June 30, 2020. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Observations.

Traveling is different today in the era of Covid. When I checked in at the United agent, he told me that some planes would be more than 40% full. And he asked me if I wanted to wait for a less full flight. I told him that I would take my chances and went to my gate. The first flight from Jackson to Houston was full, which surprised me. No food. No beverage service. Everyone wearing masks. No pillows. No blankets. No magazines. The new normal. The next flight from Houston to Toronto was about one third full. But the biggest shock was seeing over 40 planes parked closely together at the side of the airport. I am sure that other airlines have the same situation. You wonder how those airlines will ever survive. I was expecting no food but upon arrival I was given a plastic bag with a bottle of water, rubber gloves, hand sanitizer bottle and a mask. Then was was offered lunch, which was a box of food, which turned out to be tasty. No tea or coffee. And the food box was prepackages off site. The flight from Toronto to Halifax was half full. And the exact same lunch box was given to me, along with a second plastic bag of health items. The airports themselves are not a bit crowded. But every soap dispenser in every bathroom had empty soap dispensers. I did laugh, because as we were being admonished to wash with soap and water, I find no soap. The airlines are desperate to get people back flying. and it is an easy time to fly, except for the long layovers for the next flight≥. The last time I flew when taking chemo and had low immuuity I was the only person wearing a mask. But not yesterday. Everyone wearing masks. And tests for temperatures before boarding. More forms going through customs in Toronto along with lists of rules. But no wait at Customs and Immigration. Certainly a new normal.

June 30, 2020. Western Head, Nova Scotia.

I made it. All the lights were on welcoming me home. But I was very late. I knew I would be late but with the time change I thought I would be fine. Every flight was on time. And I arrived on time in Halifax at 11:15 as planned. But when Mr. Gaskell turned on 103, a noise was coming from his car. As soon as we had light, he checked the wheels but the clicking sound could still be heard. So we drove home slowly in the pitch dark and the rain wondering if the van would blow up at some point of the journey. And we made it home although we arrived at 3:00. I am pleased to be here and I did fine on the journey. Now I am going to sleep. Tomorrow is another day.

June 28, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. The Gift.

My across the street neighbors have two children. Hughes is going into his third year at Mississippi State while Anne Avery has just turned 16. They are both delightful children. Their birthdays are on the same date in April, which means that Anne Avery is old enough to get her drivers license. After the school year year ended, she worked on getting her license and she was successful, just last week. She said nothing to her parents about her own car but she knew that the parents gave a Jeep to Hughes not long after he got his license. But she never said a word. I had lunch with Donna, the mother, three weeks ago and she told me that both she and Gregg, the father, had been looking up cards for her. But they said nothing to Anne Avery about their search. They settled on a small SUV at a used car dealer in Jackson but when Gregg looked up the model on the internet he found the same car with less miles and $3,000. less. The problem is that the car was in Minnesota. They thought for sure the dealer would cut the price but they would not. Donna and Gregg fly to get the car and drive the car back. Anne Avery thought the parents were going to a meeting, which of course they were. Last evening just after 7:00 I got a text. Gregg was driving the car into their driveway, and asking if I would like to see the fun. Of course I went outside to see the fun. The parents both went inside. A few minutes later, Anne Avery and the whole family came outside. And Anne Avery shrieked. And she laughed outloud. Next she bounced up and down like a rubber ball. She was so surprised and excited. Even I got in the spirit. After walking around the car a dozen times the whole family went for a ride in the new car. I thought the whole scene was splendid. I enjoyed every minute even from across the street and even with me wearing my night shirt. Good parents and good children. Pretty nice.

June 27, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Details.

Yesterday was the polar opposite of today where I dealt all day with details. I neither spoke to nor saw anyone. Two weeks ago I started setting things out that needed to go with me. I use the dining table in lieu of a spare bedroom next to me. As I go to Texas before coming home, I must take a nightshirt plus toothbrush and other supplies. At the beginning I always think my little rolling case will be mostly empty so I set out an extra shirt and shorts to use in Texas. One week ago I set out my case, again using the dining table. I am careful with the table and put a beach towel under the case. Bit by bit I put stuff in the case. I can not think the day before a trip so I know to finish preparations early. Today was the fine tuning. The medications went in along with the reading glasses and the calendar. Out came the shirt and shorts. Not enough space. And I changed my purse. My travel clothes are set on my bedroom chair. Everything from the fridge is now in the freezer. I have only 2 apples to eat tomorrow and two pieces of pizza for dinner, along with the last of a salad. All I must do tomorrow is to load the computer and iPad in my backpack and store the chargers. I think all the details have been dealt with. Tomorrow, Kashina will change the sheets and towels so they will be clean upon my return. My day was productive and I think I am set. Monday I head out with an easy mind. Then I hope for the best.

June 26, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. My Full Day.

