April 28

Our world is adapting and connecting in this time of pandemic. Pandemic does sound like panic. The panic stage has ended and we all are ready for things to go back to a more normal situation. Dr Tam says full normal is still a long ways off. Opening things up does seem like an option that is much closer than it has been for a while. Quebec has announced elementary school and daycare will open in May. Saskatchewan and Ontario both have plans to slowly open. There are many states in the US opening things up more. Opening restaurants, opening hair salons; I can’t wait for a haircut. There are indicators that we have flattened the curve.  People are ready. The connections formed with other people are a silver lining in this chaotic, contagious, situation..

Meanwhile people in Fort McMurray are being evacuated because of a natural disaster of epic proportions. The poor people of Fort Mac have had horrendous fires, economic disaster, covid19 and now they are flooded out of their homes. Ice jams from the spring break up have backed up the three rivers that converge nearby and even the military can’t help. I count myself a lucky man in my little corner of the world here in Westbank BC.

I worked on the computer the rest of the day until I needed to get outside and move. My body craves movement. I was looking in my shed and found some weed and feed. I’m not certain how long it’s been hiding in the corner but when I opened the bag it didn’t look quite right. I decided to jump on my quad and rip down the hill to pick up some new stuff.  That’s when I found out they discontinued weed and feed. Weed and feed is like gold I am informed. It was stopped being sold to protect us. Since I was at the nursery I figured I might as well pick up some junipers. Yard work seems like some strange new form of addiction these days. I want to plant in the soil. I want to make things grow.

My friend Jeff stopped by to say hi and just then we heard the roar of a chain-saw I quickly looked over as the tree crashed to the ground into the field across the street. We looked at each other shrugged our shoulders and walked over to help. Our other neighbours had just fallen a tree and Brewer the arborist was bucking up the limbs Jeff and I grabbed some branches and proceeded to drag them to the road. In short order the four of us had the site cleaned up. It would have been perfect except I managed to smack myself in the face with a log; it hurt right away but I don’t think it will leave a mark. Trying not to laugh my neighbour from across the street offered us a tall boy. We stopped and sat in his front yard enjoying a bevy and connecting in the moment toasting when neighbours join together to make quick work of a job.

I feel like we have turned a corner and things will start to improve. We will embrace the positive changes made in our world. I will embrace the positive changes made in my life. I look forward to more days helping each other.