April 18, 2020

Today Charlie Brown is in a panic because he can’t find his baseball glove.  In today’s current climate he wouldn’t need it anyway.  I am not a sports fan but I do feel sympathy (sort of … ) for those who are! 

Today’s Word garden is very different in nature.  My sister Kathy and I needed to make a trip to Albion as a labor of love – to share a quick visit with my extremely lonely step-father, and also to get clothes, personal items and pictures for mom.  We brought her down in a rush and she really needed several items.  As we were not sure all the rest stops would be open, we decided to be prepared. 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PORTA POTTY:   Step one.  Find the old five gallon bucket that was used to hall stones and mulch around the garden.  Purchase a pool noodle.  Scrub bucket and slip a Walmart bag down in.  Secure the bag with the pool noodle, which you have cut to size and sliced through longways.  Great start.  But wait.  Everyone has a bit of advise.  Make sure you take extra Walmart bags.  Check.  Also, if you put a few paper towels in the bottom of the bucket it will absorb some of the moisture and avoid spills.  Check.  Take extra paper towels.  Check.  Take a roll of toilet tissue.  Check.  Take a container of Clorox wipes.  Check.  Take a can of Lysol spray.  Check.  Take an old beach towel or blanket to provide some privacy.  Check (sort of).  Take hand sanitizer.  Check.  Put all supplies in a box and put in trunk with bucket/potty.  Check.  Happily discover that all the rest stops are open and operational.  Check. Yeah! 

So although we were over-prepared, we were confident that we would have been fine.  Had several offers to take bucket Porta-Potty off our hand.  NO CHECK!  🙂    We made the quick trip up and back in record time, but it was with a heavy heart that we drove home.  Some tasks are just not happy, no matter how hard you try.  Our prayers are that John stays healthy and happy and that Mom is as comfortable as possible.  We love them both!   

On this date in 1775 Paul Revere and William Dawes ride and deliver the warning “regulars are coming!”  In 1906 an earthquake and fire kills 4,000 people and destroys 75% of San Francisco.  In 1951, Charles Schulz marries Joyce Halverson, and in 1956 Grace Kelly marries Prince Ranier III of Monaco.  And today, my friend Joyce Butler Cumo is celebrating her birthday.  Joyce and I worked together at Smail Auto in the 1980’s and beyond, and I will always value those memories and our friendship.  Happy Birthday Joyce!  And God Bless us, every one.