My busy day began drinking coffee and eating fresh coffee cake sitting in the lovely home of friend Carrie. The kitchen is perfect and includes a couch and chair. I have decided that every kitchen needs a comfortable couch and chair. As we were chatting about our respective days, I said that the only required item on my list was to get prescriptions at the pharmacy. I was intending to use Lyft. Carrie kindly offered to pick them up but I do not trust Walgreens so after discussion, we decided that I would accompany Carrie on her errands and we would stop for the medications. So we headed out. Carrie and Brooks were having dinner guests tonight and also hosting a birthday party for their granddaughter who turns 16 on Sunday. So Carrie needed to visit several places, none of which I knew so I was pleased to discover new places. Also Carrie is good company so I was happy to accompany her on her errands. Who knew that there are two trailers selling fresh seafood? The trailers are open three days a week and are parked in obscure parking lots. Duggins is the name of the place. I bought three big scallops for dinner tomorrow. When we were finished her chores, we ate lunch at a restaurant new to me: a Greek seafood place. I ate fish but the next time I will eat Greek food. Of course I did not write down the name of the restaurant. It took us two visits at Walgreens and we still did not get the medications so we gave up and went home. By then it was 3:00. We had fun. Carrie offered to return to the pharmacy but when Walgreens called, I took Lyft. My driver and I drover through the pick up area and I was home in ten minutes. Now I am set for my trip. But the most exciting part of the day was when my brother called to say that my grandniece, his granddaughter, had had a baby boy. Both Rachel and the baby are doing well. The Buckley clan is growing. My day was complete.

June 25, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Power Failure.

All was well in my neighborhood, The storm and heavy rain of the afternoon had passed and the lake was quiet. The time was 5:45 and I walked toward the kitchen to prepare my orange drink. I noticed that the lights were not on but thought I had not yet flipped the switch. The lights were not working in the kitchen. I had experienced a power failure. I have lived here since the beginning of March and had experienced many storms, both big and small without any loss of electricity. Now when the storm has passed, we are without power. I learned on their hotline that an automobile had hit and damaged a piece of equipment. Repairmen were on the way and they hope the power would be restored by 10:30. So I planned my evening in the dark. First I drank my orange drink in the TV room, while looking at the lake. When it was still light, I set out all the flashlights. Next I read my e mails. Fortunately I was out for lunch today for I was not intending to cook so I took my yoghurt and apple and sat again in my swivel chair in the TV and watched light disappearing. It was lovely, something I never have done before. And I watched the boats heading for the docks. Using the flashlight I walked to the kitchen to return the plate and container. At night without any lights I am anxious about missing the walk to the bedroom and instead find the stairs to downstairs. While I was still drinking a glass of water and looking out at the lake, the power came back on. I always think of Texas farm folks who received electricity much later than in the cities. It must have been like magic. At home tonight, while I sat looking out at the dark night, the lights in the house all came on. Even though my power was out for only three hours, I laughed out loud when the electric lights came back to life. "Welcome to my world," I said.

June 24, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Scans and Plans.

My scan today is unchanged from two months ago. Dr. Sheehan is pleased and I am too. The first time I took Ibrance it took 13 months before the cancer had left the bones so I expect it will take as much time now. "I am happy if the cancer has not spread to any bones," said the Oncologist. I am on the road to recovery. My next scan will be the week when I return from Texas, which is October 11. No scans until then. Whew. This morning they had trouble finding my veins to put the medication into my veins for the scan. Took three tries which is no fun. My observation is that the older I get the more difficult it is to find my veins. Our plan when I am away is to just continue to take Ibrance and letrozole. Today three months of Ibrance were delivered to my home and the three bottles are in my case. And I am not doing any blood work when in Nova Scotia. The first year I took Ibrance was when it was new so the Texas Oncologist wanted blood work done every three week, with the results faxed to him. That was 2015. The next time was 2018 and we did blood work twice in the season. This summer, none. By now we have a history of what happens to my body with Ibrance so Dr. Sheehan and I decided to trust my history. If I feel ill, the plan is to call her and see the GP in Liverpool. My plan is also to try to stay away from Infection. Nova Scotia will be a great place for me to stay safe. They have almost no virus in Queen's County, and the population is small. The theater is closed at the moment so no concerts or movies. People are still staying away from each other. My plan is to enjoy myself and to stay healthy which sounds good to me. The only thing I need are my three months supply of my regular medications, which I will get on Friday. Then I will be ready to roll, which I will do on Monday. Sounds like a plan to me.

June 23, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. My Social Life.

Believe it or not, I have a social life. For several weeks, I only saw Christina and the girls every Sunday for brunch. They picked up food and brought the food to my house. And Kashina came three morning a week so I had company. The television was also my companion so I did well during the lockdown. But now my life has improved. Lunch is my time to shine. It seems like ages but the restaurants opened for business just three weeks ago. I have good use of the new system. With a low immune system in the past, we always tried to sit away from everyone but now that the restaurants have separated the table it is perfect for me. I do not even need to ask to sit a long way away from people. The restaurants are set for me. My first luncheon guest was Cheryl. I have great admiration for her because she is the mother of seven and she always looks marvelous. And I enjoy her company. Next I had lunch with my new friends from down the street, Carrie. She works for a bank from home and I always enjoy talking with her. This Friday I am going to her house for coffee. And I had lunch with Donna, my neighbor across the street. She does many kind deeds for me so I was happy to take her out for lunch. They bought the lot at the end of our street so we were working through what they indend to build. They will do the same as our house with guest bedrooms on the lower lever down the hill. And their bedroom will be on the main level. I also drank coffee at home with Greta Barbour and lunch with Eleanor. And on Thursday Christina, GB and Eleanor will celebrate my departure for Nova Scotia over lunch at Amerigo. So my life has been busy. But my social life ends mid afternoon. At night, I am always at home, by myself. But I have no complaints. Sunday morning Kate was able to join us for brunch and we had a festive time together at Manships, perhaps the best restaurant in Jackson. We had fun. I even need to keep track of my appointments on my calendar. Pretty nice for an old lady.

