This spring has brought us days of dramatic variety. We've had a couple of hot days, quite a few cool ones and many warm days in between. It is a lovely time of year. April is the month I call my very good friend, Nora Jacobson, to wish her Happy Birthday. Nora is a loyal and noble friend, who lives with her husband, Gary, in Richland, Washington, a four hour drive from here. My dear friend, Margie Thomas, and I have made several trips there to visit Nora, who has been struggling with a rare condition that has made movement difficult for her. I called her this year, a day or two before her birthday, to give her greetings. Her husband, Gary, answered and told me the shocking news that Nora had just that day died! It is hard to take in the loss of someone close; someone who was so filled with life and laughter. It is the time of life for losses, but that does not make it easy to take. Margie, Layne and I drove to Richland to be with the family and attend her funeral. I believe Gary was especially happy to see Layne. He asked Layne to dedicate Nora's grave, which he did. Layne is a solid presence. Margie and I were both asked to share memories of Nora at her funeral. It was sweet to do that. The world is a little smaller with her gone. Here is a picture of a young Nora, from her funeral program.
The climate here offers many extremes. Winter surrounds us with bare, dead looking plants and trees, making the renewal of life that comes with spring very magical. Life appears were none was apparent, all over our land. It calls us out. We've spent lots of time with our emerging outdoor life already. It is hard to stay inside! Here's one of our many beautiful views; this one a scene from our backyard.
Here's Seth, enjoying a grass cushion, as he does what most kids do so much of these days...scanning through his phone apps. Looks pretty cushy, yes?
I've had cataract surgery in both eyes! It has been just a week or two since, but my distant vision is better than it has ever been. I'm seeing details that I've never seen before. And all of my astigmatism is gone! I feel very blessed that such a thing as this is possible. Daughter Jessica came for my first eye surgery. Sweet friends brought food and flowers for the second one. Daughter in law, Dorothy kept a close watch over me. Layne has been supportive and helpful as well. Having loving people in my life is one of the best blessings in life. I'm grateful for it.
Angelica's dance recitals were last Saturday. She has been taking quite a lot of dance lessons these past few months. So she participated in 4 dances at recitals held all day last Saturday. As we settled in to watch one of them, the fire alarm went off, sending everyone in the building outside. Just a few minutes later, police cars and fire trucks showed up, making for a pretty exciting intermission!
It didn't take long for them to find a small fire in one of the rooms distant from the auditorium where the dances were to take place. In short order we were given the OK to regather as before and the show went on just a few minutes later than planned. Here is Angelica, right after one of her performances, with her friend, Lauren.
I've been having some fun taking Seth out to breakfast each Monday and Angelica out to dinner each Friday. It is a chance to get into some really good conversations and has brought us closer together. Here is a picture of Seth at one of our outings. But don't tell him about this picture; I don't think he would like this particular one. But since it is the only one I have, I'm sharing it with you!
Seth graduates from High School this June. He doesn't want a fuss made so I think we will just have a family dinner to honor him. He and Angelica are hoping to go to Taiwan for at least part of the summer. Some obstacles to that have presented themselves of late. Covid has increased in Taiwan, who hasn't had much of a problem with it up until now. The country is closed down for an undisclosed period of time. That includes Gerald and Frances' school. It is unknown at present how long that will last. Then there is the increased threat of a Chinese invasion. It is an unsettling time, both at home and abroad. Our prayers go out for Taiwan...and for our own land of America. May all work for our ultimate good.
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