Still here

My new summer love

I am still here. The EU will not allow Americans in so we wait. Meanwhile my sweet  French little village house sits empty.  I  too feel empty and sad. As Michael said to me. "France is your thing , Mom."
Without "my thing", I don't know how to navigate this new thing,  summer in Portland. We went to Hagg Lake last week. I even swam a little bit in the  chilly water.  We hiked with Maggy who stress panted round trip in the car.  Yesterday, we picked  blueberries  and raspberries at Smith Berry Farm where we washed hands before picking, wore masks, and stayed well away from others.  Maybe wine tasting next week?

The last time I celebrated July 4th at home might have been twenty years ago.  The neighborhood looks proudly patriotic in its red, white, and blue finery,  but I cannot feel proud of our country at this particular time.  I feel our country aching for lack of intelligent brave leadership. With freedom comes responsibility.

I do my best to be kind and compassionate, offer assistance when needed, and remember to be grateful for all the beauty and love that surround me here in Portland. And so, I will spend the summer  enjoying what life offers me. I will grieve "my thing" but I will love all the rest.
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