June 22, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. My Friend's Mother.

I just love success stories. I like to find out how people got from where they were to where they got. That is why I enjoy reading biographies. I have also learned that every person has a story that is interesting. I have only spent a few times with my friend's mother but what I learned I found fascinating. I met her as a retired lady visiting her daughter who lived in DC. She was sitting in the reception area waiting for her daughter to finish work. I sat and talked to her. She was witty, energetic and enthusiastic. I learned that she spent summers at Cape Cod. She clearly enjoyed her life. Eventually I learned the whole story andI was even more impressed. She married into a well known family and had three children, the first two adopted and the third my friend born to her. All was well. The mother painted, played golf and tennis, danced and generally lived a good life, at least on the surface. Then her husband died young, and mother was in a position to raise three children with no job. No savings and no insurance would bail her out. All she had was a degree in fine arts and a gift with her sewing machine. She started making ball games for prominent people in her city. And she made wedding attire. Eventually she made fancy gowns and dresses all up the east coast. And she turned her dress making into a thriving, lucrative business. My friend spent all summer at the Cape, in the property her mother purchased. And my friend played tennis and golf, all funded by her mother. In later years she had a companion who accompanied her to the Cape for the summer. He enriched the mother's life. But then mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's and life became difficult. Her company died. The last few years have been difficult. Mother had several falls because she would forget to use the walker. But she never complained. And her sense of humor stayed intact, according to my friend. I have always been impressed with my friend's mother who started out on one path and then was forced into another path, which turned out to be spectacularly successful. May she now RIP.

June 21, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. My Father.

I learned a lot from my Father, things are with me now even though he died almost 60 years ago. I learned to have fun and enjoy myself. My Father read the Saturday Post and cut out the cartoons which he kept in a folder. He sent those cartoons to friends across the country. Friends loved receiving those appropriate cartoons. And he had fun too. I learned not to complain or to find fault. It was not what he said but what he did that made me take notice. Both my mother and father did not find fault with the houses provided for them by The Salvation Army. And I never heard them complain about The Salvation Army. My sister and I were taught that we needed to be able to support ourselves. At that time, this was unusual but Dad saw too many women who either by death or abandonment were left to raise their family without any visible way to earn a living. So we learned to get an education that allowed us to make money. He always told us that we would never know when we would need to support ourselves. So my sister became an administrative assistant and I because a teacher. What I did not learn was how to peel an orange. I lived with my Father for over 20 years. He peeled every orange I ever ate. Every time I eat an orange now, which I peel myself, I think of my Father. And I am grateful for his love and his influence. And even after all those years, I still miss him. Happy Father's Day Dad.

June 20, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Letters.

Ken and I moved to Texas in 1964. And we moved to Maryland in 1970. My Mother died in 1973. During that time period, my Mother and I exchanged letters. Every week I wrote a long letter to her and every week my Mother wrote me too. So our letters overlapped. But it did not matter. Our letters were not deep. They were newsy, just the kind of conversation you would have over a cup of tea if we both lived in the same city. Mother kept me up to date with friends and relatives still in Canada, including anyone who had died who she knew I would recognize. Ken called the letters "The Death Letters," because someone had always just died. We would laugh together as I was opening the envelope and wonder out loud whop had died that week. Sure enough, someone had died. I never mentioned this to my Mother nor Ken's name for her letters. She would have been hurt. She was only wanting me to stay current. I feel the same with myself. Just this week I wrote sympathy cards to three friends whose relatives have died. I feel like my Mother making a report. Gill's daughter ion law, Kate's mother died last week after several years of a battle with cancer. She was younger than me and still a working attorney but she died. And folks from the old Songster Brigade at the Danforth Corps of The Salvation Army, Ken and Sylvia, died the same evening an hour apart. They were married but both had been ailing. So more people I knew when I was young have passed away. Ken was 95 and Sylvia 86. My work friend Denise's Mother died just Friday. I did not know the mother well but had spent time with her several times over the years. She had led an extraordinary, ordinary life. In recent years, Denise and I shared reports because her mother also had Parkinson's disease. Now she too had passed on. And then my friend David died too. I have had a run. I think it is interesting that I am in my 80's when so many friends are dying but when my mother was telling me friends and relatives deaths she was in her 60s and 70s. I had forgotten that life expectancy had expanded. Fifty years ago life expectancy was 72. Not any more. This is a good thing but I did not recognize it till now, when I was writing all those sympathy notes. But enough is enough. I have received enough death notices for now.

June 19, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Crepe Myrtle.

In Maryland, crepe myrtle bushes and trees bloom in late August and September. At least it is what I recall enjoying the only color in town late in the summer season. We lived there for 40 years. The Spring blossoms were everywhere and gorgeous. Daffadlils, forsythia, azaleas, dogwoods, plum and pear blossoms and of course the cherry blossoms. But then comes the heat and most color leaves the foliage. But then come the crepe myrtles. I loved them even though some gardeners thought them common. Now I live in Mississippi and everything comes earlier than in Maryland. All the crepe myrtle bushes and trees are in bloom and they are lovely. They are up and down every street and boulevard. White, purple and pink. And they are magnificent. There is a controversy with gardeners in Mississippi. Many people cut down all the blossoms leaving the branches look dead. Or another habit is to just leave the blossoms and branches alone and allow the bush to blossom the next year. Christina's sister in law calls the practice "crepe murder". And she does not like it. On public property, the bushes are all cut back. Much to my surprise the blossoms come back the next season and look wonderful. When I first saw them cut back so severely I felt sure they would never bloom again, but they do. We are up to our eyeballs in crepe myrtle trees and bushes here in Mississippi. We have had lots of rain and not much high temperatures so I think the blossoms will last quite a while, which will please me. When I get to Nova Scotia I will see flowering bushes and dogwood trees so I see Spring in more than one place. Pretty nifty transition.

