Grade School Revisited

Another rainy day, I noticed when I stuck my hand out the back door at 0630 this morning. I began to write on my laptop now back in the computer room. Ashton occupied the room for the past weeks and she visited friends in town, the Lettau’s, a family her mother had been friends with since second grade. I found an email for a kid in my second grade and in his return email asked for my phone number. A call from McNary NWR reminded me that this was Second Saturday and why wasn’t I at the Refuge? So off I went. There was no activity on the frozen pond. Wise birds would only arrive after there would be promise of food. Bird brains might be small but that doesn’t mean birds don’t know when to migrate. I made a note and took pictures of the bird feeders installed at which people would record species next month for the worldwide Great Backyard Bird Count. However nobody came today except Debbie and a short haired black dog so we left at noon. Back at my computer desk a call came from my old second grader. Was I surprised. And pleased to hear from him. Yes I assured him a we were the same age and doing as well as could be expected for those years. We chatted for a half hour about genealogy, his travels and his present whereabouts. Turns out that in his good health he is lone caregiver for his wife long suffering with Parkinson’s disease. He had been to Sweden several times and found many first and second cousins. He has three sons and a daughter who live fairly close by in the Hastings area where he now resides. And he admitted at losing count of their offspring. He was happy to receive the black and white snapshots I sent and will welcome others I might have. At the moment the clouds are not dripping and soon I will get out to load wet soggy leaves into my yard waste can.
Naomi Sherer