State of Emergency Post 18

It snowed in Palmer Rapids this morning. It’s my fault, just yesterday I was talking about the arrival of spring.

In a way it’s kind of comforting to see the snow as a reminder of how many things we don’t control but God does.

As people scramble to fight the pandemic and its ensuing financial stress, it is comforting to remember just how much is out of our hands, and in the hands of a loving God. We can only control a few things in life, and our attitude is one of them.

My life coach Pam the Pan has been working a lot with me this week to help me adjust my attitude when necessary. For example this morning when I found Carmelle on top of the fridge, I simply lifted her down instead of getting angry. I chose my response.

The plants on top of my fridge pretty much sum up my survival strategy for the post-apocalyptic era in Palmer Rapids. The large plant on the right is an avocado tree I planted from an avocado pit several months ago when Greta Thunburg was in the news so much.

It occurred to me that if there was any positive side to global warming, the ability to grow avocados in Palmer Rapids might be one of them. I know of some gardeners in Killaloe who successfully grow fruit bearing fig trees in very large pots. They keep them outside in the summer and bring them back in during the cold weather.

If the worldwide shutdown of the economy doesn’t help with global warming, at least there could be figs and avocados growing in Palmer. I’d be happy to share if the orchard ever does get established.

There is normally a small fig tree on my fridge too which was moved the other day to make way for the pot that is covered in the plastic bag. This pot contains some potatoes that had sprouted recently. Hopefully they can be planted outside before too long. I was going to throw them in the compost until I remember Matt Damon’s resourcefulness in The Martian movie.

The pot is presently on the fridge because last week Carmelle started to eat the potato sprouts, which was neither good for her nor the poor potatoes. This morning she discovered it again and that is why she jumped up there.

The other plant is one of my two spider plants. Every time I water them I sing, “Spider plant, Spider plant, does whatever a spider can’t. Grows a leaf overhead…I said…look at my Spider plant!” I sing the words really loudly and enthusiastically to the tune of the Spiderman theme song.There are also actions that go along with this little ritual.

I’ve been singing this song for months, so it occurs to me that I was a little bit touched even before the pandemic.

I like the fact that plants let you be as silly as you want to be. Spider plants are natural air purifiers so it’s always good to have a few around. All the plants (with the exception of the poor seedlings Tubby Washington has been eating are doing very well.)

Who knows if the avocado orchard will really develop. Not all of my plans work out. OK let’s be honest, most of them are epic failures, but every once and while one of my ideas does succeed.

If you have an idea you always wanted to try, maybe now is the moment to do so. As long as you can do it without violating the new physical distancing norms, why not give some crazy idea a try?

One of my favourite phrases is, “Sow in sorrow, reap in joy”. This is a great time to sow some seeds of various types; they will be up before you know it. Maybe the seed of some idea you plant today will be a great blessing for many in the years to come.

Many people are in an anxious state because they do not know what is coming next. The fact is, we NEVER know what is coming next. Until recently we may have had some old routines that kept us in place, but that doesn’t me we really ever knew what was around the corner.

Today is Holy Thursday. If you are spending it alone, know that you are doing the right thing. Tonight around the world priests in empty Churches are offering the sacrifice of the Mass for you and for the whole world.

You don’t need to do much to receive the graces being offered for you. But like the earth in Palmer Rapids which received the snow this morning, just accept them as fall all around you. No need to go out, no need to place an order for them, just let them come to you wherever you are, whoever you are. No matter the reason you think you might not deserve them, they are yours for the taking.

State of Emergency Post 17

I really need to start disciplining my cats more. As you can see from the photo Carmelle is not only climbing on the furniture, she also stuck her tongue out at me. But before I can discipline my cats, first I need to discipline myself. For many years I’ve worked at being a disciplined person trying to bring constant improvement to my morning routine. Now I don’t have ANY morning routine.

