Beech Tree News Network

There are so many little things I’d forgotten to notice that I am noticing these days.  I watched that Disney Sing Along on ABC a few days ago.  I was in the house alone, and I found myself singing at the top of my lungs.  They had the Mouseketeer ears bouncing across the lyrics on the screen like the famous bouncing ball on “Sing Along With Mitch.”  “When You Wish Upon a Star” was my favorite.  It had always been my favorite as a child.  I’d forgotten how much singing helps when, you find yourself by yourself.

                Since the cases of the Covid-19 virus have escalated in our county, Garey and I have only gone out in public when necessary.  Garey has a heart condition, and the virus is particularly dangerous to heart patients, so we’re both trying to be cautious.  Our daughter, Natalie, worries about her dad, so she has helped me connect to their family through the Zoom app. (Natalie’s husband is a FedEx driver, and he really makes the effort to use lots of hand sanitizer and social distancing practices, but he is out there every day, delivering packages to a gazillion people.)   Garey and I went into Bowling Green to have lunch with Natalie and Sabria last Wednesday.  We picked up food from Panera Bread, and I brought homemade chili for Sabria—she loves my chili.  They sat on their front porch, we sat on folding chairs in the front yard.  It was a good visit, but I really miss hugging Sabria.

                It’s important to let people know you haven’t forgotten them, especially the elderly and their caregivers.  Last Monday, members from Crossland Church in Morgantown got into their automobiles and proceeded to Morgantown Care and Rehab, where they lined up outside the center to pray for the residents and medical staff.  It was a small gesture that meant the world to those people.  The staff stood inside the double doors giving the church members “heart” hand signals.

                Since the parks in Bowling Green are closed, Natalie and Sabria have been taking afternoon walks down Baldock Road, where they live.  Natalie noticed how much trash was on the side of the road, so she and Sabria started taking trash bags with them as they walked.  On their last afternoon walk, Natalie noticed a man and a woman in a pickup truck driving slowly behind them.  The truck eased up beside her and Sabria, the man rolled down his window and said, “I just want to thank you for what you’re doing.  I don’t live here, but I’m responsible for mowing this area, and it’s so aggravating to have to pick up all the trash on this road, before I can do my job.”  Natalie sent me pictures of her and Sabria with their trash bags full of trash.  I was so proud of them.

                I’m so thankful that I live in the country.  Outside is a really big deal to me.  Sometimes, I get so caught up in daily responsibilities that I forget how therapeutic fresh air, sunshine and wildlife are.  I watched Bendi Irwin’s wedding on Animal Planet on Saturday evening.  She is the daughter of Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter.  Steve passed away during a diving encounter with a stingray in 2006, when Bendi was a little girl.  Steve’s widow, Terri, his son Robert and Bendi have kept his dreams for the Australia Zoo alive.  Throughout the planning for the wedding, Bendi, Robert and Terry talked about Steve and their family and the love they had for each other and the animals there at the zoo.  Bendi married Chandler Powell, who is also part of the zoo staff.  The reason I mention this family is because of the positive energy and loving nature they all have.  I think it’s because they live in the outdoors most of the time.  They are in air and sunshine with animals every day.  Not all of us can have their lifestyle, but we can all take a lesson from them, and make an effort to look at the things God created.  They are much more interesting than the things man created.