Jailbirds & Luckibirds.

"I was in jail!!!" Toby exclaimed.

"Is that why I didn't see you last week?"

"Yes! Didn't you hear me meowing inside the barn?"

"Hmmm, come to think of it maybe I did when I was taking a walk and went by the barn. I thought I was just imagining that I heard a faint meow. My hearing is so bad."

"Well, I was yowling my head off. I knew you were out there." He seemed a bit miffed.

"I'm sure sorry, my buddy. What on earth were you locked up for?"

"Oh, Wendy and John were taking care of somebody's wild, rambunctious, city dog. When they let her out the back door, the very first thing she did was chase me and right after that she grabbed one of the hens and carried her off. Luckily, John was close by to chase her and did a flying leap through the air and saved the hen. So, they locked up the chickens and me in the barn for a whole week! Sort of a barn witness protection. I'd testify against that dog any day!"

"I think we have another Luckibird besides Picasso!" I said, "But you can relax because I see that the dog was returned to her family. They're back from their vacation."

"Thank goodness. I don't ever want to go through that again," he said. "Dogs are my friends. Our dogs!"

"Yeah, and there's no vaccine for wild rambunctiousness. You know what? I was in jail too, for seven days! though not as restricted as quarantines before the Covid vaccines. I stayed mostly in my apartment, as before; masked and socially distanced if I was outside the apartment. It's the honor system. No ankle bracelet!"

"What happened?" he asked. "Did you get Covid?!!!"

"No, no. I went on a senior living bus ride to a museum tour. It turned out nobody was wearing a mask but me, our leader, and the museum docents. Two days later I got a phone call--one person on the trip tested positive for Covid. They asked me to self-quarantine and monitor myself for Covid symptoms, so I did.  I'm grateful for vaccines so I haven't become a Covid guinea pig for variant development or spread it around. I still hope every eligible person, here or anywhere, finds their way to get immunized against Covid--or any disease for that matter."

"Yeah, we need billions more Luckibird people."

We walked together to the fence out beyond the barn. The goats came over to satisfy their curiosity. All around us, we could see the goodness of spring rebirthing. Once again, love felt near--enough to overcome all the fears, mistakes, and terrors of our times. I picked Toby up to hold him for a bit. He stretched up where he could purr against my ear.

He said, "I saw you yesterday when you came over for Easter dinner with Wendy and John. Oh, and that other couple they're friends with--Sue and Wayne were here."

"Yes," I answered, "it was a happy visit even though I missed Keoni and Aidan who are far away living their young lives. It was different without either one of them, but good food, good conversations, and lots of laughter sure did feel good."

"Were you worried about your exposure to Covid?" he asked.

"Yes. I had gotten rapid tests just for such a time. It had been five symptomless days since my exposure and on Easter morning I tested negative for Covid. I'd have stayed home if it was positive."

"You are a Luckibird."

*

It's time to return to... 

THE ARTS DESK

A charming Easter greeting came from the hand of Joseline, in Tucson...

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There are two budding artists in Jeanenne's family...

Grandniece Harper, age 8.

Grandniece Della, age 6.

Keep it up, young women!

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In 2016, Aidan wrote a couple of Haiku for a class he was in. I just found them buried in old emails...

So much depends upon

a colorful soccer ball

In the wet blades of grass

next to the muddy, splattered cleats

and...

glistening sun on the smooth surface of water

Through the thin trees

a soft, white tailed deer

Silently drinking

with the cool smell of rain

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In Tucson, Paula is keeping up her "sit spot" journaling. Her recent entry...

I'm curious about the two visitors to the Bee hotel. 

Though I can see blossoms from my Pennsylvania window, Winter just came back to argue with Spring this afternoon, so it is good to see Paula's visual evidence of southwestern desert spring...

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From the Green Goddess Desk:

April 19, 2022, 12:39 pm Update: Paula and Carl just sent photos and information about their Bee hotel. Here it is...

"...[the Bee hotel is from] Tucson Audubon, and they're meant to attract native bees as places for them to lay eggs. The bee hotel is about 12" high and has various size holes (all approx. 1/4" or so) for various size bees. It's our understanding that bees will lay an egg in one of the holes, add some food, and then seal up the hole...We have two of these right by our house - in general, native bees don't sting so we don't have to worry about that."

"...one of the holes sealed up...bottom left hole shown here..."

"...photo Carl took of...bottom left hole..."

Help for insects! Simple boosters for bees. The Goddes says we're diversity dependent and that means we love insects, too! 

Green Goddess' new motto: Diverse Universe. 

She sends thanks to Paula and Carl.

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THE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DESK

Around 30 years ago, when bumper-stickers slogans had spread to tee-shirts, I bought a tee-shirt that said...

I loved the message and people often remarked on it so I wore it again and again. One day, while I was swimming at the Y, it was stolen from the locker room. I think we are all a little starved for love and beauty.