Do Small Things.

“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

Mother Teresa

2020 has reinforced some truths and taught me several valuable lessons. For example, “Live for today because tomorrow is not promised.” Also, “Friendship isn’t a big thing, it’s a million little things.” I have taken these two principles to heart in the last few months. I have reached out to family and friends to express my love and appreciation for who they are and what they mean to me. I have sharpened my listening skills to better hear the experiences and concerns of others. I have been more present in word and in deed. I have prepared and delivered meals, been a chauffeur to assist with errands, been a caregiver and a confidant.

What I have not done is reenlist. I have not succumbed to pressure to return to the field of nursing. Instead, I have focused on keeping myself and my immediate family safe and well. I have focused on friends with unique needs and I’ve done my best to help them navigate the challenging environment of this pandemic. I have done many small things with great love!

One of my greatest joys has been to provide themed picnics to my sister Kim who has been confined to her congregate living facility. We were able to share time and simple lunches across a fence while maintaining appropriate distancing.

Kim is now fully vaccinated and able to enjoy home visits. We remain careful and follow current public health protocol to keep her and other residents safe. I cannot express how grateful I am for the caution and diligence of her care home.

Outside of immediate family and very close friends, my face to face interactions have been limited but my outreach has been more broad thanks to technology. Zooming and FaceTiming and Telemedicine are now second nature. I have attended two college graduations and a celebration of life that I otherwise would have missed. I’m planning on a high school reunion in the next couple of weeks that will be much more inclusive with this new technology.

Through Zoom and FaceTime and Instagram, I have attended educational classes and viewed documentaries and participated in virtual wine tastings! We stay connected to our United States Power Squadron through Free Conference Call. I’ve learned to embrace technology to help bridge the distancing required during this year.

I’ve also revisited our home library and snuggled up with some good books. I’ve taken hot baths and slept in. I’ve learned that “Self care is not self indulgence.” My exercise routine is not as regular as I would like but I can forgive myself for the lazy days and start over tomorrow. Overall, I have remained in great shape!

After a career in nursing, I understand and adhere to good hygiene practices but I was never a germaphobe. I have made some adjustments. This new virus has demanded scrupulous attention to cleanliness and protecting the most vulnerable. We have attended church services online and we avoided any large gatherings, including our own holiday dinners. This was a tough decision since we love to entertain and had a newly remodeled kitchen to show off!

The Kitchen Remodel.

We noticed that the kitchen tile grout was deteriorating and threatening the integrity of the plywood base. We had planned this project for after our boating trip, but why not tackle this necessary upgrade now? We set our budget, found our contractors and forged ahead. Our kitchen was in disarray from Labor Day to Thanksgiving. I am so pleased with the results!

Tree Work.

We’ve been closely following the homeowner’s insurance issues in the state of California and, being fearful of getting cancelled, we proactively hired a lumberman to take out some trees. The first two pine trees were obvious, with bark-beetle damage. The next four were black oaks within five feet of the house and with serious overhang. Not only were some branches too close to our chimney, but any significant wind might’ve broken a limb and caused roof or skylight damage.

Pacific Gas & Electric Company has contractor crews in our neighborhood nearly every day. Any tree that might infringe on their lines is painted for trim or removal. Nine more of our trees along the street were marked and removed. I will miss the shade, although this gives us a clean slate for future landscaping.

The Great Loop – Phase III

In a few weeks we will return to New York to recommission Reverie and get underway. We won’t be going to Canada but our boat will. The protocol during the border closure requires that we hire a commercial captain and crew to take our boat through the Welland Canal. We will rendezvous with the crew in Youngstown, NY, give them our boat keys, and meet them on the other side in Buffalo, NY. All subsequent cruising will be in United States waters!

Pete’s niece (Carrie) gave him the best gift for Christmas! It is a flag emblazoned with the words DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP. The phrase is credited to Captain James Lawrence (1781-1813) as he was dying from battle wounds. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry invoked this battle cry and flew this flag for several successful battles against the British in the War of 1812. Perry is known as the Hero of Lake Erie. Carrie’s fiancé, Matt, hand-crafted a marlin spike that accompanied Pete’s gift. Both will serve us well as we embark on this next leg of our journey.