New News, New Beginnings

Lily had told me there was news going around about Publix opening a store in Bainbridge, Georgia by October and today, Lauren posted this picture on Facebook so I guess it's a real true thing. This is excellent news for anyone who may have just bought a log cabin on Lake Seminole on the Georgia side. Bainbridge is our address there, I think, but it's actually about eighteen miles away or something. Still, if I am staying at the house there for any extended period of time I won't have to depend on the Piggly Wiggly in Quincy or the Walmart that Bainbridge already has. Glen has been to that Walmart and he said it was pretty good for groceries including produce, and that shockingly, the employees were really friendly and helpful. I am sure this is because Bainbridge is a smallish town in Georgia which means that people often have decent manners and are inordinately friendly. I know this is a stereotype, but it is frequently true. 

I asked Glen the other day if there was any sort of convenience store near the house up there. He thought for a minute and said, "Not really." In a way this is like Dog Island where if you didn't bring it, you ain't gonna have it unless you hop in the boat and travel across the bay to the mainland. So very, very often when we've driven though rural areas with houses spread apart by miles, I always ask, "Where do these people get their groceries?" 
And I truly do wonder. Some of those houses have to be twenty miles from the next town. And now, here I am, wondering, where do I get my groceries? and knowing that it'll be a half hour drive to get them. Still, knowing that I can get them at Publix is heartening. 

I've spent a good part of the day in the garden, weeding. It hasn't been as hot today, below 90. And for a good part of the day it was overcast so I got a lot of weeding done. I pulled most of the zinnias because they're dying or dead. I haven't weeded the whole garden but I've got a good start on that. We need to mulch as quickly as possible because that will help to slow the growth of new weeds or at least that's the theory and the prayer. 
It does. It really does although the weeds do grow like...weeds...this time of year and nothing's going to prevent that entirely. 

I wanted to spend the day in the garden not just because the garden needs work but also because I have had an anxious day for no apparent reason. I do not have these days nearly as often as I used to before my doctor increased the dosage of one of my meds, so when I do, I am slightly baffled. Especially if I can't pin it on anything like an upcoming doctor's appointment or something happening with one of my loved ones. There is absolutely nothing going on that should cause me stress as far as I can figure but I suppose that is the nature of anxiety disorder- you don't need a reason for the brain to suddenly go off into a panic of unknown origins. Working in the garden did help and I am grateful for that. 

Mr. Moon just got home from his four days of work at the cabin. I know he's tired but he'll probably be back at it tomorrow, perhaps taking care of the dead, fallen tree. He told me he brought the chain saw home with him. I'm going to make us a shrimp salad tonight. He has been making salads for himself but I think his salads are mostly just an excuse to consume a large quantity of blue cheese dressing and I understand that. 
My sweet and sour tofu last night was OUTSTANDING! I did not fuck it up in the least. I really enjoyed it and will make it again soon.

Before I go, let me show you pictures that Jessie and Lily sent of their babies at their schools' orientations today. 

All of my children attended the same elementary school that Levon and August go to. As Hank pointed out today, we've had Kate Sullivan Crocodiles in our family for 43 years. 
Good god I am old. 

Maggie goes to a different school and here she is with the Bobcat, their mascot.

I think that's a bobcat. Maggie looks happy, doesn't she? 

She and August start fourth grade this year, Levon will be in second. I hope they all like their teachers and have good years. I love that these three all seem to feel some excitement about going back to school, to starting a whole new year. They're not too cool for school, I guess we could say. This attitude will not last forever as we all know. 

And this is life on a summer day in August in Florida. New beginnings for the kiddos, mamas and daddies stressed out at all they have to do to get everything ready for that first day of school, grandfather doing carpentry, grandmother in the garden, everyone going about their business as usual, dreaming dreams and facing realities, thinking of school days gone by, wondering what to make for supper, wondering what to make of this insane world we live in right now, living our lives much as we've always done in the midst of it all but knowing that everything we believe in seems to be in the process of being erased like a wrong answer on a math problem. 

I'm thinking about buying myself a new notebook and a pack of pencils along with a brand new pencil sharpener. Remember the smell of pencil shavings? Remember raising your hand to get permission to walk over to the wall-mounted pencil sharpener in your classroom, taking as much time as possible to get just the right point without breaking it off? It was a skill, I tell you. 

Go buy yourself a new notebook if you'd like. Write something in it. Draw a picture. Color it in with crayons. Give yourself permission to remember. Don't forget to color outside the lines. Unless you are one of those people who likes coloring in the lines. That's okay. The color and the coloring are what's important. The world needs all kinds, especially now.

Love...Ms. Moon