Sadly, we say goodbye to two friends today. John Garey who lived on Otis Drive for many years, lost his long-time battle with Alzheimer's. John and his wife, Linda loved living at Joe's Pond and had many friends here. We will long remember his wit and great sense of humor. John would have 81 in July. He is missed.

We also extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Rev. "Bob" Sargent, 89, husband of Elizabeth "Liz" Pearl Sargent. Bob and Liz lived in St. Johnsbury for many years before moving to Danville, and over the years frequently spent time at Joe's Pond on  Pearl Island. As an active community member, Bob wore many hats - pastor, chaplin, justice of the peace, town lister and substitute teacher - and he made many friends along the way. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

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We have been watching the many birds around our house today. For the first time in many years, I'm seeing a bluebird - or maybe a pair! - checking out the vicinity. The bright blue color caught my eye as he/she landed in our crab apple tree, and there seems to be some competition with the many robins for suitable nesting space. We have an old bluebird house that Matt Randall made for us many years ago when he and his family first came to Vermont. Over the years it has housed various species - including a fine nest of earwigs one year, but never a bluebird. Perhaps this year!

I have been having an issue with the postal service recently. I can almost hear the chorus of "Who hasn't" from many of you. Granted, we complain about them - a lot; but in trying to find out why a package I sent to Hardwick over a week ago hasn't arrived, I learned something I think may give you a bit of a different perspective.

I called Diane Jeger at the Cabot post office to see if she had a clue about the missing package. She remembered it going through that office and then she told me it could be anywhere along the pipeline. She said mail, especially 4th class or media mail (which mine was) takes a long time. Postal workers are concentrating on getting priority and 1st class mail to its destination, while other mail has to wait. Turns out that because of the coronavirus, post offices in New York City are closed and much of that mail is being routed through Vermont to be sorted. Here in Vermont there is a shortage of workers, and the volume of mail coming here is overwhelming. Thus, mail that would normally take a day or two will instead take a week or two. Diane told me another factor is that now  FedEx and some other independents are delivering to the post office and then the rural carrier makes the deliveries for them. She said her little office is brimming with packages to be delivered and there's "more mail going through here now every day than we usually had even during our busiest season, Christmas." She also told me that Tim, our rural mail carrier, has to return to the office sometimes twice to reload his vehicle because there isn't room to take it all in one load. Can you imagine the frustration and headaches all of that causes? No wonder mail is late sometimes. I think they do a remarkable job under the most trying circumstances and we should all give them some slack if things don't go quite right for us. These are trying times for everyone - but some far more than we realize. 

I've been in contact with the person who ordered that book and apologized, and she was most understanding. We are confident it will get there, but just a week or so late.

I hope everyone is ready for the next deluge of rain. We had .64 in. yesterday and more expected this weekend. The temperature is supposed to get to somewhere near normal, but it hasn't climbed much this morning. My thermometer is still reading 49.5F, and when I was outside there was a cold north wind. Just so it doesn't snow - that's all I dare hope for.

We have a new page on the Joe's Pond Vermont website. It is a History of Sunfish Sailing that has been compiled by Susan Bouchard. You'll find old photos of early sailors and a history of how the sailing competitions began, and interesting stories of those early years. I'm sure Susan would enjoy hearing from any of you who would like to add a comment or a photo, and you can contact her at: chatotbouchard@comcast.net.