It's one of the many things we love about Border Collies.
Beautiful, high-energy dogs enjoying life on bright green grass.
So stunning and so bucolic.
The grass is greening up in the fields and the lawns. So with each new day of watching the dogs play, we are experiencing eye-candy overload.
Happily, no calories. Just many moments loaded with awe.
Bridie and I had a great morning with the ball out in the second pasture this morning.
I think when she came back to the house she was too tired to go on a Bridie rampage.
And, that is a good thing.
~~~~
It's still cold but we've been dealt a lovely morning to start off a day when Annie flies home for Easter weekend.
She'll be home this evening and will stay through Easter Monday.
Lots going on this weekend, and hopefully the weather will hold and even warm up a bit.
Speaking of weather, I was glad to see that it's not the best next Wednesday and Thursday.
Bill and I are getting our second Covid boosters on Wednesday, so I'd really hate to waste a beautiful Thursday dealing with the predictable, miserable aftermath.
We'll get past the vaccination and its side effects and then will feel confident to do our thing for the next few months but still careful.
It will be so nice to have a warm-up so the plants in the greenhouse will start putting in some major growth.
Lots of petunias, geraniums, pansies, African daisies, so-so tomatoes and even cucumbers and chard rising above the potting soil. I should have a good supply of all of the above.
In other news, I really appreciated this heartfelt column by Zach Hagadone about my friend and longtime teaching colleague George Marker.
George taught history next door to me for many years, and I always admired the high standards he set for his students and the long-lasting impact he had on them with the study of history.
We enjoyed a mutual respect as educators throughout our careers and even in to our retirement.
Zach's take on George hits the nail on the head.
I loved his dry sense of humor. I even adopted and have often used his common phrase "new frontiers of _______ (fill in the blank).
One day last fall, while pulling into the parking lot at Gonzaga University to pick up ZAGS posters, my phone beeped, alerting me of a messenger note.
I had been receiving notes from George off and on ever since he was diagnosed with lung cancer at the beginning of the Pandemic.
He would keep me updated on the progress of each of the many treatments he was receiving.
Hearing that beep gave me an instant sense of dread.
Once I had parked, I read the message from George, which follows:
Not
good news. Chemo stopped working. No other treatment available.
Oncologist had no choice but to put me on end stage with 6 months to
live. It was a shock but not unexpected. I fought for almost 2 years
and treatment was absolutely awful for the first year.
Oncologist
told me this week…….”You aren’t supposed to be here. You should have
died a year ago. I’ve never had a patient that went through what you
did and survived”.
He said that 3 times during consult.
It is what it
is. I entered this with my eyes wide open.
I’ve had a good life and a
good career. I loved the classroom. I think I was a good teacher and
respected by the kids. That was important to me.
Thank you so much, Zach, for taking the time and for capturing so precisely and thoughtfully this wonderful educator and friend.
Miss you, George.
A wonderful tribute.
Losing so many friends and colleagues, and, yesterday, learning of the passing of a high school classmate intensifies my sense of gratitude for each new day.
We must make the most of our gift of life along with the other often intangible gifts bestowed upon us as we plod along.
Happy Friday.
Have a good day and enjoy your ultimate gift.
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