What we are doing to survive the pandemic lockdown
The Silly Dragon Grandmother and granddaughter connect by writing a virtual book
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By Judy Weaver
hese last few months have been difficult and challenging for all of us — no matter our age, our gender or status. We have all been affected by this pandemic. We have all dealt with these challenging times in different ways: taking walks (while social distancing), reading more, baking more, “zooming” and FaceTiming with friends and family, etc. It certainly hasn’t been easy, but hopefully our efforts will result in a positive outcome and that we all have learned something about ourselves in the process. In keeping with trying to stay connected with family, some weeks ago I had a conversation via FaceTime with some of our family in the Seattle area. Our 9-year-old granddaughter, Camille, was part of the conversation. I suggested to Camille that she might like to write us a letter. I indicated that if she wrote me a letter, I would respond. I was delighted when there was a letter in our mailbox just a few days later. What I expected was a standard elementary school student letter that said: “Hi Nana. How are you? I am fine. I am reading books. I miss my friends. Love, Camille” That is not what I received. Camille wrote a story titled:
Judy Weaver and her 9-year-old granddaughter Camille stay connected on Zoom.
The Silly Dragon. It was just a delightful story about a dragon named Bob and his pet monkey named Monkey. Bob and Monkey live in a cave with no gravity. They eat spaghetti and float around in their cave. Needless to say, it was the highlight of my day, receiving this story from our creative granddaughter. I showed it to friends and family (at a distance, of course). Within a day or two I wrote Camille back, but instead of
writing a standard Nana letter, I wrote a second chapter to The Silly Dragon. In my chapter, Bob and Monkey tie ropes around their tails and attach the ropes to a tree outside their cave so they can float outside. The letters (with more chapters of The Silly Dragon) have continued. At the writing of this piece, Camille and I have completed six chapters. Maybe we will have our story published one day. No matter what, this exchange
of “letters” with my granddaughter has been a gift to me during this anxious time. I hope it has been fun for Camille as well. It has allowed us to stay connected in a unique and creative way. I highly recommend it to others. My hope is that each one of us has the opportunity to experience some “highlights” during this difficult time. May we keep the good news and highlights coming in the weeks and months ahead.
Me, Maverick & a camera: So much to see By Guy Miner Well, our governor said it was okay to take a walk, or go for a bike ride… So, I threw caution to the wind and decided that a kayak paddle would substitute for riding a bike, though I know our governor dearly loves his bike rides. So, I’ve been alternating, a day at home doing yard work, then
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| The Good Life
a day when I walk several miles with my most awesome dog, Maverick. Maverick insists that we haul a camera along on our walks, and that was a great idea, because we’ve seen some wonderful things on our walks. Maverick is particularly fond of the Horan Natural Area, though the Dunes and the 19th Street area of the Loop Trail are also good.
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June 2020
He likes places that smell of quail, pheasant and other wild things. He smells ’em, I just walk and look, and work the camera for Mav. Lack of opposing thumbs hampers his efforts with the camera. At home we built two raised garden beds: eight feet long, three feet wide, and about 16 inches deep. Filled them with rich topsoil and planted quite a
