The Thinker is thinking thoughts today, and so am I

It is supper time, and I haven't yet posted my thoughts for today.  The Thinker is reminding me to share some thoughts.  Okay.  Sue and I planned to have lunch together, but I decided to go down to our Circle@Crown Cafe early to have my breakfast when they opened at 8:00 a.m.

Alice McC. joined me at my table.  When Sandy M. showed up, I invited her to sit with us because today's her birthday.  Sue arrive a little before 11:00, as she had planned to do, and joined those of us already sitting there.

When I got a call from Sandra H. asking if I'd like to meet her in the Cafe (she lives in the neighborhood near here), I told her I was already in the Cafe, so come join us.  She was coming to the Crown Center for a program that met at 1:00, but she had time to eat with us before it started.

So my friends from here and there just came and went all morning, and I ended up being in the Cafe with various people as they met each other and left for their own activities.  Do you wonder how long I was in the Cafe?  From 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as those folks chatted and ate together.

When I finally headed home, after walking around the block (going the long way home to get in my steps, in other words), I ran into Dora H. sitting in the lobby and sat down to talk to her awhile.  Other friends stopped to speak to us as they passed by us, like Alyssa with her dog Hazel, and Betty B. who sat down to talk.

I think I got in a good day's worth of socializing:  Alice, Sandy, Sue, Sandra, Dora, Alyssa, Hazel (yes, dogs count), and Betty.  And these don't count the ones we said hello to as they came and went through the lobby.

TWOsday books

This Book Is Literally Just Pictures of Cute Animals That Will Make You Feel Better ~ edited by Smith Street Books, 2019, children and young adults, 96 pages, 8/10

I haven't been reading as much as usual. I'm not sure why not, but my reading is way down this year.  Reading this "picture book" seems like cheating, since it really is all pictures.  Well, except for .....

1. those words on the cover,
2. the same words (almost) on the back (which say, "This is the back of a book that is literally just pictures of cute animals that will make you feel better"),
3. the title page (literally the cover words, again, but on a yellow background),
4. and the copyright page.

That's all the words in the whole book, so I guess you could say you have "read" this book now.  There are, however, lots of cute animals that you would miss.  I especially love the sleeping yellow cat inside the front cover.  All in all, I have to say it was a very good book.

Jewish Reflections on Death ~ edited by Jack Riemer, 1974, religion and spirituality, 192 pages

This is the other book I'm currently reading.  I told you about it when I shared my Book Beginnings HERE on Friday.  It's giving me a lot to think about.

Added later:  I just learned that today is International Left-Handers Day.

Today is a day to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of left-handed individuals.  According to the Left-Handers Day website, the day is meant to "increase public awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed."  The unofficial holiday was launched in 1992 by the Left-Handers Club in the United Kingdom.  Are you left-handed?  As you can see in this photo, my friend Dora is left-handed.  It's your day, Dora!

A book, a puzzle, good things, and a cartoon

I'm currently reading Zora Neale Hurston's Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" (2018) as part of my TBR 22 in '22 Challenge — since I bought it in 2021, and the idea is to read books I already own.  The book is about Hurston's interviews (in 1927 and 1931) with the only person thought to be still alive to tell the story of being transported across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to America as a slave.  And by the way, this is also still Black History Month.

The Epigraph of Barracoon is a quote from Hurston's autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road:

"But the inescapable fact that stuck in my craw, was:  my people had sold me and the white people had bought me . . . It impressed upon me the universal nature of greed and glory."

Zora Neale Hurston was a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist.  She was the author of four novels (Jonah's Gourd Vine, 1934; Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937; Moses, Man of the Mountain, 1939; and Seraph on the Suwanee, 1948); two books of folklore (Mules and Men, 1935; and Tell My Horse, 1938); an autobiography (Dust Tracks on a Road, 1942); and more than fifty short stories, essays, and plays.  She attended Howard University, Barnard College, and Columbia University, and graduated from Barnard College in 1927.  She was born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama, and grew up in Eatonville, Florida.  She died in Fort Pierce, Florida, in 1960.  In 1973, Alice Walker had a headstone placed at Hurston's grave site with this epitaph:  Zora Neale Hurston: A Genius of the South.

