Gratitude Discussion Group

@gingerw Do you go across via 84, or 20? We like to take different routes over to the valley, and on trips in general we prefer to take backroads to avoid freeways. A lot of people don't understand why we do that. Beside, there are no thrift stores on freeways.

Jim

@jimhd So far, I have only gone to Eugene for my medical appts. We live right near Interstate 5, so stick to that route, as it leads me pretty much to the drs. Since it is already a 2+ hr drive, I haven't done the backroads. But we do plan on doing that when my husband finally gets up here, and the quarantine is lifted. Yeah...I gotta stay away from thrift stores...
Ginger

@gingerw This reminded me of W.Virginia every summer they had a mile long yard sale we seemed to hit when coming back from Ga.Some good buys

@jimhd I miss church too, it provides a wonderful spiritual break where you can be totally present.

Knitting sounds like a great idea for those of you talented enough to do that or crochet. I am reading more but now I recall why I rarely read books anymore -- I can't put them down. I was up until 1:30 reading the night before last.
The good thing about highways is that there are no temptations to stop at. I do like secondary roads sometimes, but most of the time I just want to get where I am going.
JK

@merpreb Thanks again for the info on the Decorah eagles. I put on the live came and enjoy the sounds of nature. How are you doing in all of this? So far so good here. Things here at the complex are somber. Hardly see or hear anyone. Rent will be paid via the slot in the office door. To further increase the paranoia those of us with allergies are even more alienated. To the best of my knowledge no one at this complex has fallen victim to this newest virus.
Thankful again for my little habitat.

Blessings, my cyber friend for always keeping things in perspective! Always good to read your heartfelt posts, @parus.

Hey @parus- You are more than welcome! I'm glad to hear that things are good with you. They are here as well. I think that we all just have to grin and bear it. Everywhere things are somber and we are finding that people are really taking this seriously now. Everyone is keeping at least 6 ft apart from one another. One of our markets has 6 ft markers for lines!
We should be seeing a pip soon on one of mom's eggs. A pip is the first break in the shell before hatch. I don't know of anyone who has been stricken either. I hope that it stays that way. How's that little guy of yours? Are you speaking on the phone or having facetime?

@merpreb In the spirit of this discussion, I am very grateful that I too know of no one who has been stricken with COVID-19. I worry a lot about a dear friend of mine. Her husband is a police chief in a MA town so he is out there. They know three people who have passed away from this, a fourth is in the hospital still battling it. She is sedated and has a ventilator so she does not yet know that her husband and brother-in-law have both passed away. 😭

Thankfully, my son and daughter and their spouses are all working from home now. My daughter-in-law was in the stress testing area of her hospital but they have temporarily stopped testing anyone who is not inpatient so she is now home manning the phone, from their home, when people call about COVID-19. None of them are going out, they are all getting their groceries delivered, and none of them are comfortable with take-out food, which we are also not comfortable with.
JK

Today I am grateful. We have food in the fridge. Somewhere behind our little valley's overcast, the sun rose in the east, and will set in the west this evening. There are tiny primroses showing off their colors just off my porch, and wild daffodils contrasting with Spring's new growth. Trees are budding and blooming out, creating puffs of white and pale pink. We have had rain the last several days, which is dearly needed.

Here in our little town, it is quiet. The schools are empty, with kids going to online learning. Our one restaurant [Mexican food that also does pizza and hamburgers] closed yesterday for 2 weeks, not even take out now. In a devastating blow, the local mill closed the lumber and plywood divisions here two days ago. We hope it is temporary. Last year they closed the logging/timber side of the mill. It is strange to have the complete silence, an eerie punctuation mark in these times.
Ginger

@gingerw- I live in a coastal town and my house abuts what was once a beautiful forest. There are a lot of bare spots where trees are down from all the winds that we have been getting. But I am grateful for those still standing, and for the quiet at night if the windows are open and the bird songs.