Doesn’t the title of this letter conjure memories of your school assignments back in the day? Given the coronavirus, this summer that has been like none we remember.
Many of us are working at home, while others have been furloughed or laid off. Some have their families living together under one roof, while others haven’t seen their loved ones in months. Now, some are juggling the return of their kids to school while telecommuting. Life this summer has taken on a unique shape – the shape of the PPE masks that we now wear in public.
We haven’t dined out, gone to the gym, socialized at a party, or vacationed since February, but I can tell you that I’ve spent a lot of time in my vegetable garden. In the past, we’ve had gardens, but thanks to the suburban deer invasion, we haven’t been able to grow flowers, let alone veggies, for years. This spring we made the commitment, though. Our new garden began as a patch of grass, and now it is a solidly fenced-in area to keep the critters out. We got a late start, but the garden has rewarded our efforts with luscious yellow, red, heirloom, pear and cherry tomatoes, basil, parsley, peppers, lettuce and sunflowers. However, the cucumbers, green beans and squash were a bust. Through trial and error, we’ve learned that tomatoes and lettuce can be watered from an overhead sprinkler, but not squash and cucumbers cannot. Also, that the ladybugs we bought to eat our garden pests flew away at their first possible moment of freedom.
It’s been zen-like tending the garden and has allowed me to momentarily forget the chaos of our present existence. I’ll miss my garden sorely over the winter, but then it will be time to plan for Spring 2021.
Speaking of growing, we have been lucky to have our son, daughter-in-law and grandson living with us. When they arrived in March, Wade was nine months old and crawling. Now he’s fifteen months old and is running circles around me. He’s brought endless joy and laughter into our lives during the pandemic and it’s been amazing to watch him grow before our eyes. Someone said that grandchildren are the gift you receive for having raised your own kids, and I can’t agree more. Wade is certainly the gift that keeps on giving, and I’ve relearned to change a diaper in ten seconds flat.
Another skill I’ve been learning to Zoom. From writer’s conferences to virtual book events to girl friend happy hours to podcast sessions to family visits and business meetings, Zoom has become my best friend. I’ve even learned how to create rooms to host more than one meeting simultaneously. Zoom has helped me remain connected to the world and friends from Portland, California, Delaware, New Jersey and down the street. While it’s not the same as meeting in person, it’s been a lifesaver in the current environment. And it’s free. My only regret is that I didn’t buy Zoom stock!
Finally, I’ve been putting the finishing touches on my sophomore novel. Yes, you heard it here! I don’t want to reveal too much, but I can tell you that Jessie, Hal, and Jeremy return along with new characters (Detective Ebony Jones and Lissie Sexton) in the hunt for a serial killer. In the book, Jessie and Ebony clash over the investigation of eight missing women in the Hudson Valley. Jessie is faced with a moral dilemma – should she betray her client, the killer’s sole survivor, to help Ebony hunt the killer? And can they capture him and save their friendship without breaking the law? Stay tuned!
I hope that no matter what shape your summer has taken, that you’ve been safe and maintaining the protocols. As the autumn arrives and the days become shorter and cooler, enjoy the little things in life – apples, pumpkins, the colorful leaves, bonfires – and of course, a good read.
Until next time, stay safe.