Here's a puzzle for you.  Find the Volkswagen bug.  I did.

I found it nestled among the snails and the mushrooms.  If

you want help, ask and I'll post the location in the comments.

I used to have a Volkswagen bug.  My VW beetle looked a lot like these.  I forget the exact year of  mine, but I think late 1960s.  Though VW called it Bahama Blue, I always thought it looked more greenish, like the first one.

This one is VW's own example of Bahama Blue.  You decide if it looks blue or green.  Is that, maybe, the color of the sea around the Bahamas?

Good Thing #1

Being friends with Dora

(We'll be having lunch together on Wednesday.)

Good Thing #2

Being friends with Emma

(We had lunch together last Tuesday.)

Good Thing #3?

Being friends with Lauree

(We had lunch together last Wednesday.)

Like Calvin, I'm willing to help Hobbes do nothing at all.  Wanna join us?

Deb at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon.

Gratitude Journal

Today, I'm grateful for —

1. A warm, safe home during these snowy winter days.  Today's drizzling rain is supposed to turn to snow later, but I saw snowflakes floating around my kitchen window when I looked earlier.
2. Dora, who was worried that her neighbor in rehab may not know about signing up for the vaccine, asked me to call her neighbor to make sure.  I did.
3. Friends (like Dora) that I've made since moving to St. Louis and the Crown Center 6+ years ago.  The photo shows Wednesday's snow as seen from my window.

Just got for my Kindle

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek ~ by Kim Michele Richardson, 2019, historical fiction (Kentucky)

Still reading (a chapter at a time)

The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats: A Journey Into the Feline Heart ~ by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, 2002, animal psychology

Reading with Book Buddies

More than Words: 10 Values for the Modern Family ~ by Erin Wathen, 2017, relationships

Bloggers gather in The Sunday Salon — at separate computers in different time zones — to talk about our lives and our reading.

Food, fun, time change, and books ~ always books

The Circle@Crown Café downstairs here at the Crown Center added a Swiss Tuna Melt on Pita to the menu recently, and it's delicious.  I highly recommend it, if you like tuna salad.  My friend Dora suggests adding a Ted Drewes frozen custard for dessert.  They come in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.  I like all of them.

WindowSwap ~ fun seeing the world

Once again, I recommend clicking on WindowSwap to open a random window somewhere in the world, especially for those of us who are still basically staying home as much as possible.  It's a way to get out there and see the world without worrying whether other folks are wearing masks and keeping their distance from us.

Time Change

Did you set your clocks back an hour last night?  For most people, setting the clock back an hour means an extra hour to sleep on Sunday morning.  Ah, but not if you have a cat, and I do have a cat.  Clawdia wanted to eat this morning when Clawdia wanted to eat, to heck with the clock.  Now I need a nap.

Books

I finished reading the 2019 journal by Jacqueline Winspear called What Would Maisie Do? : Inspiration from the Pages of Maisie Dobbs.  Now I'm reading Messenger of Truth (2006), the fourth book of Winspear's mystery series about Maisie Dobbs.  And I have the fifth book ready after that.  It's An Incomplete Revenge (2008).

New normal ~ going on a bear hunt

People in my neighborhood have been taking their children on bear hunts.  The idea came from a children's book (below).  I found the author of the book acting and singing his way through the story on YouTube.  What fun!  I have found several different YouTube videos of it, or you can get a copy of the book.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt ~ by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, 1989, children's, 10/10

"We're going on a bear hunt.  We're going to catch a big one.  Will you come too?"  For years, readers have been swishy swashing and splash sploshing through this award-winning favorite, as a brave family romps through sweeping land-scapes.  The version shown here features pop-ups, flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and sound effects.

Now I want you to imagine going on a "bear hunt" where what we are hunting for is all the encouraging things people are posting for how we can use our "stay at home" time.  That's OUR bear hunt for today.  One "bear" I found:  Parkway United Church of Christ posted this poem on their website today.  Thanks, Parkway UCC.

