Stay Positive. Be Safe. You’re Awesome.

We are now in our eighteenth day of social distancing. I count the beginning as March 13. Ignore the fact that it was Friday 13th. I am listening to medical science these days. This is no time for ignorant superstition.

I have been out of the house for a couple of grocery shopping trips, once to the drugstore, and a road trip to Houston to pick up the VW after a repair that took a week. The Houston trip was an unusual one for us because we almost always have other chores to do there and a stop for a meal or some shopping at Central Market. This time it was up and back with the single stop at Momentum VW at Kirby and Richmond.

Otherwise, I have gone out for a few walks in the neighborhood. Cheryl usually goes with me but I sometimes go alone. On those occasions and when there is still enough light, I take the camera just in case a I see a picture that needs taking. You can see a few of those photos here.

While neighborhood businesses are, for the most part, hibernating, sidewalk traffic is a bit heavier than usual. People are coming out of their houses for exercise and exposure to something other than their television and computer screens. I have experienced many pleasant greetings from people I do not know, people who usually assume that strangers do not want to be bothered. Now there is a sense that we all dealing with the same threats and fears. And we need signs of friendship and solidarity.

This one popped up in front of me as I walked on Bougainvillea. It was accompanied by more chalk art and other brief messages such as “Nana Rules” and “I ❤ Paw Paw”. But this was my favorite:

Stay Positive. Be Safe. You’re Awesome.

Thank you, Bougainvillea kids. You are plenty awesome, too.