, often resulting from self-induced efforts to avoid letting the damn situation get us down. 

I think back on this summer and spring, and I can remember a number of happy and gleeful moments rivaling those of any other year.

It's just a different brand of joy brought on in a different way.

The Pandemic may have robbed us of numerous hopes and dreams, but so far we have been able to cling to our respective senses of humor and individual perspectives, allowing us to sip the lemonade from all those sour Pandemic lemons. 

And, so, a brief visit with my close friend---in person and the chance to see the beauty that has been created around their home in spite of the Pandemic---reminds me once more that life more often than not is truly is what we make it. 

That will be the daily challenge, increasingly so as we face the dark of winter. 

For now, happily, the sun keeps shining, and life is relatively easy.  Thus, we are wise to embrace the "little things" that make such big differences in every day. 

So, thanks, Helen and Skip, for allowing me to drop in, see your faces and marvel at your beautiful yard and flowers.

Another wonderful memory of Pandemic 2020. 

And, to all, with the weeks of summer winding down, take advantage of the safe opportunities that abound.  

Winter will come soon enough.  

Happy Saturday.