Fresh snow today, then hail, then sleet, then rain. Right now the sun is out with the temperature in the thirties, and the wind blowing about five from the north.

We took flowers, a note and some books to our friend Nancy Ricketts at the Pioneers Home in town. Residents there are not allowed out and they cannot have visitors, which depresses almost everyone. We cleaned the vase and the books with sanitizing wipes before we gave them to the nurse in charge and then she assured us she would do it again. Nancy called and said she got her gifts and was quite grateful, and admitted that she had been feeling “quite down” but the gifts had lifted her up. Nancy is a rare woman who knows how to accept a gift as well as a compliment. I can’t bare the thought of her passing during this time of isolation. We just try and talk with her every day, and try and keep her spirits up. She loves to read and she loves to hear from her daughter and other friends. She doesn’t much care for TV. She loves to get dressed every day and visit with people, and I don’t know if they limit her visiting with other residents at this time or not. I imagine they do. She tries to visit with everyone in the home, even the worst of the sick people at least every other day. She reaches out through touch and body language and pure faith that they understand her words.

Today I’m having a Zoom meeting with my siblings which I have never done before. Jan is an old hand at Zoom meetings and she is going to show me how it’s done and of course participate. I will let you know how it goes.

I did a bit longer reading from my poetry book today. It’s called The Rising And The Rain and it’s published by the University of Alaska Press. It’s available on Amazon or you could order it at your independent bookstore if you wanted it. We read it outside so Dot could hear the ravens chiming in.

Snow fell in the dark

this morning crows had written

poems with their feet.

jhs