FOCUS ON THE GOOD

It seems this pandemic brings out the good, the bad and the ugly. I prefer to think of the ‘good news’ stories.

And those distancing lineups, I fear, are with us for a long time. While many Islanders look for ways to fill their time, I continue to work from home (year-round), rarely having visitors. To compensate, I throw an “open house” party several times a year, with Christmas being the finale. They are always successful and a great time for friends and neighbours to meet and greet. Having said all that, and not able to invite anyone in recently, I reached out to one friend in particular. My long-time friend Doris (95) has been at home with her son, David, who arrived on March 8 from Ottawa to be with Doris for her cataract surgery. Then COVID-19 happened. He is still here. Believing that a roast chicken dinner is to be shared, on April 19, I cooked that dinner with all the trimmings, delivering two plates to Doris and her son. On Mother’s Day, I put together two plates of cold roast chicken with potato salad, beet salad, homemade biscuits, and, of course, homemade mustard pickles and cranberry sauce for Doris and David. A few days later, I delivered biscuits and strawberry jam. I took all precautions wearing mask, hairnet and latex gloves right to their door. Hopefully, I’ll be able to have one of my open house gatherings by July 1, sharing good food, good wine and friendship. It just seems like the right thing to do!

Kathy Birt, Charlottetown