• China pheasants live in this yard, adding bright color, distinctive cries, and leaving colorful feathers I sometimes make into earrings for friends.
• A shockingly large gray new-to-me cat lives here under our front porch—so big I thought it was a raccoon, except it had no rings on its tail. He/she enjoyed the bone I meant for the neighbor’s loud dog. The gray cat is welcome. I will find a name.
• After eight days, and then nine more days, my older son brought generous groceries, far more than my small list, and even large carry-out boxes of Starbucks coffee. His love language is gift-giving.
• He found and brought the one or two onions I craved fully as much as the Israelites longed for leeks and garlics. I understand their story now. But ever generous, he brought five pounds. I won’t waste any.
• A Vietnamese neighbor in town was generous, too. She loves to cook, especially fruits and vegetables. I thought the grocery bag holding Chinese lettuce, a green cabbage, four apples, and three grapefruit (sung to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas) was also from my son. They were all gifts from Lan. Imagine my joy when I lifted out a grapefruit and found two grapefruit-size oranges so huge, I ate only one-half tonight. I haven’t tasted sweeter anywhere, even beloved Jaffa oranges in hot sunny Israel. Minnesota this week is cold and blustery with noisy wind gusts to 25 mph that will reach 40 mph tomorrow. The days are becomingly increasingly sunny but I dislike that much wind. It’s hard to walk on country roads unless I carry an umbrella and imitate Mary Poppins . . .
• Feeling safe, loved, and provided for is priceless. Isolation is a small price to pay. I’m grateful and have very much to be thankful for. Discovering gifts and messages from friends makes life even sweeter. These difficult days are changing our world.
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