April 18

Rat, tat tat, Rat, tat tat. An incessant tapping wakes me from the recesses of my mind. It’s those damn woodpeckers again. I need to find a way to get rid of them. I have a brief vision of some form of weapon but dismiss it just as quick. I need to go down stairs three times before they give up and realize cement stucco and plywood is not a good place to find food. Dumb birds.

I crawl back into bed not ready for the day, my rude awakening behind me. Sleep returns upon my consciousness and dreams take me away. Dreams of skiing, fresh powder, ski buddies and apres ski with Jon Bos. Jon has created a couple of amazing videos on You tube, he made us feel a little closer to the mountain. He celebrated the epic year we had at Big White. This would have been the start of the last weekend for skiing. in my dream skiing is still open and no one worries about keeping apart. Some dreams can be so nice, this one I am not ready to wake up from.

The delicious aroma of fresh coffee wafts into my slumber and slowly returns me to wakefulness. Sleeping in is a refreshing change and I ‘m looking forward to my first cup of coffee. I make my way down the stairs and disappointment greets me; I discover that my honey made herself an espresso and the coffee pot is sitting vacant and empty.

Despite the light rain showers and cloudy skies we make our way into the garden. Time to plan and plant. Tilling the soil and planting potatoes, onions and garlic gives us a feeling of renewal, of hope. Time races by while working the earth. I can’t help feel disappointment that my daughter doesn’t come out and share the experience with us. I try to remember as a kid what my Dad said to get my help in the yard. It was something we just did; was it fear? Or we simply didn’t have the same distractions then, no phone, no internet. The stone ages, my daughter calls it. Satisfied with the garden it’s time sit and enjoy a beer. We relax in the sunshine that has exploded on the afternoon, heating the patio and warming the day. Taking in the view of Little White Mountain in the distance and the lake, reflects the beauty of the day.

Going to the nursery down the hill earlier I noticed that people were busy buying stuff for their yards and gardens, many seniors seemingly oblivious of social distances. I wonder again what my Dad would think and why his generation seems so reluctant to participate in something that is supposed to save their lives. Dad was always skeptical of the government. Born in the great depression dad’s generation has certainly seen massive change in the world in the last century. Krista’s parents are staying safe at home yet when we visited they really didn’t succeed in social distances. It seems it is my generation that’s most concerned about what the consequences of social distances and self-isolation are. In a way I am glad Dad is not here to see this new world order. Mostly I just miss him.

Alice Cooper was supposed to be playing in Penticton today. I would’ve been working that show and enjoying the Godfather of Shock Rock. Now we are making the best of our evenings walking the street and seeing our neighbours. Concerts, parties, sporting events, all on hold… when will they return? Some say not this year, let alone this summer. I hope they are wrong.

As the days pass people are certainly doing their best to return to a form of normal. Real normal may not return for a long time yet; we will continue to adapt and connect to the soil and the people around us.