Welcome to summer in Atlanta! We are officially half way through the year and the Hotlanta temps are in full swing. This morning, the humidity made 80 feel like 87 (per the weather station) and I felt it. As someone who tends to “glisten” easily, it has not been pleasant. The worst is I don’t want to work in my yard/garden. You know it’s bad when that’s hard for me to do. But I have had a few tomatoes, turnips, cucumbers and lots of basil. (Chancey made pesto to put over shrimp and pasta. yum.) I’ve even beat the birds to several cups of blueberries. I let the celery get too old before I picked it and it was too hard. The onions got too wet but the potatoes seem to be doing fine. Ok. Enough about my mini-farm. 
PASS THE PLATE COFFEE HOUSE FRI 6/10 8:00This Friday will be our first foray into virtual entertainment. We are fortunate to have awesome performers who have donated their time and talents to create an online coffee house of music, dance and spoken word. See Robert’s email for a great flier with pics and info.This is a “pass the plate event” to offset our inability to receive non-pledge offerings on Sunday during our Celebration of Life due to the pandemic. It is open to all, at no charge, but with the available option to make a donation to our general fund. I’ll try to include the QR code to donate but if I’m not successful, go to Robert’s email. Of course, you’re welcome to mail a check marked “pass the plate” if you prefer. I hope you will join in for this opportunity to enjoy the music, movement and spoken word by these generous, gifted artists. Please thank them for their talents and generosity.
I can’t write this without addressing the pandemic. I’m sure you keep up with the current status but I feel the need to ask you to not become complacent and loosen your guard against the infection. It is understandable to want to get together with others who have been isolating. Remember that as we go out anywhere, even wearing a mask and gloves, we have the possibility of contact with the virus; that many who are infected are asymptomatic; that asymptomatic people can pass the virus on to others.(I wanted to/was preparing to return to my work as a Massage Therapist but accepting the facts that there is the possibility, even if low odds, of getting the virus, I sadly decided it wasn’t worth the risk.) So continue to be careful when you go out and use safe distancing when gathering with others. I believe that many reading this, like me, would not survive COVID. And if we did, the damage done to the body by the virus and its complications are serious and appear to be ongoing. This time is a test of our ability to stay focused on reality and not let our anxiety, boredom and desires overcome necessity. ‘Nuff said.
Fourth of July was interesting. The messages ran the gamut from Trump at Mt Rushmore further inciting division in the country to CNN’s celebration focused on BLM. We picked up BBQ and the fixings to enjoy at home and watched fireworks on TV. (The dogs were less than happy about the local fireworks.) Each year I become more aware of truth about how our country developed and the systems that maintain inequality. Growing up in Macon GA in a lower income neighborhood to Southern Baptist parents and attending segregated public schools taught by Southern women (never had a male teacher til college), I grew up with a Southern take on history. Although my parents taught me to respect others and never used derogatory language toward black people (we lived 3 doors down from where the paved road became red clay lined by black shanties), there was this unspoken racism throughout the town. I remember seeing/hearing “the south shall rise again” and feeling a sense of pride to be from the south. Naively I never attached that to racism. I am grateful I had the experiences I did and made choices that have brought me to this point of willingness to accept that I have unconscious perceptions and prejudices that are racist; and I am willing to work on this. It’s great to be in a community that encourages and facilitates this work.
I read that ICE has determined that international students cannot remain in the US under their student VISAs if the school they attend does not offer classroom studies this fall. There are no plans to provide exceptions for those who would return to dangerous situations.
The election is 4 months away.
That’s it for today. I’ll end with some funnies and hopefully you’ll find the QR code for Friday.
Stay strong, be kind.
Hugs, Marsha
