Photos, Relationships

Staying in Touch (Reprise)

During Covid-19, my husband and I needed ways to connect with members of our isolated church family that did not involve physical contact. When we were physically apart due to travel, I sent tourist postcards. Those wouldn’t work this time.

While my sons were at college, Pictures of the Day (POTD) kept our immediate family connected. (See here.) Why not expand the POTD to our church family?

Printing and sending photos were time-consuming, but more interesting than writing letters when there was little news to share.

The first photos I sent during Covid-19 were of the woodpeckers, jays, cardinals, and chickadees that visited the feeder on my deck.

Our most frequent visitors

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.

Ansel Adams

I appreciated my backyard more because of the response I received. I saw my surroundings through the lens of those who didn’t have the view I did.

I also gained a permanent communication tool. Eventually photos were mailed to extended family. Five years later, my ninety-year-old aunt eagerly awaits the next batch.

How did you stay in touch during Covid-19?

Relationships

Staying in Touch

A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than for other people.

Thomas Mann 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature

According to the definition above, I am a writer. So, what’s a writer to do when she has people she wants to stay in touch with? Or express her affection? Or her concern? And she has enough regrets over unwritten letters. (See here.)

Steal from others.

Don’t worry. This theft is legal. There’s even a book with encouragement that I highly recommend. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon.

I copy uncopyrighted poems and lyrics. I recycle the fronts of greeting cards. I pilfer old calendars. I clip cartoons. All are better expressed and more interesting than my words.

From favorites sources

I trust my friends so know my heart. It’s not a lazy exercise. Some days it’s quite time consuming to find the right item, but in a world of drifting away, the words and art of others are my lifeline.

Thank you, friends, for the ways you stay in touch with me.

Priorities, Relationships

Goodbye, Dear Friend

When people die, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to give them up.

C.A. Belmond
The photo is blurry. The memory is clear.

Why do I cherish a dark, blurry photo?

Because the photo was taken in the middle of a heartfelt conversation with my dear friend. I still hold a slight grudge against the person who interrupted us that morning and took the photo.

Kathleen and I corresponded for years before we met, which was two days prior to this photo. She and her husband traveled over 300 miles to be at a major event in my life. Why? Because that’s what friends do, even if you only know each other through an online book group.

I communicated with Kathleen regularly. However, her name had been on my “to write” list since her husband passed in October. I wanted to write the perfect remembrance and the perfect Christmas thank you notes. I trust Kathleen knew my heart because she won’t receive those words. I woke on Saturday to the news of her unexpected passing.

So, let’s all agree to say the imperfect words while we still have time.

Grief is the price we pay for love. Queen Elizabeth II

Christmas, Relationships

The Gift Of Listening

Friends are those rare people who ask how we are, and then wait to hear the answer.

Ed Cunningham

If Cunningham is right, then I had a treasure trove of friends in 2024.

Tina, who sat with me on the church sofa and listened while I talked.

Katie, who drove to my house for tea and prayer and listened while I talked.

Barb, who drove me to class and listened while I talked.

Kathy, who sat on my patio and listened while I talked.

Sara, who sat with me in her car and listened while I talked.

Beth, who phoned and listened while I talked—as she has for over sixteen years.

My mother-in-law who was always glad to hear from me and listened while I talked.

Aunt Shirley, the only aunt who listened while I talked rather than talking while I listened.

My husband, who sat up past his bedtime to listen while I talked.

And more who crossed my path less frequently.

Why is listening such a gift?

Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. … When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.

Karl Menniger

May we all listen and be listened to in 2025.

Relationships

Giving Cups Of Cold Water

And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Matthew 10:42 (ESV)

Some days, I can only give cups of cold water. Small cups.

However, the cups of cold water given to me are special gifts.

The givers?

The casual acquaintance who stopped her car when she saw me by my mailbox and asked how I was doing during Covid-19.

The friends who checked on me via texts during Covid-19.

The friends who mailed me cards saying I am loved and appreciated.

My co-teacher who carried my bags for me after my cataract surgery—and drove me to my classes.

My son’s tutor who told me my son thrived because of my teaching.

My son who took my hand and helped me climb closer to a waterfall.

My son who drives me to doctor appointments and waits.

My husband who daily brings me ups of cold water—with a splash of orange juice.

And more.

Cups of cold water are on my Christmas list. What’s on yours?