May : Named for Maia ,Greet goddess of fertility.
Fifth month of the year
The emerald is May’s jewel.
May 1: On this day in 1952 Mr. Potato Head was introduced.
May 1: School Principal’s Day
May 2: World Tuna Day
May 5-11 Root Canal Awareness Week (that is something to sink you teeth into)
More facts about May: May is the only month with just three letters.
May is a ladies name and when jumbled another ladies name.
Spell backwards May is the only month that is a vegetable or edible item.
Some positive thoughts to start your day.
“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” T. Edison
Instead of thinking about what you are missing try thinking of what you have.
The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.
I think it was Rick who wrote, “It was the coolest of times, it was the lousiest of times”. Pretty much sums up what we are going through right now. I tip my hat to all the Welcome writers who come up with great columns day after day adding some color to our sequestered lives.
Sheila and I are still going strong. It has been seven weeks since a gas nozzle has come near our cars. The fine people at All State are awared of this and thought it would be a nice gesture to give a “refund” to all those not driving but still mailing hefty checks to the Insurance giant. We received notice that All State would be sending us a check for: DRUM ROLL— $15.31. We are booking the next flight to Vegas.
Once a week Sheila goes on line and places our order with Raley’s in Turlock. We are given a pick up date usually three to four days after the order has been placed.The day of the pick up we are texted that our order is ready. We dust the cobwebs off our vehicle, take it off the battery charger, and make the 1 mile drive down to the store. We pull into the specially marked driving spots and phone the pick up number. Within minutes a young smiling employee is carting out our various bags of groceries and loading them into our car. We would love to tip them because they are doing an excellent job working under trying and difficult conditions but they are required not to accept any gratuities. We have been informed by those who run Raleys that these folks and other Raleys employees have been given raises in pay. Good job by everyone at our local store. Thank you.
At the house Sheila gets out the disinfectant and wipes down all the bags and then all the groceries before putting them away. The fruit is washed down with warm water. We are set. We still order toilet tissue every week and every week it is back ordered. Luckily Sheila always kept a supply of “essentials” on hand so we are ok for a few more weeks.
My daily routine is my usual 4 A.M. wake up. Put the coffee on read the news via Kindle with Zoey scrunched next to me in the recliner. A bowl of oatmeal,a banana and 8 almonds and ready to work on a Merl Reagle crossword. Then it is out to the back yard, clean the pool, do some trimming, raking,sweeping,watering, then take Zoey out for our walk. After the walk it is out to the back yard, get some sun, do some puttering around, maybe strum the electric bass along with songs on You Tube , and of course working on my monthly letter to the Modesto Bee.
Sheila looks at my routine and says, “This is exactly your routine before the pandemic.” Yes. I have been described as a closet agoraphobic and I guess I am. Home is where the heart is and I don’t deny it.It would be nice to go out for lunch or dinner with friends, a movie, a show at the Gallo, a Giants game with Maria or hell even walking around a crowded Costco bumping unto shoppers while munching on some tasty give a away gourmet goodie. But all in good time.
The hardest is not seeing the grandchildren. That hurts. But as long as everyone is healthy we are thankful.
Until June 5: Read many books, hug your children, pet your dog, stroke a cat, eat numerous bars of chocolate keep your masks on and your spirits high.
P.S
Attention CBA music lovers!! This Saturday Noon-8:30 —– Sunday 111:00 6:30 for your listening enjoyment all day long: Modesto PORCH FEST View countless musicians playing for your entertainment. Special attention to great friend Ross Redding and the Dry Creek Rangers 6:30 Sunday.