How to Outwit a Pandemic

During the more-than-a-year shutdown

because of the Covid-19 Pandemic,

Brent planned acceptable and safe excursions

to the bird refuges:

Farmington Bay, Layton, and Bear River.

During February when the eagles were migrating,

we went out almost everyday, 

never feeling disappointed.

It wasn't just the pandemic that kept us homebound.

DeRay had falls that landed him in Emergency twice,

once for three weeks

including rehab.

Then Amy had a series of emergency room visits,

including major surgery, infections, stints--

anything that could go wrong went wrong--

culminating in a blood clot on her lungs.

Yes, Pulmonary Thrombosis.

She missed the last 4-5 months of the school year.

Brent moved downstairs to be available

for middle-of-the night Emergency visits.

(His wife, Jan, back in Missouri, had her

share of Emergency room visits too.

She and their three adult kids are all troopers.)

When PARC started Zoom classes,

Ed enjoyed them so much 

he didn't want to miss a single one:

Cooking, sign language,

many others including the usual

talent shows, show and tell,

book club.

Then we could only have excursions on weekends.

We fed ducks at the Farmington pond,

walked around the Bountiful ponds,

walked the Lagoon Trail and the Buffalo trails,

went to Antelope Island, Saltair;

and walked the hollow close to home

where we enjoyed Forrest Bathing.

Brent would scout out trails we didn't know existed

on his midnight bike rides.

My favorite, as it turned out, 

is part of the Buffalo Trail.

Our walkers rolled smoothly on

the well-groomed trail/

The gentle breeze was refreshing;

the waves on the picturesque lake mesmerizing;

the everlasting view expanding,

and the red sunset brilliant.

Thank you, Brent,

for an enchanting evening.

Ed putting our walkers in his Hyundai SUV

Brent's photos

Amy generally goes with us,

but this particular day she had hiked

and used up all her energy.

  t