Genie and I go through the drive through at DQ in Albert Lea. The young lady order taker asks, “Do you know the best thing to come of Iowa?”
I reply, “Yes, my great wife Genie as she is from Clear Lake, Iowa.” The young lady replied, “Me too, my name is Ashley and I’m from Iowa!”
When the ground hog retreated after seeing his shadow here in Southern Minnesota on February 2, I think he knew what Governor Waltz was going to say, “Hunker down, the coronavirus is coming for at least six weeks.”
The guess when all the snow on the west side of the parking lot at Central Freeborn Lutheran church ended March 30th, with no winner of the DQ ice cream cake. Sad to say, nobody guessed the exact date. Genie came close as she guessed March 29th.
Mark, a master plumber at Christianson plumbing and heating in Albert Lea, stopped to talk to me as I was on my daily walk. He mentioned that he had the solution to the toilet paper scarcity. He would gladly order and install the solution in our bathroom. He called it a “Bidet.” I thought I’d pass the solution on to you. Genie and I are confused as to the solution.
Genie and I are following Governor Tim Walz as to laying low. Our outings have been reduced in volunteer activities. No reader’s theatre at the Elementary schools in Albert Lea as the schools are closed. No auxiliary at the local Albert Lea medial system as volunteer auxilians have been put on hold. No volunteer church activities as our church is closed.
What are other retired couples doing? Following is a “fact” out of house activity this past week by Jim and Sharon of Hartland. It was time to order new prescriptions – this was done at the drive-through, on to drive-through at Hardees with dinner for two in the parking lot and home again. This was about a four-hour outing.
Do you suppose the same drive-through for prescriptions could also be used for getting food necessities like milk, bread, eggs, etc.? (Walgreens, Hy-Vee are local examples.)
We are trying to stay away from close activities with people to the best of our ability. For example, the following was our out of the house activity this past week:
We purchased the noon meal at Wendy’s drive through – to Big Island State park to eat the lunch – a walk on the park trails – to the recycle station by Clarks Grove to recycle – to Hy-Vee car wash and home – this was about a 6 hour outing. (We saw two adult eagles on a nest in the park.)
Potus is the shortened spelling of “President of the United States.” Can you figure out who VPotus is?
I am now sold on universal health insurance in the U.S.A. What convinced me? The big bills some people have due to the coronavirus.
Hope is more than a great small town along I-35 in Southern Minnesota. When the world is bleak and dark, when times are hard and troubled (like the coronavirus), there is hope. Hope is light at the end of the tunnel. Hope gives one strength. Hope never wears a frown and it belongs to all of us. Yes. Hope belongs to you, it belongs to me. Together, we will get through this pandemic.
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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.