It makes my heart happy to sit down and think of the person I am 'in touch' with or who thought of me and put that thought down on paper.
This morning I opened my computer and my NPR home page touted President Trumps new world order:
"How 15 Days Became 45: Trump Extends Guidelines To Slow Coronavirus
March 30, 20205:00 AM ET
On Sunday, the night before Day 15, Trump told the country to stick with the plan for another month, until April 30."
We have 32 more days of the mandatory stay-at-home order! Yes I understand. Yes I can do this. And yes, I am among the fortunate. We have lived this self imposed life for more than a year now. Russ does get out, but it is infrequent, spending the vast majority of his time at home. But what do we and the rest of the entire city, state, country do with all that at home time? One plan for me is to write a minimum of one a day.
There are of course a myriad of ways for us to communicate with one another. I am choosing 'the old fashioned way' of handwritten notes and phone calls. Of course texting probably takes top billing for those under 30 so I have an excuse there. (hard to believe I know, but I am over 30!) Email is almost 'in the past', but still seems to be acceptable for work. There is Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. As I am in the 'senior' age group I have an excuse to not even know if there is something more up to date than that.
At the bottom of the list is the antiquated phone call. During this time at home I plan to make some phone calls as well. I love phone calls from the long lost person, the friend I shared so much with before moving west, an old school friend or, like yesterday, a call from Marge, the wife of one of Russ' college fraternity brothers. The familiar tone of my phone ringing signaled a call and answering I heard Marge's kind voice. Her husband Harvey passed away recently. Connecting with Marge was my gift that day, sharing stories, remembering Harvey, catching up on news, encouraging one another and just knowing she thought enough of us to reach out. That is a gift! Now it is my turn to share that with someone else...sort of pay it forward. It feels wonderful to connect with each other's human voice.
I grew up in a home with a 'modern' wall phone. There was the kid's phone and the adult phone. ("Hello, you have reached the Liston residence, this is Linda speaking ...") To talk on the kid phone you sank to the floor in the upstairs hallway, legs stretched, and talked, open to those passing by, no secrets. A voice carries heart. I plan to carry my heart in the weeks to come to connect with others and I pray you too will 'pay it forward.
Peace and good health to you.