June 18, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Banging in the Night.

Noise from outside always seems louder at night, especially when it appears that something in banging against the house. The other evening I went to bed just after 11:00. The wind had come up earlier in the evening but we had no thunder or rain. Just lots of loud noisy wind. All was well until I was almost asleep. Then something started banging on the house. I was all of a sudden wide awake trying to figure ot what was making the noise. The banging came intermittently so the wind needed to be especially strong. I tried to figure if the gate was banging. It sounded like a board banging on the side of the house. Two days ago, while Kashina was here, I heard the same sound and asked Kashina to check the deck. I felt sure that furniture was moving and bashing into something but she reported that no chairs were moving. But she did not go outside. Later in the afternoon when I went out for the mail I heard construction from next door so decided that the noise I heard from the neighbors. I was wrong. I finally got up to investigate and decided that the noise was coming from the deck or the lower deck. By then the rain was coming down hard and I decided to wait until the morning to try to find my problem. By now it was 2:00 so I took two ibuprofen, drank a cup of hot milk and went back to bed. And I slept. The first thing in the morning, before breakfast, I went out to the deck. And I found the culprit. The lid of the trashcan had not been clicked closed so if the wind blew from one direction the lid could fly up and hit the wall of the house, which made a loud noise. Sometimes the lid hit the house several times in a row and sometimes it just got lifted up and slammed down on the top of the trash can. I pushed the lid down to secure the latch. The banging in the night will cease. I almost called Chantes, my handyman, before I went exploring. He would have thought I was nuts to call him to fix a trash can lid. I waS wishing Ken was still with me. Listening to banging in the night all by yourself is not good. But everything worked out just fine. Next time during the daytime I will go and look myself.

June 17, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Live Golf.

Finally, while the game is actually happening in real time, a golf tournament was played last week. Every day I watched part of the play. I was fed up watching matches that played long ago. The first couple of weeks I watched old hockey games and track and field and gymnastic events. But I stopped and decided I would wait till the real thing appeared. And at long last, what took them so long. Where are the other leagues? How come no tennis? And I have yet to hear about hockey? Play the games!! The quality of the golf was high. The players have clearly been working on their game. I expected rust but saw none. 14 of the top 20 golfers in the world made the cut to play on the weekend and they put on a show. The players had not played a tournament in three months so they were playing with no injuries. Many players had the same low scores. It was great fun to watch. Some players who were playing badly before the break did well in this tournament. Jordon Spieth was competitive right until the last few holes. Rose who was playing poorly before the break played very well too. But one of the most amazing players had gained 40 pounds and worked out three times day to add muscle so he could hit the ball faster and longer. You could barely recognize him. But he played well. A couple of homes who overlooked the golf course put up small stands in their backyards. You could hear the cheers from the distance. This week, a tournament will be played in Hilton Head in a course that has homes all up and down every hole. I bet we will see lots of fans watching from their yards. That will be fun. I enjoyed watching when I did not know who was going to win. I loved the live golf. And I am awaiting more competition in other sports. Now I ask, what are the other leagues waiting for? The fans are ready.

June 16, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. David Mayes.

David and Margaret spend several weeks in Mexico, living in the unit adjacent to us at Playa Royal. We always overlapped at least some time when we were there. I do not know how we became such good friends. Other folks stay in the same unit and we merely say hello. But for some reason, we became good friends. Perhaps that was because Margaret was a doctor also she and Ken often talked medicine. They are more energetic than us. They drive their bike to Bucerias every morning for breakfast and every day they use their boards in the ocean. They live in Kimberley, a charming town in the mountains at the south end of The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. They live out of town on a large property. Margaret rides her two horses and they hike all year round, summer or winter. Now that they are both retired, they enjoy their active life. David can make or fix anything. He made and installed a model railroad outside, with a foot wide track. He elevated the track to allow his back to stay functioning. Yesterday, I received a sad e mail from Margaret. David died suddenly of something to do with his aorta. He is younger than us and he was younger than Margaret so his death came as a huge surprise to Margaret. I was stunned too. He was thin and fit and energetic with no signs of any health failures. But he has gone. I talked with Margaret today and she is deciding what to do. David maintained everything outside. I urged her to hire which she is doing. I will miss David. He was an interesting and competent man. Even though we have only seen them a few weeks every year, we keep in contact throughout the year and I have always thought them to be good friends. He will be sorely missed.

June 15, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. TV.

