12 Oakdale

Grant’s Diplomas and Awards  We arranged our diplomas and awards on the office walls. Grant contemplated his, with his Ph D from Cornell in the center, surrounded by other diplomas (high school, bachelors, masters), his Eagle Scout medal, the UF Palm Study award, and his UM Employee of the Year plaque, and said that wall summed up his life. He said it seemed like a lot of work for a few pieces of paper and some shiny bits of metal. I think that’s harsh. The wall shows his official life. What doesn’t show there is his being a husband, a father, now a grandfather, a member of his neighborhood and community. Equally as valuable but without certificates. My area has my Ga Tech diploma and my Phi Kappa Phi honor society recognition. I guess my Naples High School diploma was never framed. Too late now. I also hung the certificate for my National Geographic Society life-time membership that Steve gave to me in 1972. An extravagant gift I still appreciate. My father was also a life...

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive   We couldn’t go the first day the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive reopened because we were dog-sitting Drogo and don’t like to leave him alone. But today, the second day, we were at the gate a few minutes after 7:00 AM, ready to bird, bird, bird. Lots of galenules, red-winged blackbirds, and great blue herons. Even a least bittern. Plus huge alligators, truly scary. Grant spotted the first one, just its eyes above water, but we could tell it was large. Lots to eat, I guess. The information says the 11 mile drive takes about 3 hours, but I was sure we could cruise through and be back at our house in time for our 9:30 covenant Zoom meeting. So wrong. Had to meet up via phone. Amazing. This area has the Christmas Bird Count inland record of 174 species, so I suspect that in the winter, I’d better plan on spending the day here, sitting in birder traffic. We are definitely coming back in July, when the swallowtailed kites group up before migrating south. ...

June 14, 1969 Dad, Grandma Spaulding, Mom, Me, Steve, Lois Schrimsher When I announced my upcoming nuptials those many years ago, my mother’s friends all responded, “ Oh, June 14th? On Flag Day?” If I hadn’t known before that June 14th was Flag Day, I certainly learned it then. It is hard to imagine I married my first husband 51 years ago today. We were only 19 and thought we knew everything. Our parents thought we were nuts. Probably everyone was a little bit right. My usual practice is to hang my flag up on Memorial Day and leave it up through the Fourth of July. This year, I missed the first, however I’d be danged if Old Glory wouldn’t be flying on Flag Day. Not having nails slowed me down as my little escutcheon pins wouldn’t pierce the siding where I wanted to hang my flag. However, I found a couple of nails pounded in the walls that I was able to pull and recycle after straightening them out a bit. I had ordered a set of various sized nails from Home Depot, but they were o...

The virus continues to kill people, the protestors continue to march, the government continues to flounder in response. We continue to separate ourselves from the world. And this seems to be the plan for our foreseeable future. I really do not know what else to do. So, I’ve given myself the goal of having our art hung by the end of the week. The world would continue to spin with our paintings still wrapped up and leaning against the dining room wall, but it’s better that I force myself to make decorating decisions than my spending too much time slumped on the couch, reading the news online. Amid all this, our pool person decided he no longer wants to service our pool. After George didn’t come Thursday, which was not surprising because it poured all day, he also didn’t show Friday (some rain, but intermittent), nor Saturday (sprinkles), or Sunday (good weather). I left a message Monday morning. His wife/office manager called back to tell me they had decided they had enough business ...

A week ago, George Floyd was strangled when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Mr. Floyd was handcuffed and on the ground. All of this was caught on video and broadcast. He was accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Four days later, the officer was charged with 3rd degree murder. Three other officers who did nothing to stop the strangulation were fired. Protests began in Minneapolis and have spread nation-, then world-wide. At first the protests were calm. Now they have devolved into riots with looting. Our local Container Store, Krispy Kreme Donut shop, and Panda Express at Millenia were damaged Sunday night. Police are overreacting; the National Guard has been called up; Trump told governors and mayors to stop the protests, or he will bring in the military. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the government needs to dominate the “battle space”. Already most of the police forces have military-grade weapons. And I do not k...