Sometimes it's the simple things that bring a smile to your face.

Yesterday my landline phone rang, and the caller ID showed an unknown number. Since few people call my landline these days, I was immediately suspicious. I figured that it was someone else trying to sell me an auto warranty, since that seems to be the scam du jour.

Imagine my surprise and delight when it turned out to be Bernice, one of my former teaching colleagues!

“I was just looking at that beautiful picture of your family on your holiday card,” she said, “and decided I wanted to call you up.”

We chatted for half an hour, catching up on family news and discussing how we had been managing during the pandemic. Since we (retirees, especially) have all been so isolated, it was great to hear her voice and have a conversation with an old friend. As my daughter used to sing with her Brownie troop, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” Bernice's call brightened up my day considerably.

I have also been enjoying my daffodils, which are in full bloom. I have to smile when I look out in my back garden, though. My granddaughter and I planted 100 bulbs last fall, but by the sight of the blooms, you can see how the planting went. The left side of the garden has the flowers nicely spaced, but the right side has a far denser plant-ing. Those last 20 bulbs just jumped in their holes all at once, since the tired planters just wanted to be done with it.

My pileated woodpecker family is doing well, thanks for asking. Mama and Papa are currently incubating their eggs, and I expect to hear the chatter of young ones soon. I know their raucous call and, when I hear it, a quick peek upward gives me a glimpse of these majestic birds.

My doggies George and Gracie are doing well in their twelfth year. Their companionship keeps me going—and walking—every day. They look a bit shaggy at the moment, but they have appointments at the groomers soon to get their summer cuts. I'm afraid that Gracie is on a springtime diet now. Seems she ate too many doggie cookies over the long winter. Can't imagine where she got them from, Mom…

Finally, it is such a pleasure to take George and Gracie on their walks on these warm sunny days. All the trees are in bloom, everyone's gardens are starting to sprout, and the birds serenade us as we go by. The sunshine feels so good on these old bones.

Life is full of little moments that make up this thing called happiness. Enjoy the days!