When I returned from Mexico, the television set downstairs did not work properly. The set turned on but the remote control gadget would not change the channels, which for me means the TV is useless. I go down to use my weights and I use TV to keep me amused. Kashina changed the batteries to no avail. And when I took the remote upstairs, it worked perfectly so I assumed it was a problem with the AT&T box. Three times I tried to get in touch with the company but was put on hold so long I hung up. And as I do not actually need to turn on that TV set, I ignored it. But then my own remote gadget started to have trouble so I brought the downstairs unit up and I used it just fine. But only for two days. I would be hard pressed to live without my TV so I was anxious. I did not wish to be put on hold so I called the accounts department of AT&T and she got me directly to the technical department who made an appointment to come and check my systems the next day. The one clicker that had been working would only working part time. But when I turned on the TV at lunch the system worked perfectly. But the tech was on the way. The technician, Lennie, came at 3:00. I told him my tale of woe. I had both clickers beside me so he went downstairs with one of the gadgets. He came back up in ten minutes and told me that all was well. In fact he told me that it had been working when he arrived. And he checked my system and all was well also. He left me another remote just in case. And he gave me his cell phone so I can call him direct if I have any problem with the television sets. So now I have two systems in perfect order and I have my own TV technician who will come and fix my problems. There was no charge. I was happy but I swear that TV downstairs did not work with the clicker. Crazy world.

June 14, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Small World.

My friend Eleanor is a quilter. The quilt on my bed in Nova Scotia was made for us. She also makes beautiful embroidery work. Her real job was working as a real estate agent. But she only worked in order to be able to travel. Travel she did. And she enjoyed every minute of her traveling. She visited Nova Scotia several times and loved it. Since the lockdown, Eleanors quilting groups have met on line using Zoom. This week the group was getting together but only one other lady signed in. They talked quilting. Eleanor just completed a beautiful quilt that looks like a stained glass window in a church. But soon the conversation turned to discuss travel. Eleanor was asked what was her favorite place in the world. Eleanor responded that she loved Nova Scotia, because her friend Ruth lives there in the summer and it is beautiful. Eleanor had never met this young lady. The only thing she knew about her was that she was a quilter and she was young. The young lady then asked this question: "Would that be Ruth Dickie?". Eleanor almost fell out of her chair. Eleanor was so excited. It turns out that her father is Billy Gibson, whose family I knew from childhood. It is a Salvation Army connection. Once, when the young lady was spending time in DC, I met with her and talked about a rental. My friend Suzanne R. actually showed her rentals and gave her advice. But she remembered that I was leaving for Nova Scotia for the summer. Eleanor gave the young lady my e mail and my blog address but so far I have had no response from the Gibson Family. And it was great fun for Eleanor. She was supposed to spend time this summer in the Guest House in July but as the border is still closed that will not happened. But indeed, it is a small world.

June 13, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Magnolia Trees.

The first time Ken and I drove to Mississippi from the farm we drove south, then west on Interstate 20. Magnolia trees had been planted on both sides of the highway in addition in the center median strip. The trees were in blossom and the trees were beautiful. Our welcome to Mississippi was glorious. For the past few weeks, the magnolia trees here have been in bloom. And they are beautiful. Everywhere I look I see more magnolia trees in bloom. The last time Kashina and I were out I told her about the huge magnolia tree we had in the center of our backyard in Maryland. "I miss that tree," I said. Kashina reminded me that we had a magnolia tree in our yard. After she left, I looked for the tree but could not find such a tree. I looked everywhere, front and back but no magnolia tree could I find. Last year, we took down a perfectly good shag bark hickory tree. It was huge and shaded the house but was too close to the houses. Our neighbors were afraid of the huge tree so close to both homes, so we took it down. Right beside the window in the breakfast room is a small tree. I use the computer beside the window. Since the huge tree is now gone, the small tree has been growing and now blooming. And this week a magnolia blossom appeared, because now the tree and blossoms get sun. In addition, at least six buds are just about to bloom. So now I have found my magnolia tree which is in full bloom. This comes under the category of everything that happens will benefit something or someone. The magnolia tree was too small to see that it was a magnolia tree. And it wasn't until we took the beautiful tree down that the little tree grew and blossomed because the little tree was no longer in shade.. And best of all, it has many blossoms. Something good comes from everything. But sometimes it takes awhile to discover what has happened. Now I have my own blossoming magnolia tree in Mississippi. I am becoming a native.

June 12, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Summer, 2020.

Our summers in Nova Scotia have always been filled with friends and family. But this year will be different. The border is still closed so even folks who own homes in Nova Scotia will be unable to return to the homes. Gill as she is a Canadian is already there but both the Elys and Mitchells so far have no plans to drive north. They are hoping the border will be open, but so far, no luck. Also, if your cross to Nova Scotia from another province or state, you are required to quarantine for 14 days, so anyone intending to visit for a week will be unable to do anything except sit on the deck and look at the ocean. Unless things change, I am expecting no company this summer. Life will be interesting and different. My caterer from last year was unable to cook for me this summer. I have done nothing about finding another cook. Normally I only use the caterer when I have company, so if I have no company I need no caterer. Problem solved. Up until the virus lockdown, my calendar looked full. Christina and the girls were coming the first week of July, along with Greta Barbour and Virginia. Friends Eleanor and Sarah were staying for two weeks in the Guest House in July. Pat and Mal were coming as were Dave and Irene, in August. I can not imagine they would want to quarantine themselves for 14 day after they arrive. Rita and Ian were intending to come in September. Suzanne R. was intending to visit at the end of July but she can not come either. She has a passport issue. She still travels on a British passport and since the virus, the officials are not issuing any passports which I think is interesting. October 7 is her drop dead date. It does not really matter because at the moment she can not get into Canada. My helper from last summer will work for me this summer, two days a month. Even if I am quarantined for 14 days when I arrive, Anna will begin helping me on June 30 but will work in the garage or outside. This summer will definitely be different but I bet I enjoy myself, no matter what.

