in these lonely times

  John and I escaped yesterday and got a haircut. It was good to laugh again with the hairdresser that has been trimming my locks for years.I could see that he was happy to feel useful again after weeks of hanging out at home.He said that after all this he learned one thing; he will never retire. Good.

 How are all the people coping, those who have no one that they interact with on a daily basis because of age or health.The ones who enjoy going to Kroger to smile at someone or the library to use computers or be surrounded by books.How hard is this very strange time for them?

 Perhaps the dream I had on April 23, speaks to this situation. It was so clear that I was supposed to be sharing what was revealed. I know it was Spirit driven because in my waking time, nothing like this went through my mind.It has two parts.

The first was to encourage people to find their way to a saint or two. If you don't have a favorite , use the one you chose at Confirmation .Or perhaps use your first initial and find one that way. I thought of St. Stephen, he who was the first martyr.Or use your middle name, which may be a saint's name..Mine is St.Anne, Mary's mother.Ask that saint for their prayers. Perhaps, before you act on something, ask them to help you to make a Godly choice.

 The second was to implore Mary to assist you if God has asked something of you. Like writing this mediation that I had no idea where to start or where to go.Ask for the wisdom to recognize what God is asking and strength to say yes, as she did.

In the dream, after each teaching, a man would get up and recap and all who were there listened intently.It was quite amazing to watch him as if it was a movie.

So I have started to talk to my saints.St.Bernadette, she who was granted visits by the Mother of God. She who was humble and wanted no fuss.The poor saint who became a nun and was ridiculed by her Superiors. Pray for me, dear saint.

St, Therese of Lisieux and St Teresa of Calcutta, who seem interchangeable to me, as they show us how to to do small things with great love.Dear Saints, pray for me.

Maybe this is the time to reacquaint ourselves with a saint, perhaps one we seem drawn to, as a  way out of the loneliness of this time. I found this on Twitter; it seems just perfect and hopeful:

"The Saints in their glory aid and encourage us. When we call upon our Guardian Angel he comes with many friends.Even in our isolation the Saints will come without exception." S Keedle

the Puppy Christmas

It started in November when I caught a glance of a large black and white dog crawling under our shed occasionally. It was cold so I though she might be seeking some warmth.Then in early December, I thought I heard the sound of crying kittens. Eventually one of these "kittens" crawled out and became a puppy. Under the shed I went and handed John a puppy, then another one and then there were 16 with the mother nowhere to be found.

John cleaned out the shed, put a heater in, bought a bag of dried dog food which we mixed with warm milk and we were parents again.
Even had night feedings. YAY!

The puppies were beautiful .Squirming brown, black and white little creatures, new to the world.and in the daytime we kept them in a wired fence area. Soon the neighborhood kids found their way to the puppy farm.They played, laughed and took a few home to beg parents who resisted.

One girl of about 11 came and asked to take a puppy home for a little while.I was hesitant because I was trying to keep track of who ate and who needed feeding but she begged and I said: "O.K., but be back in a half hour."She beamed and then Arlene assured me she would.An hour later I was still wondering where she was when she appeared. I snapped at her maybe from fatigue, maybe because I could and she went home chastened. I have felt bad since.

For 8 years I have known that I need to tell her I am sorry, she who has not had an easy life,Father missing. I have rarely seen her and always while driving by but today there she was.Grown, works at the airport, she was talking to someone in her driveway as I power walked by. I stopped and asked her if she remembered the puppies.She said she did and I told her I was so sorry I had been harsh with her.She said:"That's O.K.I just wanted to keep one."Then I knew that she was so late coming back because she was begging her Mom who said, "No."

You don't have to be in AA to know when amends need to be made.Today, was a good , light day.

An Easter Tale

A  co-incidence?

Every Easter since we moved here,  eggs have been hidden and small children have searched. In the plastic eggs were either coins, bills, candy or a scripture verse.Our two dogs, a huge happy yellow Lab, Sagan, and our smaller much loved older dog, Cooper,  were always part of the hunt. I have a picture of Sagan carrying his own Easter basket through the woods, grinning at the fun..

One year, the bright orange egg with the twenty dollar bill was nowhere to be found despite much searching.When we finally went into the TV room, noticing the door slightly ajar, there he was,Sagan happily  tearing the bill apart and smiling.Yes, dogs do smile.

In November of 2007, I noticed some blood dripping from Sagan's mouth.Off to the vet to find that he had a large tumor in his gum and a decision needed to be made.I called all of my children and after talking to them brought our dear boy home for the holidays.In those few months, I gave him treats, took him often to the park and made a memorable trip to the river where he contentedly sat gazing up at a hawk screeching above.

In January, it was time. My husband, son and I went to the vets.We went in to wait for the doctor to end Saga's life. I sat in a chair as my son stood by Sagan telling him what a good boy he was as he sat on the operating table.At one point he looked over to see if I was there.I got up and hugged him and talked softly.What if I had waited outside like my husband suggested ? He would have looked over and not seen me.

When we got home, weeping uncontrollably, we  went and hung Sagan's collar on a tree overlooking the river our dogs loved so much. I was heartbroken and barely slept that night.The next day, I sadly took our retriever for a walk along the path through the woods that we have walked for years every day. Something to my left caught my eye. It was a yellow plastic egg laying right there in the open..How could I have not seen it since last Easter?.I picked it up wondering if the chocolate was moldy or how many coins were in it.

I doubt you will believe this but on that sad, awful day, out of all the things that egg could have contained, rolled up like a gum wrapper, was the comfort of a small note with my most favorite verse from Scripture.:

"Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23.