A Gift from the Blue Mountains

I think one of the things that has happened as a result of staying home for all these weeks is that my priorities are changing.  I think I have learned in these sequestered times never to take my blessings for granted, to be truly grateful for them and as a result to try to make life a bit better for someone else however I can. And I don't think I'm alone in this . 

We went to Dana and Jim's to celebrate Peter's 20th birthday last night. It has been almost 100ºF for the last two days, so sitting in the garden could have been a problem, but it cooled off enough, and she has a beautiful garden, so it was lovely. I told Peter that since we couldn't shop for a gift (probably huge relief to him) we could either give him cash or a gift card someplace, but since we wouldn't even dare to chose the right place for a gift card, we were asking him which he wanted. He has been studying computer engineering in his bedroom, unable to go to the gym or even hang out with his friends for weeks. His answer was immediate...donate it. I texted him today to find out where he would like us to send it and he sent me a link to  Black Lives Matter. I too have been looking for places to donate money which I no longer have much interest in spending on myself. 

There have been demonstrations in Santa Rosa, and there is an 8pm  curfew, because there was some property damage the first night, but I do sense a change in the conversation. The president crossed some line that even some of his most ardent supporters can't stomach, first by advocating violent responses to demonstrations and threatening to call in the army, and then by calling in the National Guard to clear peaceful demonstrations near the White House so that he could walk across the street, stand in front of a boarded up church with a bible he has clearly never read and mouth words of blame. Those Republicans who nominated him,  toiled to elect him and have enabled his deliberate and intentional destruction of our democracy need to be brought down along with him.

We are the hollow men...
   Our dried voices when
   We whisper together
   Are quiet and meaningless
   As wind in dry grass or rats' feet over broken glass...

--T.S. Eliot
'Hollow Men'

In better news:
John was delighted to find a package from Australia on our doorstep this afternoon. We both knew exactly what was in it as we have exchanged unique puzzles with Blipper Walking Wombat. It couldn't have come at a more perfect moment as it is too hot to be outside and he has finally admitted defeat on the massed penguin puzzle Jim brought back from England two and a half months ago. What a perfect image from Walking Wombat...an adorable little wombat! Thanks, Barb. I may even join him in working on this one....