June 11, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Flying to Nova Scotia.

Two years ago, the year Ken was ill, we flew on a private Jnet to Halifax. It was expensive, $24,000. But Ken's statute had been installed and we both wanted to see it if possible. Ken actually knew the statute had been made, but he did not know it had been installed. Both Ken and I knew that Ken would not be able to fly commercial. In fact, until mid June, we did not think we could travel at all. Ken was getting better so I investigated flying on a private jet. The experience was wonderful and I commented to Ken that I wished we had worked harder and gotten rich because flying on a private jet was wonderful. Now I am flying commercial, leaving at 7:00 from Jackson and eventually arriving in Halifax at 11:15 pm. When I was on the phone with my friend Butch, I told him my flights. He immediately suggested I fly on a private jet. A few years ago he and his wife wanted to fly to Nashville so he checked on the price of a private jet and was told it was $10,000. I related to him the cost for us two years ago. He assured me he could find a better rate. So he did some research and talked to several companies. Today he called with his results. $36,000. He was stunned. The reason his Nashville flight was so cheap was because people fly back and forth all the time between Nashville and DC, so he did not pay both ways. No one is returning from Halifax so I paid for the pilot and plane to fly both ways. But I was startled to discover the increase in price in just two years. As I have said before, I wish I was rich. The private jet takes two and a half hours. You leave at the time of your choice. When you arrive, customs and immigration come to the plane and we cleared customs in five minutes. My G. our shuttle man was waiting beside the plane. We were at the house in five hours from our departure. So I save money and fly commercial. But when I know how long I will live, I am flying private Lear jet. That is definitely the best way to fly.

June 10, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Lannie.

Lannie and his two workers came and fixed up my yard this morning. After two major storms my drive, walkway and yard were littered with clumps a fresh green leaves and branches. When they left, the yard looked great. He trimmed the hedges as well as cleaned up the mess. I appreciated his work. Lannie is one of those folks who allow me to live in my home. I could never have cleaned up the yard by myself. When we moved into this home in the Spring of 2015, Ken and I knew we needed help with the yard. Ken already was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease so his time for managing the yard was over so we did what we always do which was ask Katy for a recommendation. Her company works only in Jackson but recommended his friend Lannie from college. We met with him and agreed on a price. Ken wanted to pay him the same amount every month so when the maintenance was low, Lannie could install what ever project Ken had in mind. Both Ken and I liked Lannie so all was well. After a few months, Lannie came to Ken and said that his time at the house was less than he thought so he reduced the monthly fee. So Ken changed the automatic payment....and said thank you. So we knew Lannie was an unusual fellow. When Lannie was in high school and college, he worked in the summers as a helper with a yard maintenance company. After he graduated college, he opened his own business, doing landscaping and yard maintenance. Every time Lannie was here, Ken talked with him and had him complete several projects. Ken had him put down paving stones along the garage and around the fountain in front. And Ken had plans for the installation of more flowering scrubs. But that was not done. Now Lannie knows what Ken wants the place to look like. So I am happy. And I am grateful for Lannie and his workers. They look after me.

June 9, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. The Hostess.

I love to see someone perform an ordinary task and turn it into something remarkable and special. Sunday at Saltines I observed such an event. My driver Forrest walked me right up the hostess and asked me to take the arm of the hostess who would take me to a table. She assured him that she would look after me. So now I was holding the arm of the hostess while I was asking to be seated at a table in the corner. We would be 4, but I told her about my immune system. Immediately she assured me that she has something better for me, which was a private dining room. Now I had been to that restaurant many times but now I was being taken to a private room which was perfect for me. While we were walking along the long hall, I asked her to tell my family where I would be, because I was afraid they would never find me. And I described my family: tall beautiful daughter in law and two lovely grandchildren. The hostess immediately commented that the other family members would not be as beautiful as you. And we laughed but I told her that they were all more beautiful than me. The hostess took me to my seat, then left to look after the new customers. And she admonished me to enjoy my meal. Now I was delighted to be in a separate room and delighted that I had such a pleasant encounter with the hostess. I have been taken to a table by a hostess hundreds of times, but this hostess made the interaction memorable. She clearly enjoyed her job and went out of her way to be sure everyone was enjoying themselves too. It does not take much to elevate the good to the level of extraordinary. But on Sunday I got to observe it in action. Pretty nice.

June8, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Forrest.

Several weeks ago I had an appointment with my eye doctor. Kashina was not able to drive me so I called for a Lyft. The driver's name was Forrest. We chattered away as we drove, which is normal for a Lyft driver. They are unfailingly polite and pleasant. When we arrived, the parking lot was blocked off. Forrest walked to the end of the parking lot to try to find how to get in. He discovered that we needed to drive up to the 2nd floor of the parking lot in order to access the building, so he did. And he parked and walked across the walkway until I arrived at the check in place. Many drivers would have just let me out in the parking lot on the main level. That was the day I lost my key. He looked for my key in his car and then agreed to pick me up to take me home. And he gave me his cell phone if I needed him. Since then, he has become my very own Lyft driver. I call him the day before I need him. He comes to my driveway at the proper time. Then I order a Lyft on my phone, which he responds immediately. It is a good system. Forrest always goes the extra mile to help me. Sunday was a perfect example. I was meeting the family at Saltines. When we arrived, he parked the car and walked with me up the stairs and along the hall and did not leave me until he had turned me over to the hostess. I did not ask him to help me. I had been to Saltines several time but I knew that getting in is difficult so I was a little anxious but Forrest bailed me out. I am always impressed when the service is extraordinary. All my drivers have been good but Forrest is better, so I stick with him. And of course, I tip him more which I am sure is why he is happy to drive for me. Tomorrow he will drive me to Sal & Phils for lunch. I now have my very own chauffeur. Pretty nice.

