When we were on the parkway, we stopped at most of the overlooks on our route to take in the different views of the mountains. I donned my mask because even outside in the fresh mountain air, people were abundant, many without masks. Better to be safe than sorry, I think.
The Park Service had signs posted at Craggy Gardens suggesting social distancing of 6’ apart. As I was walking along, I saw a man with his dog, unmasked, but respectful of everyone’s space. As I walked by, he was sitting on the rock wall trying to get a ‘selfie’ with his dog when I heard him say,
“Excuse me. Could you take a photo of me and my dog?”
My mind quickly spun into gear. Friendly guy, but no mask. He had been taking photos, handling his phone and talking into it, do doubt. I had no hand sanitizer on my person and I was a good distance from the car. I smiled, but he couldn’t see that, of course.
”Sorry, I can’t – the virus”
His face shifted to acknowledgement and realization.
”Oh, ok, yeah. I understand.”
This is my new reality. I always loved obliging people by taking their photos. Once in the car, I wondered if he had an iPhone. 💭 I could have air-dropped it. Whoops, no. No wifi. And would he want me to have his photo on my phone? 💭
I truly was sorry. Not a fan of this new Covid Reality.
One Liner Wednesday is brought to us each week by Linda Hill. Check out Linda’s blog to see what others have to say with just one line.
Last night was an extremely frustrating night as I scrambled to rectify a problem with two websites that just mysteriously stopped working. Of course noone made any changes (😂🤣😂) although the error pointed to a file in the WordPress theme. Now, this weekend, I will be wrangling with PHP, SQL, and WP updates. My calm from our ride on the parkway had dissipated by the time I got to bed. Reminder: I’m supposed to be retired.
So here are a few photos. It is always beautiful, but the leaves have not yet started to change. There were a few golds and yellows up near Craggy Gardens, so another trip will be in order early next week which I never mind at all!
Where do you feel most at home? Please be more specific than “at home, doh” please. It could be a room in your home, a person, a location… 😝 😁 😇
I feel most at home surrounded by these mountains I am fortunate to live within. They are the connection I share with my ancestors. They are a small portion of the earth still somewhat intact. This place has the power to lower my blood pressure and calm my soul.
Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car? 🐎 🚗 🚲
My preference would be to walk. With my knees starting to feel the effects of arthritis, bike riding is becoming less appealing. I have never actually ridden a horse so I cannot speak to that. I suppose that leaves me with driving a car.
What song would you sing on “Karoke Night” (if you were forced to do so)? 🎤 🎶 🎻🎷🎺🎸🎵🎹
”Black Velvet”. It is one of the few songs I can actually pull off. I am not a gifted singer by any stretch of the imagination.
University or life experience, which do you feel best prepares you for life? 🎓
I think they both prepare us in different ways. I grew up with some of the smartest people I ever knew who were never afforded a college education. Their life experience and knowledge of the natural world were all gained through experience and reading. They knew how to survive in even the worst of circumstances. University education hopefully gives access to a broader scope of the world and teaches discipline and the value of reading and research. Unfortunately, the cost makes it almost unreachable for many.
An Attitude of Gratitude
I am grateful for the sun peeking through the trees. I am grateful for my family and our love for one another. I am grateful for the scientists who persevere and persist.
I woke to a wet morning, although the rain seems to have stopped for now. Still, everything is rather soggy. Our plans were to take our first fall drive on the Parkway today and we may still do that. I am just waiting to see if the sun manages to peek out of the clouds. It might be rather foggy at higher elevations.
Today is my son’s birthday. Saturday, I went to The Kolache Factory and bought an assortment of sweet and savory pastries and hand delivered them. All socially distanced, no hugs, six feet apart and all masked. It was great to see him and my grandchildren but I long for the day we can get together as a family again.
It continues to be a little rainy here. It is an odd season of transformation as if nature does not know what season it actually is. We are still seeing migrating birds at the feeders and the hummingbirds are still here. It will not be long before they are heading south as well. We will not see them again until next April.
We are still getting peppers out of the garden, but all the other summer plants have been pulled up to make room to plant fall vegetables. I am trying to wait out the rain forecast for the next few days before planting.
It is hard to believe it is almost October. Just a little over 30 days before NaNoWriMo begins. I will again undertake writing a novel of 50000 words in just 30 days. November is normally a hard month to write because of holiday festivities, but there won’t be much of that unless we can all test for the virus beforehand.
I am considering re-opening my ETSY shop. I closed my shop when they allowed mass manufacturers to join. I do not know how it is now and whether I want to go down that path again. I am rather indecisive at the moment.
Not much else going on in my world. I am trying to avoid too much news, too much social media and too much drama. The outlook for the virus is not good yet we continue to ease restrictions throughout the U.S. The upcoming election has everyone on edge. You can feel the tense energy in the air.
I am finding peace in just allowing the seasons to shift and change the landscape around me. It helps remedy the powerless feelings the world tends to thrust upon us.
This week we have a prompt suggested by msjadeli of Tao Talk that goes back to the more normal prompt of Brother/Sibling/Sister.
I wasn’t sure I was going to write this post today. Yesterday was mentally stressful and I did not have the energy to do the research I like to provide, but here is my skeleton version.
I grew up in southwest Virginia. It was very common for people to gather to play music together. People would gather and singalong, or jump in with their own instruments. It is still very much ‘the way’ with country folk. Every instrument from a guitar to a mandolin to a banjo or even a ukulele and someone playing the spoons. All were welcome. If a song was suggested that not everyone knew, the question that was invariably asked was “can you hum a line of it?” And off they would go.
Thus tradition of singing was also present in our family car trips sans instruments. My dad had a deep bass voice which is what brought today’s song to mind.
”Daddy Sang Bass” was written by Carl Perkins and recorded by Johnny Cash in 1968. Both artists attributed their recovery from addiction to finding God. According to Wikipedia, the line “Me and little brother would join right in there” was written about Johnny Cash’s younger brother Jack who passed away when they were both young boys.
In the original recording, the line of the brothers was sung but uncredited by Don Reid and Lew DeWitt of the Statler Brothers. The line “Mama sang tenor” was sung and uncredited by Jan Howard and not June Carter Cash as some people think. The song would reach #1 in Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.
Daddy Sang Bass
Lyrics from Songfacts.com
I remember when I was a lad
Times were hard and things were bad
But there’s a silver linin’ behind every cloud
Just four people that ‘s all we were
Tryin’ to make a livin’ out of black-land dirt
But we’d get together in a family circle singin’ loud
Daddy sang bass (mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
Singin’ seems to help a troubled soul
One of these days and it won’t be long
I’ll rejoin them in a song
I’m gonna join the family circle at the throne
Though the circle won’t be broken
By and by, Lord, by and by
Daddy sang bass (mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Now I remember after work mama would call in all of us
You could hear us singin’ for a country mile
Now little brother has done gone on
But I’ll rejoin him in a song
We’ll be together again up yonder in a little while
Daddy sang bass (mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
‘Cause singin’ seems to help a troubled soul
One of these days and it won’t be long
I’ll rejoin them in a song
I’m gonna join the family circle at the throne
Oh no the circle won’t be broken
By and by, Lord, by and by
Daddy sang bass (mama sang tenor)
Me and little brother would join right in there
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Why not join in on this Sunday blogging ritual. Head over to Jim Adams blog to check out the rules and read some of the great responses to the weekly prompt.
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