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Day 85: Tweezing Ticks

Shiloh had a tick in her neck. We rubbed petroleum jelly on the area, burned the tick’s butt, then I tweezed, deeply, to not break him in half. When I pulled him out, I was wide eyed with wonder examining his smashed body.

It was my first time tweezing a tick out of a body.

Day 84: Today I did not watch the news

That is a wonder absolutely. The news has been filling us all with anxiety. A day off is important. (Don’t worry I still see some stuff online, but we have been watching a lot of CNN too. And tonight we did not.)

Today I took Shiloh for a long walk. Yesterday was national puppy day! Love this pup of ours.

She loves to wave!

Day 81: The Scent of Wild Green Onion

I went on a walk yesterday, mid-quarantine. We are not sick, but are staying away from businesses (all that is open) and groups of people as much as possibly. On the walk I found a bunch of wild green onion. I pulled some on my way home to wash and then place in a vase. I had some last spring, and they sprout beautiful onion-fumed purple flowers. The smell was oddly wonderful. Scratchy and bitter and pungent.

Day 77: Baby Blue Bird in the Leaves

It has been raining, and the backyard was muddy and wet. So I clipped Shiloh on to her leash and took her outside to go potty. On our way around the yard, I saw a blue fluff ball in the wet leaves. It was a baby blue bird. She looked like she had fallen from a nest or had maybe broken a wing or a leg.

I took Shiloh inside and made a nest basket with seeds and bread. My mom told me to rescue her, and reminded me a laundry basket would do. When I was little, we would rescue lots of animals, many of them birds.

But when I went outside, the little birdie flew away! She landed on the neighbor’s fence. Then, out of the sky, dove another blue bird (maybe her mom or sis or bro) and pecked her back and she fell to the ground, into the neighbors’ yard. I was shocked. And don’t know what happened to that blue baby bird.

The news has still been depressing. I believe we have entered a recession and may be on our way to a depression. Thousands of people are out of jobs. Those in the service industry have taken a ginormous hit. Most states have closed bars, restaurants, theaters, libraries, schools, events with over 10 people (was 50, but now 10 is the encouraged number). It’s scary. Also, the world found out Tom Brady is leaving the Patriots for Florida’s Buccaneers today. Sad day in the sports world. I inherited TB and the Pats when I met Nick nine years ago. I guess I’ll need a different jersey.

Anyway, baby blue bird. A tiny moment of magic amongst the pandemic we are living in.

Day 76: People on Facebook

I posted this this morning, and within the hour had a handful of people tagging friends from Chicago, sharing it on their timelines, and basically getting attention to those who could help. My cousin, Daniel, rallied his family in Chicago to help get goods to my grandparents. I love them so so much and it hurt my heart that people were hoarding toilet paper…and my grandpa could not find any. It’s the time to help each other. It’s really all we have. I’m grateful to the wonder of people caring on Facebook. Small joy, big results.

Day 75: Walking Dogs

Today, our tiny county and town declared a state of emergency. We were kind of hoping we’d miss the coronavirus. But there is a confirmed case in our county (not town…as of yet).

But this was this evening — after the president told America to “relax” and “just buy what you need for the week” — he had just gotten off the phone with all the big CEOs from Wal-Mart, Kroger, General Mills, Target, and et cetera. People have been making “panic purchases” and you will find the entire pasta and canned tuna aisle wipes out in conjunction with the cleaning supplies, baby wipes, and toilet paper. He seemed to be unaware of the real danger humans are facing.

Tests are coming but we don’t know how available or accessible they will be. This is how the virus is moving. We get news hourly, daily.

To take a break, the three of us (4 with Shiloh the Golden) went in the rainy mist for a walk along the lake. It was wonderful to be in nature, get outside, take our minds off all we couldn’t control, and we even had a moment of humor when a woman speed walked past us with FIVE dogs on leashes.

Stay safe, and happy social distancing.