June 7, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. This and That.

Today was the day I was supposed to be flying to Nova Scotia. Instead, I changed plans and now await the storm Christobal. The winds are high already although I still hear boats on the Reservoir. We had brunch at Saltines today at 11:00. We wanted to beat the storm. The oysters were delicious. They seemed especially good but perhaps that was just because we had not eaten them recently. The last time we were at Saltines was the last time Ken had brunch with the family. We had ordered 2 dozen oysters, as we were 6 people. Ken ate 10 plus he ate his whole meal. He was clearly feeling well. We were all pleased today that Ken enjoyed himself right until he passed away in his sleep the following Tuesday morning. Normally I do not watch press conferences but this week, which checking channels, I spotted a young lady answering questions. It turned out to be Kayleigh McEnerny, the press person for the President. She was terrific, the best conference I have ever seen. She was articulate and quick witted. Definitely worth watching. I must have a PET scan before I leave town, now scheduled for June 24. The nurse was wrong. Christina drove me home. She and Molly came inside while Christina helped me fix several items I was unable to solve. I do not call her Clever Christina for nothing. I have been saving a bunch of tasks. Now they are solved and I am set for the moment. But I always start a new list. They have just left in the hopes they will beat the rain. At the moment, New Orleans aeems to be the unlucky place when the storm will land. I am doing my blog early, just incase we have no power. Next I will look at the weather channel. So here we go.

June6, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Christobal.

A tropical storm is in the Gulf of Mexico, expected to hit land in Louisiana Sunday afternoon. I received a text from Entergy, the power company telling me that the path of the storm can change at any time. The storm, Christobal, could hit Mississippi, Louisiana or Texas. Everyone living along the coast is on high alert, as are the workers at the company. My text tells me they are ready. We moved to Texas in 1964. Just a year or two before we arrived, a hurricane had come ashore close to Galveston where we were living. People who were living there during the hurricane were still talking about it. The city was a mess. No hurricane had come ashore in that area of Texas for ages so no one was ready. And to make things worse, the hospital authorities offered the large hospital building as a safe haven. The stair wells had people living on the landings. Ken and I had never lived in a place where everyone tracked the hurricane map. People had them on their desk and marked the path several times a day. After the last one, every one was watching carefully. At first we thought it weird but soon we marked our maps along with everyone else. It was exciting to keep track. But no one wanted any storm to come ashore any place close to Galveston. And Galveston people listened to the officials and left the island if it appeared the storm was coming close. Everyone evacuated the island. Of course, not the doctors and nurses and all other medical workers. Now we are on a tropical storm watch in Mississippi. No telling where it will head next. Jackson is not on the shore. Katrina devastated the coast of Mississippi and Jackson had damage. But nothing like the coast. Tomorrows storm should be the same. Unfortunately, the expectation is that Christobal will hit New Orleans. But no doubt, we will receive lots of rain and wind. I have flashlights ready. And more importantly, the power company will be on duty. They text me telling why the power is off and say when it will be restored. It is all very civilized. But mostly, I hope the storm heads someplace else.

June 5, 2002. Madison, Mississippi. A Really Big Storm.

We have big storms in Mississippi. Everyone watches the weather and prepares for whatever is coming. And they stay home. Today I had not seen any TV so had no warning that a storm was coming. But come it did. Fortunately I was home to weather the storm. I was reading on my iPad when the wind started blowing. Then I was listening to a video. The wind was so strong I could not hear the music. Then the rain came down, harder than I had ever heard it before. I was sitting at the end of the couch and really wanted to look out but I was afraid to get close to the windows. I wanted to look at the waves to see if they were breaking over my neighbors dock but I stayed in place. The noise of the wind and the rain was so loud that I began to think we were having a tornado. Here people have safe places to go during a tornado and hurricane but I do not have a safe place. I did actually wonder if I should go downstairs to get away from the windows but I stayed in my place. I have never heard such noise during a storm. And I have never wondered if I should go downstairs during a storm, so this was a big one. But like all Mississippi storms, it did not last long. Soon the winds stopped blowing and finally the rain. When I did go out front the air was deathly still. Everything was quiet. Branches and chunks of leaves had fallen and the furniture on the deck was rearranged. But the power did not go out and no big trees came down around my house. This storm was a Daddy of a storms. I have skylights and lots of windows so the rain and wind makes a loud sound inside the house. Mostly I love those storms but this one was so loud it scared even me. It came so quickly that I was caught off guard. I usually keep a flashlight right beside me in any storm. But after an hour, peace was restored. Now all is well. I had weathered another Mississippi storm.

June 4, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Gillian.

