A litany of thanks
My friend Alicein shut down our beloved Mockingbird Cafe yesterday and oh what a difference to us. This morning, she brought over some of the kitchen produce and I was cooking my mom’s cabbage dish and needed tomatoes and Wala! Thank you, Alicein, for giving during tough times.
Yesterday, my friend Kat left books for me and Tin on her porch steps along with two containers of homemade chicken soup. On top of the box was The Yellow House – a book on my list. I had a bowl of the soup for lunch and it was divine. Thank you Kat for thinking of us.
The day before Kandi left a bag of books on the Hall’s front porch and on top of it was Anne Lamott’s recent book Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. In the midst of last night, I pulled it from the stack to soothe me to sleep. Thank you Kandi for responding to my universal need for books.
Each afternoon at 6PM, my friend Ann organizes an hour long social distancing bike ride that has been the true highlight of this captivity. Every day, I sip my tea and look at Sterling Bell, a piece of Ann’s artwork that speaks to me of time travel and mirthful confidence. Thank you Ann for your magic.
Today, I got out late for my walk because I didn’t sleep last night and then slept through midmorning. On my walk, I could hear my mother telling me that I’ve got this, that I’m so organized, that she’s so proud of me, that my confidence always amazes her. When I thought about how my mother’s words to my younger self could still comfort me in these trying days, I had hope for my son. I might be doing some parenting right. Thank you, Mom, for putting your loving hands on me.
