Jerry Hall in Hardwick posted another humorous bit on Front Porch Forum. I don't know Jerry, but I appreciate his sense of humor and thank him for helping to keep us smiling:

Me: Alexa what's the weather this weekend ? Alexa: It doesn't matter – you're not going anywhere.

Tomorrow is the National Home-school Tornado Drill. Lock your kids in the basement until you give the all clear. You're welcome .

I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to someone. He asked me what I was wearing.

2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away from positive people.

The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house, and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors .

You think it's bad now ? In 20 years our country will be run by people home-schooled by day drinkers…

Do not call the police on suspicious people in your neighborhood ! Those are your neighbors without makeup and hair extensions .

I swear my fridge just said "what the hell do you want now ?"

In case you are wondering, the ice is normally entirely gone from the pond within two or three days after the block slips through the ice and stops the clock. This is not a "normal" time for much of anything, including our Ice-Out Contest. This year it looks like it will take considerably longer for the pond to be clear of ice. That said, there are other abnormalities, according to Diane Rossi. She told me this morning that the stakes that hold the rope off the ice normally tip over at some point before the block goes down. This year they went straight down - no tipping, just a gradual lowering straight down until they disappeared. We think that indicates that the ice was pretty soft under the snow topping. That is pretty scary when we think back to walkers out on the ice only a couple of weeks ago.

The Ray Rouleaus are headed back from Florida and they have made very sensible and responsible plans for their return. Their family will bring groceries to stock the house before they arrive, and will leave their car at the airport for them to pick up when their flight arrives so nobody has to meet them and drive them to Joe's Pond. They intend to stay in quarrantine for two weeks. 

That is so much appreciated by those of us already here. With so many people coming from different areas of the country, it is worrisome that someone may unintentionally bring the virus with them or be a carrier. There are so many unknowns still about this virus, it's best to take what may seem to be unusual precautions. That way friends and neighbors here will feel a whole lot better about welcoming you back! We do love to see everyone returning - but please be cautious and follow the guidelines set up by the state. There are wonderful support systems available so you can get food, medicine or assistance of any kind in a responsible way. Just ask for help, whatever you need, and do self-quarantine, then use social distancing and wear a mask to protect others as well as yourself until we get some sort of "all clear" signal. That may not come for a while, so get used to doing things differently.

I have a feeling that by the time we're through with this pandemic, there will be many changes in how we live our daily lives. Without a doubt there will be people who will want to continue working from home; there may be a lot more "take-out" food consumed than "sit-down" service in restaurants; many people may resist crowded venues and gather socially only in small groups, no hugs or handshakes offered or accepted.
We can live with that.