Don’t Quit

by John Greenleaf Whittier

Contributed by Ellie Svenson

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

I had to memorize this poem when I was a child in school, so reading it put a smile on my face and put my memories in overdrive.  Here's another "bear" I found on my hunt for encouragement, a book whose title is perfect for our time:

Finding a New Normal: Living Your Best Life with Chronic Illness ~ by Suzan L. Jackson, 2020, health

Based on Sue’s almost 20 years living with chronic illnesses in her own family, writing her blog, writing articles on chronic illness, and leading multiple support groups, she provides support and practical advice you can use.  Whether you are in the early days of living with chronic illness or have been at it for years (or decades), there are always challenges in living a life framed by limitations and restrictions, where isolation is a common issue.

This guide provides inspiration, advice on emotional coping, and guidance on living your best life with chronic illness from someone who’s been there.  Though it seems impossible at first, your life will eventually settle into a new normal, and while that life may be different than the one you had planned, it can still be a vibrant, fulfilling life based on strong relationships, a healthy emotional state, and finding joy in every day.  The emphasis in this book is on LIVING your life, not just enduring it.

We are all "coping with isolation, anxiety, grief, living a separate life, and looking for small joys each day," Sue Jackson wrote on her blog, telling us her book is now out in paperback, as well as in an ebook.  Don't you love it that she emphasizes LIVING, not just enduring?  Some of her chapter titles sound perfect for our "new normal" in the time of coronavirus:

• One Day at a Time
• Finding Joy in Every Day
• A Plan B Day
• The Restorative Power of Nature
• What Makes You Forget?
• Reading Expands Your World
• The Importance of Play
• The Wide World of Online Learning

Thanks, Sue.  We can use these suggestions NOW, to alleviate boredom and frustration when we'd rather be out and about.

Okay, let's keep "bear" hunting.  I have one more inspiration for now.

Rather than sitting around in a funk, we'd be better off doing some exercises.  Donna Rae Jones is working on a way to help us do just that.  I'll let you know when she'll be leading us live in the mindful movements of yoga.  She's sent me a connection so I can practice getting connected tomorrow.  In the meantime, check out her website.

Our new normal is checking on each other:  yesterday and today, I've checked-in by phoning, emailing, texting, and Facebook with Donna, Donna Rae Jones, Dora, Mary, Sandy, Susan, Tiny, Rosie, Gail, some of my family members, and maybe others that don't come to mind right now.  Have you checked on your neighbors?  Your friends?  Your elderly family members?

And last, but not least, the little black "bear" at my house.  Clawdia is doing her daily hibernation thing near me, as you can see in this photo.

Self-isolating and staying fit

Self-Isolating Questions

1.  What am I grateful for today?

It's raining, so "I will define the rainy day as a cozy day," as my friend Joy wrote.  I'm grateful for a cozy day.  I'm grateful for all the Crown Center is doing for its residents, like cleaning doorknobs (see #3 below).

2.  Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?

Sandy called to check on me this morning, and I later talked to Donna when an ambulance pulled up at our entrance.  It happens often here, but it seems more ominous now.  The ambulance left within ten minutes, meaning they didn't have anyone on board, no lights, no sirens.  Dora hates staying in her apartment, so she was glad to hear about the SilverSneakers exercises online (see #5 below) when we talked on the phone.  I saw Scott in the hallway earlier; he's doing fine.  Dorothy came to the door of the laundry room when I was there, and she's okay.  I got texts from Donna's sister Jane and from Sharon down the hall, and both are well.

3.  What expectations of "normal" am I letting go of today?

I had thought, as people fought over toilet paper, that I could always go downstairs.  So far, the public restrooms in my building are still open.  (I confirmed it with Scott, who was cleaning the doorknobs in my hallway as I typed this, another good thing the Crown Center is doing for us.)  I took this photo of the closed signs yesterday, when I went to Donna's apartment in the other building to pick up the groceries she had ordered for me along with hers.

