i LOOK FORWARD TO TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS
In the height of the coronavirus pandemic in Florida, Cousin Frane in Lake Worth at 83 1/2 with her 85-year-young husband says, I look forward to Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She added with a chuckle, Tuesdays for your blog posts, and Wednesdays for the Publix coupons in our local Palm Beach Post - “every Wednesday they have an advertising brochure included from Publix Supermarkets.”
The kicker is that we didn’t even know each other until eight years ago. Frane, however, knew my husband’s father and his family of 14. That was years ago (more of that story appeared in the Jewish Link newspaper on April 19, 2018, https://jewishlink.news/features/24477-rejuvenating-a-family-bond). We have enjoyed a full-day visit with Frane and Joel in Florida every February since re-establishing the connection through my family tree research.
When Frane called to wish us a happy anniversary after reading about our 45th wedding anniversary in my blog post, we spoke at length. She pined for a moment about friends that she and her husband recently lost, not due to corona, she added, but due to the illnesses of an aging population.
Her husband was at the dentist, she acknowledged, with a pained laugh, the only place they go out now is to the doctor or dental appointments. Their two daughters bring them groceries. One shops on Sundays, and whatever she doesn’t find, the other daughter picks up on Tuesdays. It’s the way of life these days.
Our conversation continued with family matters. Frane got to tell me about the birth of her latest great-grandchild. With her news, I got busy filling in blanks on the family tree as I begin the work on my updated version, as well as adding the final entries into my family newsletter. I’m so glad that we can still speak on the telephone to keep the connections alive.
Having my blog posts add a light to the lives of dear cousins on lockdown gives me a warm feeling. Knowing that my Tuesday blog holds company with the Wednesday coupons from our favorite Southern grocery chain gives me a much-needed laugh in these harrowing times.