A few weeks ago, Walt mentioned that a board was missing from the deck plus many screws were popping. I called George but nothing happened. This week, Gillian walked around the Nova Scotia home. And she reported back to me. What she told me was the same as Walt had said. One board was missing from the deck and many spots on the deck wiggle and have screws popping out. Several areas on the deck have roses poking through so need to be trimmed. The bottom line is that I need a handyman, according to Gill. She is a good friend and tells me the real goods. In the past, Ken was the handyman. Mal helped out too. But now I must find someone to help on a regular basis. So I am thinking. I am always amazed that Gill and I are such good friends. We disagree on almost everything.. Name a topic and we disagree. Gill was born and raised in England and she loves the British Royal Family. Ken and I hate status based on birth. Politically she is far to the left while Ken was a Libertarian and I very conservative. You name it and we disagree. But on many things we agree. Family and children are important to both of us. Womem's rights are important to both of us along with the economic responsibilities of women. And we believe in personal responsibilities for our actions. And we both love projects. One interesting fact is that all seven of my grandchildren love Gill. She has always treated them kindly and with love. And she went out of her way to take them by themselves on excursions in the area. The rest of our disagreements fade away most of the time. Gill loves the granddaughters and has always loved Ken and me. Even though we disagree, we are good friends and can be honest with each other. Now she has told me to find a handyman so that is what I will do...maybe. Only a good friend would tell you that fact and I appreciate having Gill in my life.

June 3, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Normal.

Life in Mississippi is becoming normal except of course, we are still supposed to keep social distancing. Apparently, the officials have excluded this charge from the protesters, who seem to be encourages to mass together right next to each other. But the restaurants are open here although we must be kept far away from others. On Monday I had lunch with Lisa and Christina at Amerigo. Their food is excellent and we enjoyed ourselves. Lisa's new normal for the past three months was three meals every day for six people. Fortunately she enjoys cooking and baking. But she was using so much flour and sugar she was buying it in 25 pound bags. But they had a good time together but she said it was labor intensive. And Friday I am taking my new neighbors Carrie and Brooks out for lunch. My old routine had been to invite friends out for lunch or coffee if they drove me home. My system worked. I got to have a visit with a friend and they got a little break from their routine. Now I am picking up my old routine. I am beginning to see more hugs but I do not see much shaking of hands. I wonder if we will ever continue that old custom. The new normal seems to be that people are still afraid of the virus even though over 99% of people who get the virus recover. So far, three children under 5 have died from the virus while 137 children under 5 have died from the flu. What on earth are they afraid of? The elderly or ill should stay away but everyone else should be getting along with their lives and returning to work. People are fed up with officials telling them what to do. It has always been true that when officials make rules and laws that make no sense, people will ignore those rules. Unfortunately, the new normal is to be angry with officials. Staying out after curfew is a type of civil disobedience. Fortunately, my life in Mississippi has returned to normal, which is a blessing to me. I enjoy lunches with my friends.

June2, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. Chantes.

Sunday evening, while watching TV while eating dinner, the light in the room burned out. So I did what I always to when something is the matter in the house. I called Chantes. Monday morning he called and at 6:00, he rang my doorbell and came into the house. He did what he always does, which is solve the problem. He installed the light fixture and told me that the bulb should work for five years but on Sunday night the light quit working. He thought he had bought extra bulbs but he could not find any in the pantry so he went to Lowes to get new bulbs. And he fixed the problem. My TV room now has good light. Next we talked sitting in the living room. He was born and raised in Cuba and he has a masters degree in mechanical engineering. So he is a smart fellow. His two boys work with him in his business and he is busy. I have been urging him to buy his own home. He has always rented. He was not raised thinking real estate so he is nervous. I put him in touch with my realtor friend Susan and she has found him affordable homes but by the time he looks at the houses they are sold. And he has not yet seen a lender. He did have his son Milo visit his bank and he is qualified to buy a house. I hoped I was able to understand the urgency. He wants a low priced house that he can fix up. Of course, lots of other folks want the same house so if a suitable house comes up, he needs to be quick to make an offer. Then Chantes asked me about my health. I had not told him that I was back on chemotherapy. He thinks I need someone to stay with me to look after me and to serve me healthy food. I just laughed. He believes in homeopathic medicine so he wanted me to drink lemons in a proscribed way to increase my immune system. I assured him that I would buy lemons but I did not put them on my list at the grocery store that I will pick up tomorrow. As I told Chantes yesterday, "I do not know what I would do without him." He comes immediately to help. I feel fortunate. "

June1, 2020. Madison, Mississippi. The History Books.

During times of difficulty, knowing something of history is a major asset. If all you know is what is happening in front of your eyes you could think that the sky really was falling. Samuel Peppy wrote perhaps the best known diary of all times. He lived and wrote about the plague of 1605. He lived in the square mile in London and when the death tole got to 1000 deaths a week, he decamped to Greenwich. His wife and servant had already departed to the country but in another direction. He called his time during the plague a "merry little plague". Greenwich was a resort town, down the Thames River from London. It was also the head of the navy and as he was the secretary of the navy he was familiar with the players. As he wife was jealous, he enjoyed himself in Greenwich. Really, it is all in the diary. I am not making it up. The plague was terrible but the society recovered, much more quickly than anticipated. He records it all in his diary. He was pleased with the recovery and records that he was hoping for fair sailing. But what he found out was the fires to come in London which destroyed St. Paul's Cathedral. It helps today to know that the good people of London survived and thrived during and after their plague of 1605. For us, our virus seems to be a terribly disruption in our lives. But other societies had it worse and they survived. We thought we were in a big mess but now we know that we are in a bigger mess. Now the cities are burning just as it did in London. There is no reason to panic. It has all happened before. Just read Samuel Peppy's diary.