On Friday the 13th of March, I heard a robin on our street. On Saturday, Genie saw and talked to him after the kitchen spring-cleaning at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church by Audrey, Cathy, Cathy, Diane, Gale, Genie, Mary Ann, and Mary Lee. I talked to him on Sunday and he let me know he had heard about the ladies “spring” cleaning of the church kitchen and thus he figured spring was here. I explained to him spring was officially here after three snows on the robin’s back and usually that didn’t happen until late April and sometimes even mid May. As he hurriedly flew south to California, I heard him say, “I’ll be back,” in imitation of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
We have coffee hour on Sunday morning before church at Central Freeborn. Volunteers sign up to serve. On Sunday, March 14, Mary Krohn signed up along with helpers husband Larry and son Paul. Many times it is an opportunity for the signee to show off their baking powers. Mary did just that with her homemade cinnamon rolls. It was your choice to warm the roll up and add butter or not. She even offered seconds. I didn’t eat a second as I’m a member of the choir and we were singing that great hymn to the tune of “Danny Boy” in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. (Yes, we’re a Lutheran Church of mostly Norwegians who welcome all. As we finished singing I heard an “Uffda.”)
I turned on the TV to get the latest virus news when we got home from church as I ate my second warmed-up-with butter cinnamon roll as I sighed a pleasured “Uffda.” In the annual guess when all the snow is gone on the west side of the parking lot at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, only two people guess in March. All the rest guess April, with the most common being April 4. (The person guessing the exact date is awarded a free DQ ice cream cake.)
Did you know Monday, March 30 was Doctor’s Day? Genie and I complied by watching Dr. Jen on TV. In our opinion she is doing a very good job regarding the coronavirus pandemic – especially in regards to the older population in helping to minimize our fears. (I consider septuagenarian – ian and beyond as older.)
We cancelled our annual spring trip to visit relatives in Harrison, Arkansas. Relative Frank is in a nursing home in Harrison. In checking on Frank, his Christian medical doctor said, “I guess God doesn’t have Frank’s room ready yet.”
The virus has helped bring on some unusual shortages. For example, toilet paper. To help reduce the problem a farmer by Beaver Lake is selling “four red corn cobs for a dollar and one white corn cob for four dollars, making a total of five dollars for a two-day supply. (He is suggesting you cut the white corn cob in two, thus for certain a two day supply after using the first red corn cobs.)
P.S. As of this column I am unable to track down who is selling slightly used corncobs.
P.S.S. To the young people on the Florida beach during the virus situation – You have been removed from your grandparents’ will.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.