As these self isolating, social distancing days drag on, I recall with a bit of humor, but with more understanding, about an inquiry my sweet mother-in-law asked me on my visits. “Do you know anything new and interesting?” I want to shout to the heavens now, “I know what you meant, Munnie!”

Don’t you just hunger for something new and interesting? There is just so much news commentary one can take until it becomes stale with repetition. Golden girls plays over and over, and Hallmark grows sappy with predictable outcomes. IPad word games lose their appeal, and when you start reading books a second time, you know you’re in trouble!

Something new and interesting! That’s a tall order! A lot of the news may be “new” but numbers and statistics are not very interesting. Gloomy predictions sour our moods, and face to face conversations seem to have happened in another lifetime. So, with tongue in cheek, I appeal to you reading my blog, if you know anything new and interesting, would you text me!!

I have always been opposed to naming public edifices or venues for people. The hero of today may not stand up to the scrutiny of history. I know I cringe, as one after another name gets discarded, even though it is a worthy move to correct false ideals and causes, that seen in today’s climate of equality for all, need correcting.

I know we have been guilty of naming things after whomever we want to honor, but maybe another path might be more prudent. I remember my mother-in-law told me that High Street in Harrisonburg was once named German Street, until we went to war with them.

I still think about the day I sat on the front porch of Monticello with my middle school grandson. When our guide started talking about Jefferson and his contributions to country, and we all agree there were great things he did, my grandson held up his hand and said, “ But don’t you think it was a bit hypocritical to declare liberty and justice for all while owning slaves?

The guide then opened up about that part of Jefferson’s life and how that would be a part of the tour information. About time. I don’t think less of our forebears who lived in the culture of the time. I am a product of segregation and took it as a normal way of life. I spent four years at Madison College without a person of color either in the student population or in the faculty. I know that was a wrong privilege of my “whiteness” assuring a elevated place in society.

As Dr. Phil often says, “ When you know better, you do better.” That is my prayer for me and for you in this brave new world.

With apologies to Bill Bryson for stealing his title, I could think of no other title for my adventures yesterday. I have none of his humor or descriptive language, but my experience was every bit as invigorating as he tells his story

The girls and I have walked many trails in the Shenandoah National Park, so Saturday we ventured out once again, deciding on Dark Hollow Falls. Which you veterans of the park know, offers a spectacular view of water falls after a somewhat steep descent. We were rewarded with just what we expected….water cascading down multiple rocky cliffs to reward you with the view you came seeking.

We savored our misty, cool surroundings for minutes until the thought of the reality of climbing back up came to mind. My 82 year old legs were saying,”there must be a better solution” which came in the form of a fire road conveniently placed at the bottom of the falls. A soft canopy gave Betsy and me a leisurely walk out to the Skyline Drive, while Sarah and Jen scampered up the step climb to retrieve our car and meet us at the road.

Not an earth shaking experience, but again reminded me not to stop being bold and eager for adventure. In our present, troubled times, it is hard to combine that desire with personal and corporate health issues in mind. But, keep seeking it.

An additional “ah hah”moment to this day was the realization and the appreciation of our National Park System. Never let it be diminished by political or selfish maneuvering. Better than medicine in a bottle…..a walk in the woods!!

This morning when I stepped outside my front door for my walk, I paused and decided to take my walk opposite on the route I usually took. Anything to add a bit of variety to the routine I have faithfully followed for the many months of social distancing!! Live a little, I told myself!

Who knew that walking clockwise around the lake had directional signs for right behavior concerning the lake and pathway? I had never read “Clean up after Your Pet,” or “catch and release fishing,”or deposit trash here.”

I discovered that my uphill pull came half way during my walk and not at the very end. Laughing at my self for thinking a walk whether forward or backward changes your destination, I arrived safely back to my front stoop refreshed and a bit wiser.

Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, said “Life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backward.” I absolutely embrace this as I find I spend a lot of time “remembering .” As I hike, or read a book, or embrace a moment of reflection, my mind immediately turns to a remembrance, sweet to recall, and many times more clear than yesterday!

So, for all of you have aging (I hate that word) loved ones, when they tend to talk about the past, know that they are just understanding how all those past happenings made them who they are today.

Sorry daughters, I know I do this a lot. Know that all of those memories are sweet on my mind. And for many of them, I just now understand how important they were in my life.

Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so that you won’t be tempted to role play before God. There, simply and honestly as you can manage, pray. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to feel His grace.

That’s all I have to say this morning! Use your own translation, but read Christ’s words about making a show of your religiousness.

We’ve all heard that phrase either in admonition or in a criticism of pundits who invoke half truths or outright misinformation, but we need to remember the rest of Alexander Pope’s advice to really appreciate his sage advice.

Here is the poet’s words: “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring. There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking deeply sobers us again!

In other words, the more we know about a subject, the less arrogant we will be. Listen to those who drink deeply of the subject’s information. I am the first to admit I know nothing about virus pandemics.

Never in my wildest dream would I believe that my life’s fundamental, foremost thought on my mind would be to make sure I had enough toilet paper in my house! You’d seen the bare selves, pictures of people holding up huge packages of toilet paper over their heads, smiling the triumphant smile of a victor.

I remember telling a friend when this all began that I didn’t have but eleven rolls of toilet paper, so this had to end before then! This is a bit “tongue in cheek”and I am not so obsessed as I say, but I do think it says a great deal about reality and getting everyone thinking about what we really need in life.

My heart breaks with lines of cars waiting for food for hours and getting there to find the source had run out of food, while produce farmers are plowing in vegetables or dairy farmers pouring milk down the drain as schools and restaurants are closed and don’t need it. Is there a better way to get need and source to fill that need together??

I hope that when this crisis ends, that those basic needs and the people who have provided those needs are appreciated and honored for who and what we really have to have to make this life sustainable. Food, shelter, health care, faith, friendships, family, some meaningful work to benefit others and ourselves, and a bit of toilet paper, are what we need. Thanks be to God!

In Sunday School our class is using Adam Hamilton’s series, The Walk, and learning what it means to walk with Jesus. Some very simple disciplines of study, Bible reading, and being loving and acknowledging those who walk with us. Sunday, as we thought of things we could do, we reminisced about how a simple word or two could be so important to all of us.

Earlier this week, before I vowed to limit my social interaction, I went to Walmart to pick up some over the counter health item. I usually go there before I walk at 6:30 in the morning…..and right in the middle of them stocking the shelves. As I maneuvered down one isle, the girl stocking shelves had to stop to let me roll by. I smiled at her and asked her pardon for being so early, continued on my way. A bit later, I felt a tap on my back, there she stood. “Here, you need to use this when you get home” she said. Handing me a bottle of 70% of Isopropyl alcohol.

Not an earth shaking moment, but the smiles on both our faces said “ we both are going to have a good day today.”

Last Saturday my house was filled to the rafters with the joy, enthusiasm and vitality by 30 or more women who had come back to celebrate an era and a facility that housed their joy, tears, and efforts for many years. They were the players and coaches of JMU’s Women’s Basketball program. The fact that our daughter, Betsy, was a member of that group made it even more special.

Now what does all that have to do with SuperTuesday? As I prepared to go vote, the faces and presence of these successful, confident, benevolent women crossed my mind. They have faced a world where their government has never ratified an Equal Rights Amendment, passed by Congress in 1972, but blocked by conservative states from being ratified by 2/3 of the states legislators. Keep kicking the can down the road!! So they face a marketplace of their skills knowing they will only make 3/4’s of what men make for the same job.

So, I never vote in any election that I don’t think of my Mother who marched for women’s right to vote in 1918. My promise to these young women is that I will never vote for a candidate in any election who does not support women’s rights in all aspects of their lives. Go vote,

Some of you know that I moved from a wonderful duplex I was renting into a wonderful neighboring development where I purchased a duplex. Terrifying thoughts of “moving” rivaled excitement of new, pleasing surrounding kept me a bit tense, as my daughters can affirm, but the results are more than comfortable and verge on the edge of spectacular

On moving day, six daughters, three sons -in- law, two grandchildren and a somewhat be-fuddled older woman (me) measured and nailed, moved and placed, wiped and dried, threw away and kept the collection of 80+ years of stuff. At the end of the day, everything was in its intended spot.

One chair in particular, placed just right, gave me the joy of telling the daughters that it cannot in the future be moved. In the lower panel of one of the living area windows, acting almost as a frame, the view is picture perfect of the hill that holds Bill’s dream of our house on the hill. And on a clear day, with bare trees surrounding it, I catch a glimpse of the white boards of that dream still fresh and giving shelter to new generations. Life is good