Years ago, I took students to 6th grade camp for a week. We hiked and worked on science and craft projects during the day, had campfire programs after dinner, and slept in cabins at night. On the second or third night, a camper’s blood curdling screams pierced my peaceful sleep. “HELP! HELP! Jeff, help me! HELP!” Shocked and groggy, I fumbled for a flashlight and stumbled to my feet. I made my way over to find Brett, in his lower bunk, with the top of his sleeping bag cinched down to a circle about four inches in diameter. He’d accidentally locked himself in his own sleeping bag, with just one eye peering out and one arm, fully extended!
Maybe our situation these days with the coronavirus is a little like that. We’re in unfamiliar territory, feeling locked in, locked down, our lives turned upside-down. So many changes and challenges—when do we get our lives back?
On the upside, Mr. Optimism notes that we have more time on our hands than usual. Valerie and I regularly check in with family and friends via FaceTime and Zoom. Our garden and yard are in tip-top shape. Working out five or six days a week! Trying new recipes! And, I’m reading Tahoma aloud to Valerie.
Speaking of the book, it’s been great fun, getting pictures of people and pets with Tahoma. Here are a few; send yours to jeff@jeffantonelis-lapp.com and we’ll post them. And if you’d write a brief review at Amazon, that would be great!
(Here are the captions to match the numbered photos)
- Dimi hangs out in his favorite madrone tree on Vashon, reading.
- As soon as he puts the book down, Branwyn settles in for a good read. I have no idea how he does it without opposable thumbs.
- And that’s exactly what Chester, our Road-Trippin’ lamb, wishes he had. Otherwise, it’s just a cute picture.
- In Lower Burnett, Diesel the Dachshund has it figured out—he asked Robb to read to him.
- Jason reads on his daily commute on the Bainbridge Island Ferry. Note the Space Needle in the background.
- Rich kicks back in his chair and ponders the next Big Idea.
- Marty put on makeup to read!
- Mike got a bonus when he ordered Tahoma from Amazon—a $100 wine voucher. That would be cool, except that he’s been sober for 11 years!
- Adrian, a biologist, took me into the field to see horned larks (Nisqually River chapter). He sent this from the JBLM prairies during a recent Scot’s broom mowing project.
I’ve postponed the book launch party until summer or early fall, and it’s likely that we’ll postpone or cancel my spring presentations. But in a promising development, the National Parks Conservation Association has asked me to participate in their spring “streaming speaker series” in which I’ll give my full Tahoma presentation to their constituents, with images and live narration via Zoom. If this works out, it may be a viable way to present until we’re in the clear for live presentations. I’ll invite you to the speaker series when we finalize the details.
In the meantime, lay low like a hoary marmot—they’re still hibernating!