Living in interesting times

Action packed. Sunday was the little visitor, who turned out to be the high point. Tuesday I thought I saw a little damp patch under my 1999 Honda Civic. I gassed it up, went to knitting group, noticed a bigger patch when I left, but was distracted by a call and texts from next door.

The lady of the house's mother, in her 90s, had a house fire, Sunday,smoke  damage, windows broken. She lives in New York, lady of the house went right away to bring her back here. Four hour round trip.

Friend Gary, man of the house, took one grandchild shopping for mattress and bedding for old lady. That's how come I had my little visitor, the other grandchild, too young to be in the house alone.

But, sadly, the old lady died Tuesday morning. Hence the calls and texts. Mixture of stress and existing issues. The only glimmer of light is that she was with her daughter. Daughter and I talked this morning, and she said yes, good she'd brought her.

Overnight my Honda started peeing much more, couldn't tell what, gas, tranny fluid, oil, water, couldn't guess. So I set up a service date for earliest -- Friday --and about five minutes later decided the heck with repairs, it was time to move on to a new car.

 Went online, found a couple of likely cars right on the lot at the dealership, pre-owned like all my cars. Checked consumer reports, driving reviews, then made arrangements to go in this morning and just do it. I dread buying cars, but the Honda folks are nice guys, don't say stupid womeny stuff, answer questions, don't witter on about color etc.

So I got together all the dox, decided what I'd deposit, gosh I was prepared. Even emptied out the car, which was unfortunately loaded with heavy stuff for the thriftie.

 And, two hours later, I was tootling home in my 2018 Honda Fit. Lovely hatchback! Made in this century!

 What a relief to be done with the old Civic, which served me well for 20 years, doesn't owe me anything, but was starting to get frail and geriatric. To her credit, even today, her last day, she started as always, first turn of the key.

My neighbor Gary has been texting about whether I need supplies, etc. while he's stocking up. He's ready for the siege of Leningrad, from the sound of things. Texting whether he can freeze carrots, vital stuff like that. Probably displacement activity from the last couple of days. He likes to be in action. Lady of the house, much calmer person says he's beside himself with virus anxiety, too. So I think he's coping by shopping.

And I hope we can all cope. My savings, like everyone, have been badly hit by the plunging stock market. And I don't have the luxury of time to wait for it to recover, unlike the crash in the eighties.

So I'm getting birdsong videos on YouTube, and Paul Barton playing virtuoso piano for the elephants on a reserve in Asia, and Kate Jackson puttering about her garden. It's good to remember there's still a lot of wonder to enjoy.

And I hope all my readers keep well, and keep active, and keep creating stuff.