Wild mustard growing down by the road. I know it’s considered a weed, but like most flowering weeds, I change that to ‘wildflower.’ There’s a beautiful clump in the secret garden.

I managed to get Microsoft Word back on my computer after signing in to my Microsoft account. Under my account information, I found my purchase history which gave me the option of downloading the version from 2016 – which is really all I need. Hurrah!

Then I tried printing something from my laptop and discovered I really didn’t need the software for the printer. And then I went on Canon’s site and put in my printer model and there was the software for the ‘scan’ option on the printer, so I downloaded that. I scanned the Italian dialect notes that I need for my coaching session today. Success.

So I think I’ve, at least temporarily, solved my problem. I’m not downloading a bunch of photos and documents that I really don’t miss from my backup drive. I’m keeping it spare. Just what I need.

A quick story for you. My dear friend Jan, who lives in my hometown, is 79 years old.  She, like my friend Joe and my best friend Laural, was adopted. Joe gave her a DNA kit from Ancestry for Christmas and she did the test and submitted the information. Ancestry contacted her with a DNA match saying she had  a cousin or sibling.  She has recently been contacted by her half-brother and half sister! At the age of 79!

She knew that her mother was from Boston and came to Detroit to have her baby. And her adoptive mother showed her the birth certificate. But she never had any inclination to find her birth mother. She was raised in a loving family and her father was a Methodist minister. Her half-siblings didn’t know until later in life about their older sister. Their mom had married a man several years after giving birth to Jan and though he knew about the baby she gave up for adoption, they didn’t. When they found out, they started searching for their sister. They’ve been searching for years. And now, this miracle! Her brother contacted her right away and they’ve been communicating. Last week, she had a zoom session with her siblings. And next month her brother – a Unitarian minister – will be traveling to Detroit to meet her.

Isn’t that amazing? She sounds so surprised and happy and I couldn’t be more thrilled for her.

There you go, Some good news today.

Have to go prep for my session today.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Fleabane – a wildflower that pops up at this time of year. For the past 2 or 3 years, I’ve seen more and more of it on the property. It’s under the birdbath, next to the garden beds, in the secret garden. I just let it go wild because it’s so lovely. Not much is blooming yet, but fleabane comes to the rescue every year. It’s a gift.

Resting today. I mowed the lilac side of the lawn and the secret garden yesterday. And I pruned a few things. But it’s very clear that I need to take a couple of days off (the ever present back crap.) That won’t be too hard for me since I’m tired today and tomorrow it’s going to rain and boy do we need it.

Reading and careful puzzle work is on the docket for today.

A close friend of Don’s lost her daughter to suicide a couple of days ago. I won’t go into details because her privacy needs to be protected, but it’s devastating. The daughter donated her organs. A very solemn ceremony with a hundred hospital employees lining the hospital corridor, quietly paying their respects as she was wheeled into the operating room. She will save eight lives.

We are seeing the other side of organ donation, not long after Adrian’s heart transplant. The grief and pain from the untimely loss of a loved one and the generous and selfless donation that will save lives.

I can’t say anymore as it’s just so overwhelming. Prayers to her parents and siblings and family and friends.

So I’m going to keep it short today.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.