Chris Hadfield made a video several days about how we can learn something from astronauts and how they self-isolate. He made it sound so simple. It’s not. I just want a little bit of routine back in my life.

I realized today that many of the things I accomplish on a typical morning are triggered by the thought “Complete this action before you leave.” Since I haven’t been leaving, except to go to the shed, I keep forgetting to do the most basic of things, like brushing my teeth.

This morning I filed and painted my nails and was feeling pretty smug about having accomplished these tasks but then I realized that once again I had forgotten to brush my teeth. Apparently Chris Hadfield has a video on tooth brushing too. In case I forget how the task is done, I may need to watch the video.

I’ve been thinking about space and astronauts a lot recently. Several days ago I planted many seeds and they are starting to sprout. My living room looks like that scene from the movie Mars where Matt Damon plants the potatoes.

Tubby Washington has been causing a few problems by uprooting the poor little seedlings; I can’t wait for it to be warm enough to plant the seeds because she may destroy my crops completely before too long.

It seems like spring is about to burst open here in Palmer Rapids. There is a nice patch of green grass over the septic tank, and many birds have returned to the yard.

I keep thinking because Easter is on Sunday, that spring will start in launch itself in full any day now and that things will go back to normal. This has been the longest Lent ever. Hopefully it will make us all appreciate the mystery of Easter at least a little more.

State of Emergency Post 16

Many years ago after having my heart broken, crushed and stepped on, a friend told me not to worry because relationships are like buses. If you miss one, another one will come along very soon.

Folks we have no transit system in Palmer Rapids.

Maybe I’m putting too much stock in the metaphor, but if things don’t work out with Robin it could be a very long wait.

My life coach Pam the Pan told me I have to take responsibility for my life and that I can’t just sit back and expect Robin to take care of me. Even though he has had a really good career with the flour company, nobody’s job is secure these days.

Pam suggested I create a vision board, outlining the things I really want in life.

I worked on my vision board today; there is a pretty big gap between the board and what my actual life looks like now.

For example, my hair looks much better on the vision board. It might be because the hair on my vision board belongs to a 25 year-old model instead of to me, but still it is good to have an ideal to work towards.

Some of you asked to see my “do it yourself done in spite of being warned not to do it” haircut. The selfie was taken today, after several attempts to fix the original botched coiffure; hopefully it will improve with time.

Skinny people with long arms have no idea how difficult it is for those of us with short arms and a double chin to take a selfie. This is photo attempt 52; it’s as good as it’s going to get for the time being.

Carmelle took a look at my vision board; as you can see from her expression, she is a bit skeptical.

You may have noticed from these and other photos that my house is a work in progress. It’s an oldie but goodie, built in 1937 or earlier. There is still quite a bit of work to do, but it is coming along.

As a kid I spent every Saturday afternoon watching “This Old House” on PBS and it had always been my dream to restore an old home. When Carmelle appeared less than enthusiastic about the probability of the items on my vision board coming to fruition, I reminded her that it was not very long ago that getting this house was pipe dream too.

Carmelle came with the house by the way.

I moved in October 1, 2016, on the feast St. Theresa the Little Flower. I stood in the kitchen that first night and I began to have doubts about moving to Palmer Rapids.

I came from Vancouver with only two suitcases and a one way ticket, so the house was pretty empty. It had been vacant for some time before I moved in. As I stood looking out the window into the pouring rain on a very dark night, I began to be quite afraid. This former city girl did not realize how dark the country gets at night.

It occurred to me at that point there was a probably a mouse or two lurking around and I said out loud, “I wish I had a cat!”

No more than twenty minute later, a dripping wet very skinny little calico came to my back porch. When I opened the door she came right in screaming at me for having taken so long. She jumped up on my shoulder and has spent much of her time in the years that followed perched right there.

I didn’t have any cat food so I cooked her bacon, potatoes and sour cream for dinner, which she very gratefully wolfed down.