4.  How am I getting outside today?

It's raining here today, so the only thing I plan to do "outside my apartment" is go to the laundry room.

5.  How am I moving my body today?

I managed to get up in time to do the SilverSneakers exercises that were live-streamed.  The instructor went very fast and bouncy, so maybe I'll look for their YouTube programs instead, next time.  They have now posted a video of what was live-streamed this morning, so click here to watch it and maybe actually do it yourself.

6.  What beauty am I either creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?

Here's our bulletin board.  Compare this "before" photo with the "after" that I took today (at the top).  You can see how we are coloring our world, maybe brightening it a bit for others as well as ourselves.  I love it.  Okay, I'll sit down this afternoon and finish coloring one of the pages myself.

TWO things on day TWO of the new year

Dora playing while Nadezhda sang yesterday

January 1 ~ Find three good things to look forward to this year.

1. Books lined up to read, especially those of my own that I can read and pass on to others.  I've started reading Paws for a Moment With God: Devotions Best Enjoyed in the Company of a Cat and picked up the copy of Birds of a Feather, second in the Maisie Dobbs mystery series.  Both were on yesterday's list of books that I want to read this year.
2. Practicing the piano again, as Dora does regularly.  Dora invited me to join her and Nadezhda around the piano.  Erin, Sandy Richter's daughter-in-law, heard the piano and joined us.  She's the one who took this photo.
3. Exercising downstairs with my friends.  It helps me to stay flexible and strong, or as strong as I can be at almost 80 (in April).

January 2 ~ Make time today to do something kind for yourself.

The kind thing I did for myself today was going for a long lunch at Chili's with my friend Tiny and her daughter Lauree, as you can see in this picture of Tiny and me that Lauree took.  I had a very enjoyable afternoon.

Monday Music ~ with Gail and Emily and Dora

Emily playing "our" piano

Friday
Gail asked me if I could read music.  I took piano lessons at the age of five and played bassoon in the Chattanooga Youth Symphony as well as my school's concert band and orchestra.  Gail wants me to teach her to play the piano.  I'm willing.  When I suggested a book for beginners, Gail was able to find a copy at the Barnes and Noble near us, and her daughter will pick it up.  Crown Center has two pianos we can use.  I gave my piano to Emily when I moved to St. Louis, since I was afraid playing would disturb my neighbors in an apartment building.  The first year I was here, I'd go down and practice on the piano in the Weinberg Lounge after 9:00 pm, when events are over and I wouldn't bother anyone.  Robert, evening support staff at that time, would leave the door open so he could hear me play while he was at the link desk.

Me playing my piano in 2010

Saturday
I heard Dora playing the piano near the fitness center in the Tallin building and went to listen.  She's one of our Russian residents, who told me months ago that she studied piano at the Conservatory.  We talked, even though she claims her English isn't good (it is), and she wanted to hear me play.  I didn't keep up my late night practicing downstairs, so my fingers have forgotten the melodies I once knew.  I stumbled around on the keyboard, playing for Dora without music, as I tried to remember pieces I'd memorized decades ago.  My music sits idle on a bookshelf.  I miss playing.  I need to save up to buy an electronic keyboard, so I can wear earphones and play without disturbing my neighbors.

Mine looks a lot like this one

Sunday
I got down my cedar flute to play "Whippoorwill" by R. Carlos Nakai, the one song I've memorized for wooden flute.  Here's the composer playing it on YouTube.  I know only the slow part that he plays at the beginning (0:55 to 2:05), which is all that's on page 63 of The Art of the Native American Flute by R. Carlos Nakai, 1996.

Monday
Apparently music is in my bones, and I need to let it out.  I've got to get a keyboard soon!  In the meantime, I could pull out that book of music and play my cedar flute.  (And go downstairs to practice the piano.)

*** Another variation of Carlos Nakai playing "Whippoorwill," which was posted on YouTube in 2018.  I think I like it better.  Here's a third YouTube version from 2015, and a livelier 2018 YouTube version.