Our backyard is usually off-limits to four legged livestock but we made an exception and I put up a portable fence there today. I turned the mother ewe and her triplets out for a couple hours to get some sunshine and green grass. It was getting a little unsettled and it was obvious she’d had enough of being penned up with her little ones for the past week. Some of you can probably relate to that unsettled feeling and were able to get out and about a little yourselves. That’s great if you’re able to; just remember to be extra-vigilant about social distancing and other precautions as the number of cases of the coronavirus grows exponentially and deaths from the virus double every 3 days in the United States.
Ann and I recently watched an on-line interview between Stephen Colbert and Anderson Cooper. Each lost their father at a very young age (as did my step-children) and the two spoke of how it affected the rest of their lives. Some of the ways it changed things for them were instantly apparent to others (behavior and grades in school, etc.) and some remained internal, but are still impacting their lives today. Colbert shared he became more compassionate and caring; and in other ways more daring and bold, but he eventually accepted his father’s death and was able to continue on with gratitude for life as it now was for him. This virus is going to shape our lives as individuals and as a society. It’ll be as how Colbert says the death of his father became a timeline, (time before and after) that marks his life. We’re each are going to have to deal with it in our own way;. For some it will be denial, others will take specific actions, and all will have a range of emotions and behaviors. How we respond to this pandemic will affect our lives and world for years to come. But this means we have the opportunity to shape the kind of society we want to live in. Now is a good time to be understanding, caring and forgiving in how we view and interact withothers.
If you’re one of the folks that thinks this whole thing is being over-blown, you’re entitled to that opinion, but please do the rest of us a favor and follow the health experts recommendations. Those suffering and the health care workers on the front line need our prayers, respect, and support.
Oops, I was going to keep this update brief and light-hearted today and here I am solemn and opining. Oh well, you all have delete buttons…
Getting back to my original plan: Attached are photos of the lambs with the ewe in the back yard and a picture of Jake that I took earlier this month. Hope you all have a quiet Sunday.
