It has been a difficult month and I am enormously grateful for the outpouring of support I received from so many of my readers after our dog Emmy was killed. We have never been without a dog or in anticipation of a dog during our long marriage. I have always had a dog. We are amazed at how much structure a dog provides our life, from feeding to exercising to bringing in at night to getting up in the morning. We intend to get another dog, but not until next spring.
August also commemorates the death of my beloved sister Patsy. I quietly thought of her this time instead of writing a post. Then a week ago my husband contracted Covid. He has been ultra careful, always masked, vaxed and double boosted. It has knocked him out though it was tempered some what by the anti-viral available to people our age. We have to be apart for a total of 10 days, him in now finished five days of isolation followed by forthcoming five days of masking at home. Our doctor says he remains contagious for these days and we are hopeful of preventing me getting the virus too. Since no one is keeping track any more of cases, I can only go on personal experience. In the last 10 days eight careful people I know have gotten Covid. Astonishingly contagious variant.
Most of August has found me reading a great deal. In future writing I will share some of what I have learned from it.
Peace as fall comes to New England this September.
Saved By Words 
Welcome back! I’m so sorry about your losses, but happy to hear you are stepping back in. I also had covid last month, a mild case, but still no fun. I too was double boosted so this variant is indeed contagious. My husband didn’t get it and for that I’m grateful. I hope you too escape it. 🙂
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Have you also known a lot of people who have gotten it after all this time? It sure is around here.
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Yes, so many friends and acquaintances getting it lately, fortunately none with serious illness.
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Good to see you back, Elizabeth. I completely understand your heartache, and feel for you. I really do.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I thought of you often during August and you are one of the reasons I am returning. The connections here really matter to me.
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I really appreciate that, Elizabeth. Ollie has been very ill since you have been away, but I am pleased to say that antibiotics cured him. As for myself, the jury is out. I am currently ‘under investigation’ by my doctor, (and the hospital) for things that I would rather not discuss here. At the age of 70, it seems that our former life comes home to roost. That is the way of things, so we have to accept it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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By our ages we are bound to get the diseases that as my doctor says “everyone gets sooner or later.” In my case a lot of screenings for cancer. A similar scrutiny for my husband. I hope you do well with whatever confronts you.
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I still miss our little kitty after five months, and completely understand your grief for your Emmy. Hope your husband gets through COVID without complications and that you don’t get it! Pete and I have both avoided it so far, but I will feel better when we can get vaccines more matched to current mutations, in a couple weeks, apparently.
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I intend to get the new booster next week. Glad that they speeded it up.
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Good to see you back,, Elizabeth, I have been thinking about you. Hope your husband makes a good recovery from Covid, and that you don’t contract it
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Thanks. I have missed your photos. Right now I am looking for prints–linocut or litho or woodcut. No print galleries nearby. Do you happen to know any printmakers with WEB presence?
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Sending you all the best during this difficult time. So sorry for all of it!
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That’s a lot to deal with.
On the Covid front, I am astonished at how many people seem to have just decided it’s over when the numbers clearly tell us that it is not.
Best wishes to your husband for a full and speedy return to health.
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Since they have no idea how many people have it we have to rely on personal experience. Ours suggests that a lot of people are getting sick.
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Always good to see you Elizabeth and I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rotten month. I do hope that your husband soon fully recovers from Covid. We hear of so many suffering long term effects and, as you say, no one seems to be monitoring it anymore.
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I guess people are in denial about it. Sadly that doesn’t make it disappear. I am glad to be back. I missed writing but was too down to do it.
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Those in authority are hoping we’ll all accept it as another flu or common cold and, I guess, we will!
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I think they gave up a long time ago. I am sorry it morphed so often accordingly.
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How wonderful to see you back Elizabeth I have been concerned for you. 🙏
Like Pete I completely understand your heartache, and feel for you.
Goodness it’s been a rough journey lately for you & your husband.
With your precious pet passing & being isolated from each other, that’s a lot to deal with.
I’m glad he has recovered!
Blessings, Jennifer
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Thank you so much. It has been really challenging to stay away from Charlie. I had NO idea how important physical closeness was. The old “you never miss your water until the well runs dry.”
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Our saying here is ‘you don’t know what you have until it’s gone’ is similar Elizabeth. I’m glad you are back together again now ☺️
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I’m glad you wrote about all you’re going through. Hope things smooth out quickly, with peaceful days to follow.
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Thanks Anne. I figure I might as well stay real here.
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We’re lifelong dog owners, and I’ve been through the pain of losing a dog many times. I don’t recall (either I wasn’t around or my memory is failing) reading about your dog getting killed. That must be an entirely different feeling.
I hope your husband feels better soon. It seems I’m reading more about these Covid cases hitting vaccinated folks. As you pointed out, the saving grace is that it seems to lessen the blow.
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This was my first experience of losing a dog that way. My parents’ first dog was hit in 1945 and they talked about her still when I was growing up. I have so far escaped the virus though I really miss being close to Charlie!
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Welcome back.
I’ll bet money on you getting that dog before you plan to. We did.
Losing a dog unexpectedly brings shock as well as the usual sadness when an old or sick dog dies. It’s impossible to replace the dog you lost, however it happened. Especially our dogs, which are generally one-offs – or crossbreeds, if you prefer… But the new family member keeps you too busy to thinking too often about the one before.
And, you know, the dog before doesn’t mind.
sometimes, I think, they hang around. Several times yesterday on our walk through the forest I could have sworn I was walking three dogs, not two.
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I have been having the same thought lately. Charlie wants to wait for warmer weather. I think taking the puppy out in the middle of the night to the snow and ice wasn’t his first choice! I am willing.
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I wish you both well
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Thanks so much. Hope you two have missed this bug.
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We got it very mildly after 3 jabs
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I get shot four next Wednesday, I haven’t had this many shots since I was a little kid.
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Our 4th will come soon
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Elizabeth, it is good to have you back here. I have thought of you often, understanding so well how much you needed to be away. We share a common grief with our loss of sisters. Grief anniversaries are never easy. Sadly, losing your beloved pup after such a short time was heartbreaking I know. I send you so much love. 💕
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I am so glad to hear from you too. You are one person I really missed. Know that every time I read about Florida and book censorship I cringe. I did love the first grade teacher who was going to get rid of all books with hetero couples since they clearly indicated a preference.
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My mother would say Florida is going to hell in a handbasket. They are hand-in-hand with Texas I am afraid. My daughter has a huge supportive community so I have faith (I must) that common sense will in some way prevail.
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What an August for you, Elizabeth. May you find peace and good health as fall arrives. Bless you!
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Thank you so much. Hope Massachusetts isn’t hit as hard as we are at the moment.
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It seems as if you are harder hit.
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It appears so.
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It’s good to see you back, Elizabeth, though clearly times are still challenging. I hope your husband makes a steady recovery and that the precautions you’re taking ensure that you don’t succumb yourself 💛
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So far so good, virus wise. Missing him in bed since we passed on sleeping in masks! I think you are an ideal reader for the book I just wrote about.
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I am glad your husband is better. Here too people are getting Covid but it is not like earlier, just fever and other symptoms. Welcome back.
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Thanks.
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“Liking” this post feels like a strange way to show support, but there it is! I hope you’re having a much better week now that September has begun.
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