I know several people called Theresa, so I couldn’t very well call my new cat by that name, even if it was the feast of St. Theresa. Since St. Theresa was a Carmelite, the little calico took the name Carmelle and has answered to it ever since.

It never bothers me now that it gets so dark here at night. The view of the stars in Palmer Rapids is amazing. It is only in the middle of darkness that you really appreciate the stars. These are dark days for many people, but fear not; this too shall pass. Sometimes it takes a very dark night to bring us to our knees and ask for what we really need.

By asking for what you need, you never know whose dream you might be fulfilling in the process. On that first dark night in Palmer, I needed a cat and Carmelle needed a place to call home. Our needs were perfectly met. We didn’t start out with much, but we’ve had a lot of fun muddling along together day by day.

On the dark nights remember to take time to look up at the stars and to open your heart to those in need. Who knows where your own story will lead as result.

State of Emergency Post 15

I’m all over the map!

Not literally, just emotionally. Like most of you, I’ve been inside for what seems like a very, very, very long time. I’m experiencing the full gamut of feelings these days and am struggling to process them.

My housemates are all wonderful people, OK, “people” is not quite the right word but they are still wonderful. Despite how amazing Betty, Kerry, Pam, Albert, Vivian and the cats are, there are still some challenges here in Palmer Rapids that I don’t quite know how to handle. This is such a confusing time.

I’m just going to come right out and say it. Robin and I are having some issues.

I feel a bit shallow because maybe I was really just attracted to his good looks. It’s hard to say. Things might still work out, but our date on the weekend really didn’t go as planned. I have an appointment with my life coach tomorrow, so maybe that will help but at the moment I feel quite pessimistic about the probability of things working out long term between us. I had had such high hopes.

I hate being such a downer especially when so many of you have been so encouraging and had hoped that, finally I might have found someone who can tolerate me, but I had to let you know.

I feel so stupid bringing up this relationship problem when people around the world are being so helpful to each other, doing such amazing selfless acts to save people.

There are so many amazing opportunities to help alleviate the problems of mankind these days. It almost makes you think we should have had this crisis sooner. The ingenuity of the people in my local community and that of friends across Canada continues to inspire me every day. If we play our cards right, and continue to build or rebuild family and community bonds in these days of rest and isolation, we will come through this period a more grateful, more compassionate, more empathetic world.

Now is the time for artists, entrepreneurs, families and well-formed communities to rise to the challenges ahead. We will reap what we sow.

This brings me to a situation that happened a few days ago where I was really confused by all of the opportunities to volunteer. In my confusion, I nearly ripped up my septic system to help the cause. Fortunately I figured things out just in time.

Many of you have been dutifully sewing masks to help with the shortages; it has been impressive to see so many people get behind various initiatives. Yet in some areas, there is still a need for more volunteers. I saw an ad asking for more people to help sew the masks. It read: “sewers needed” (pronounced SOH-ers) as in people who sew.

I read sewers (pronounced so͞oərs) as in systems for transporting sewage. Ever since the people started hording toilet paper I’ve been saying, “Somebody is going to have a nasty septic problem this spring.” When I thought they were calling for people to donate sewer systems, I told Betty, “See I knew it would happen!”

I cannot tell you how grateful I am that I did not drop off a used sewage pipe to answer the call for sewers. It would have been both embarrassing and incredibly unhygienic.

I'm sorry for the delay in posting, but as you can probably tell, this was a rough weekend. Thanks to all of you who sent messages and checked in on us one way or another. Everyone else (even Robin) seems to be doing just fine.

People have been asking about Albert and Vivian. Everyone seems to like them. (I really had hoped Robin and I would end up as cute a couple as they are. Maybe that was too much to hope for.)

The photo shows Tubby Washington talking to Albert; they get along very well. I played some jazz piano on the weekend and the three of them sang along. I don’t really play the piano much normally, and just have it because I write song lyrics. It’s been so inspiring having people who love music around that I decided to play a few tunes. Music can really help get you through some pretty tough times emotionally.