Tag: social distancing

Spacing

When our yard was landscaped over a decade ago, the new plants were so small that you could barely see them in the stark expanse of garden rock. Now the plants have matured to the point that the yard almost looks like a desert jungle. But there is still enough space between the plants to present a pleasing appearance.

If you have driven through the Oak Grasslands of California, you have seen my idea of perfect natural spacing. Here and there, the oak trees dot the rolling hills. Somehow they know not to crowd each other. One could easily imagine the Lord strolling through his creation and scattering the acorns that grow into trees. I am reminded of a stanza from “The Spiritual Canticle” by St. John of the Cross:

A thousand graces scattering,
He passed through these groves with haste,
And in gazing at them
With his image alone,
Left them clothed in beauty.

Budding Actor

Emerson the Dog is fifteen-and-a-half years old, but apparently it’s never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks. Here is his rendition of The Sphinx, although he doesn’t have the back legs quite right. We’ll have to work on that.

On our walks, he still drags me down the block to the corner, but by the time we have walked another two blocks, he is the one who is lagging behind.

He loves people and other dogs, and he almost never barks. We are so grateful to have had his companionship in retirement and now in ‘social distancing’. Yet, we know our remaining time with him is limited.

Every day is precious.

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Morning Walk

Pecan groves with mistletoe on the ancient trees along the path

One good thing has come about from ‘social distancing’. Every morning my husband and I take a walk together, something we never did in the past. This morning we walked along one of the irrigation canals that meander through the nearby pecan groves. Although spring is apparent in our neighborhood, the pecan trees are still dormant. They won’t come into leaf until May. Soon the canals will be filled with water from the Rio Grande River; the gates into the groves will be lifted; and the trees will be flooded with life-giving water.

Our walk always ends up at the local Post Office. I wait outside while my husband checks our box. We always see someone we know and wave at a distance.