Thoughts during self quarantine

Our country's leaders asked us last week to stay home, self quarantine, social distance ourselves from each other.  We can't visit anyone in nursing homes.  There is no Mass today.  Toilet paper disappears from store shelves as soon as it arrives.  Events and trips are cancelled every day.  Washington's governor ordered all restaurants, dental offices, hair salons, and many other businesses to close.  Everyday something new happens!  California residents can only leave their homes to shop for groceries or pick up medicine at local pharmacies.  School teachers struggle to set up online learning and teach from their living rooms.  Schools are closed, graduations cancelled.  Even our local hospitals are preparing for the CoVid-19 crisis.  St. Joe's closed outpatient surgery and plans to isolate respiratory patients in that section of the hospital.  I'm grateful for the prayers and ways to be hopeful that that are showing up in my daily Email.  I continue to find solace in my daily reflection books, both from scripture, Richard Rohr, or OnBeing posts.  Today's readings are about Jesus curing the blind man and subsequently about light.  From Ephesians 5:  

Live as children of the light, for light produces every kind of goodness....

Thank God for all these people!

AARP suspended all tax preparation, so I've basically been out of a volunteer job since March 14th.  Yesterday I learned that the IRS delayed the filing date until July 15th, so there will be time to produce goodness again for our seniors and others who can't afford to pay to get their taxes done!

My brother, Don's, been using his quarantine time as Lenten penance to organize Mom and Dad's old photos.  He's been sending all the siblings a photo a day and here's the one for today.

Dad had a small piece of paper taped to the wood paneling in the basement bedroom which read:

 Deep in the heart of everyone is the old town, where they first went barefoot, got their first licken, traded their first pocket knife. Grew up and went away thinking they were too big for that little burg, but that is where your old heart is.  Will Rogers

My Magnolia tree is beginning to bloom!  Yesterday I hiked with the LCValley hikers and we noticed many trees blooming as we looked across the river to Asotin.  Today God blessed us with a beautiful sunrise.  I try to notice God's presence and LIGHT in many moments throughout the day.

It's been quite a challenge for me to shift gears and find things to do after our spring break trip was cancelled.  I've been working on refinishing my bedroom door and putting together a Grandmother Fan quilt.  Seaport Quilt Guild members made these blocks for me in 1991 when I moved to Boise.  Now I have the time to put them together and celebrate the goodness of these creative women.

Speaking of goodness..... my friend Regina brings so much light to my life.   She sends me a text every morning asking if I'd like to walk.  She finds ways to reach out to those suffering from cabin fever and this week she surprised me with this lovely gift from St. Vincent DePaul.

Our family embraced some new technology last week - this came  from Maureen on Wednesday:

If I set up a free conference call for later today with the family would one if you lead us in a rosary?  Mom told me to do this and my voice sounds horrible.  I missed the conference call because I was hiking with Duane, Anne, and Colin.  But it led to new apps suggested by Marilyn and Karen, House Party and Marco Polo.  Last night Marilyn figured out a 3-way phone conversation with Allan, so we could find out how our California family is dealing with social isolation!

Anne told me she and her friends are teaching their children Home Economics and Life Skills.  Colin learned how to sew on a button, change a tire, use jumper cables, turn the water off to an overflowing toilet and then he memorized his social security number.  

I'm digging into my fabric scraps and making cotton face masks for Karen and her co-workers.  There is a shortage of face masks to protect our healthcare workers and these might help relieve the shortage.  The project reminds me of women who rolled bandages to support the war effort.  The Coronavirus is an invisible war....I want to do my part.  There's certainly more time for me to be on my knees and I love this prayer and encourage all the have a listen!

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/02/coronavirus-prayer