“Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? It’ll be spring soon. And the orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket. And they’ll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields…and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
When I close my eyes and think of the word February, I see the word love. I see the colors of warmth and affection, red and pink.
Unfortunately, when I think specifically of February 2021, I also see grey.
First came Covid-19 symptoms, which led to a positive Covid-19 test, which then led to several weeks of quarantining and restless discomfort. My husband and sons didn’t get sick, however, and I’ve recovered. We are lucky, and I am grateful.
Next came snow and ice and electricity failures. Days and nights of freezing temperatures with no power, no heat. We fared better than most, and again, I’m grateful. For some, the situation was extremely bad. For some, far too many, the situation was deadly.
Then, without electricity and heat, the water stopped flowing. Later, in the thaw, the water raced through once-frozen pipes, finding the weak spots, punching holes in the metal. It poured into homes and buildings, through ceilings, out of walls, up through floors, finding all possible exits and creating new ones where none existed.
Again, my family and I escaped the worst – not all of it, but our experience was mild in comparison with the experiences of many others. We were fortunate. But lots of other people weren’t.
Still, in the midst of the frozen heartbreak, there were moments of warmth. Neighbors looked after each other. Emergency personnel never stopped providing care and protection. Employees at grocery stores and restaurants did what they could to get food and supplies to the those who needed them. People stepped up to get it done – “it” being whatever was most needed in the moment, even if that was simply a few sticks of firewood or a bottle of water.
Now that the snow has melted, that empathy, resilience, and compassion hasn’t ended. Instead, it’s bloomed. Lots of organizations are marshaling their people and resources to support those who’ve lost so much, those who must recover and rebuild. If you’re in a position to assist, your help is greatly appreciated. I’ve listed a few of them below, and a quick internet search will find additional options that would welcome whatever you can give.
Yes, when I close my eyes and think of February 2021, I see grey. But, I also see yellow and orange, the colors of hope and generosity, courage and kindness. And the red and the pink are also there, front and center.
February is still the month of love.
North Texas Food Bank – https://ntfb.org
Tarrant Area Food Bank – https://tafb.org
Central Texas Food Bank – https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org
American Red Cross – https://www.redcross.org
Meals on Wheels – https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
What better way to start the week (and the month) than with Pandas playing in the snow?
Yesterday, I read about the discovery of a new species of whale in the Gulf of Mexico.
The new species has been named Rice’s Whales. They were originally thought to be Bryde’s Whales, but some scientists suspected there were differences. These scientists collected genetic data a few years ago, which gave preliminary confirmation of their suspicions. Then, a dead whale was found in 2019, and the scientists were able to verify their hypothesis.
At first, it seems surprising that these whales have been swimming around, unidentified, for so long. Scientists estimate, however, that there are fewer than 100 Rice’s Whales left in the world; they are in danger of extinction. Combine that with the size and depth of the ocean as well as the challenges of locating specific types of fish and animals in the sea, and it’s not so surprising after all.
The discovery of this new species isn’t going to make much, if any, impact on the lives of most of us here on Earth. We would have gone on with our human existence even if we’d never learned about these whales. Likewise, the whales would have gone on living their watery lives regardless of our awareness. With that in mind, maybe this news isn’t such a big deal, especially considering everything else that’s happening these days.
On the other hand, maybe it’s the type of news we need right now. It’s a reminder that, as smart as we are and as much as we know, there is still so much for us to discover. So, here’s to curiosity, to riddles and mysteries, and to all that we have yet to learn.
On the other hand, maybe it’s On the other hand, maybe it’s a nice little reminder of what can happen through a combination of curiosity, perseverance, and the belie
Every year on this date, I think about teachers.
There are countless examples of jobs that provide value to society – doctors and designers, lawyers and librarians, bakers and builders – just to name a few. Some are well-known and well-paid. Others, not so much. All contribute in some way to the intricate, delicately-balanced web that holds us all together in this world.
The foundational profession, however, is teaching.
The people who teach are the ones who help us do more than we did before. They help us be more than we used to be and build more than exists now. They help us imagine and evaluate and understand and create so that then everything else is possible.
So, here’s to the teachers. Thank you for seeing our potential, believing in us, and guiding us forward on the journey to tomorrow.
“I touch the future. I teach.” – Christa McAuliffe
Of all the things that technology makes possible, one of my favorites is that people who are miles apart – sometimes, even countries apart – are still able to sing together.
There are lots of virtual choirs out there delivering professionally-produced performances, everything from show tunes to traditional hymns. Nothing can truly replace a live choir experience, but the virtual versions are a good substitute.
A fun new trend, an informal approach to this remote communal singing action, involves sea shanties. Not long ago, a person in Scotland, Nathan Evans, posted his a capella version of The Wellerman on TikTok. Soon after, people all over the world were adding their voices, creating several variations on the first version. Since then, Mr. Evans has added more shanties, and more variations have been created, and now there’s a whole new awareness of and appreciation for the music.
I, too, want to sing and dance when I hear these shanties; they’re a good way to get the day started. Part of the fun is knowing that, somewhere out there, other people are also humming along and living the experience. I’ll never meet them, but we are each part of a larger virtual community.
Here’s to technology and the gift of being able to sing together, regardless of the distance between us.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
There’s a lot happening these days, deep, heavy, serious things, some good, some not. Things that are worthy of attention and consideration; things that carry long-term implications and demand careful focus.
In the midst of it all, today is Dolly Parton’s birthday.
I’ve written of my admiration of her before. Since then, I’ve learned that she’s done even more Good, even more Wow, by donating one million dollars to the research that ultimately led to the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
She did it on purpose, but she didn’t do it to get noticed or to be in charge. As she put it, “I just felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help to heal this world.”
So, here’s to Dolly Parton. Happy Birthday to a real Wonder Woman.
“Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton
I went outside this morning while I was waiting for the coffee to perk. In my yard, flitting about, were seven Red-breasted Robins.
There are numerous meanings and symbols associated with Red-breasted Robins. Generally, the stories and legends share a common theme: hope and renewal.
Whatever the reason might have been for these feathery visitors today, they were a treat to watch. Here’s to happy little moments in the sunrise.
Well, it actually happened. We got some real, bonafide snow.
The Big Event was yesterday. It started around lunchtime and lasted a few hours. Big, fat, fluffy snowflakes, the kind you see in movies, coming down pretty heavily for a while. It was delightful. It all melted quickly, however. No accumulation at my house, although areas not far from here saw some real Winter Wonderland action.
I suppose it’s silly to get so excited about it, especially considering that snow tends to create inconveniences. Because it’s so rare for this area, there’s a bit of a freak out when it happens. Roads get shut down, traffic is a nightmare, schools close, grocery stores become crowded as people stock up on staples like milk and bread.
Thunderstorms, tornadoes, heat advisories – we’re experts at that stuff. It’s expected and normal; we’ve got systems and steps and lots of practice. Frozen precipitation? Not so much.
But it’s the rarity that also makes it fun, makes it worth celebrating. Snow is a big deal because it doesn’t happen very often. When it does, it feels a little magical.
So, I’m glad that this time, the snow happened on a weekend and that it didn’t stick around for long. It was the best kind of snowfall; not enough to create many complications. Just enough to enjoy.
A Daily Cuppa 