COPING EDUCATION
WITH COVID-19
10 — THE CHRONICLE
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
OUR
The stories of our community during the
pandemic are ones of extraordinary
challenges, concerns and triumphs.
As our world changes, we chronicle the
tales of our friends and neighbors.
St ries
Letting go of life’s relics
L
ORANE — Another
quiet celebrat ion
combined with sad
tones took place one morn-
ing, when Jim helped a man
load his big Ford tractor onto
a trailer and haul it away.
Big Blue and his
less-pow-
erful mate,
Blue,
served
Jim well
for many
years in
the hay
fi elds
around
Jim Edwards Lorane.
I spent
a fair amount of time myself
over the years on Blue’s
seat, raking hay while Jim
cut new swaths or baled the
cured hay into big round
bales with Big Blue.
Neither tractor had a cab
or umbrella — hence, no
air conditioning, or even
an umbrella to protect us
from the sun. I didn’t mind
though.
I loved the feel of the
gentle early summer breeze
blowing through my hair
as I watched the hawks
sitting on the fence posts
and buzzards slowly circling
the fi elds above, waiting for
us to pass by so they could
swoop down and catch the
mice and snakes left in our
wake. I’m pretty sure my
partial hearing loss was
helped along by the loud
drone of the engine as I
circled those fi elds, but I
wouldn’t have missed those
years for the world.
Jim had to say goodbye to
his cattle herd a few years
ago — that was especially
Flower power!
R
eagan Dockery, 9, and
Reese Dockery, 8,
combined entrepre-
neurial spirit with a desire
to do good as they set up a
fl ower stand outside Creswell
Food Pantry during last
Thursday’s 12:30 to 3 p.m.
food distribution time, as a
fundraiser for the pantry. At
the end, the girls had raised
and donated about $280.
But the story doesn’t end
Big Blue, once a workhouse, is now a lawn ornament there. According to mom
in Lorane. PHOTO PROVIDED
Jennifer Dockery, the girls
were so inspired and moti-
I have to admit, it will be a
hard for him — and Blue
vated after meeting some
relief to mow the yard with-
and Big Blue have been
pantry volunteers and learn-
out having to avoid them,
lawn ornaments in our yard
ing about the high demand
but that it is just one more
since we gave up the lease
for the food pantry’s
thing Jim needs to discon-
on the ranch.
services that they worked
nect from his busy life as a
He fi nally agreed to
many more hours pick-
farmer.
offer both of them for sale
ing and making bouquets
It’s so hard to let go.
recently, and Blue was
and restocking their fl ower
picked up a few weeks ago
– Pat Edwards stand.
... and now, Big Blue is gone.
The two sisters also ended
up doing their fl ower stand
for May Day, “encouraging
people to come get fl ow-
ers to brighten people’s
day – and it was a big hit,”
Dockery said. “We deliv-
ered fl owers to a couple of
care facilities, even.”
The May Day total of
$309, plus a few subsequent
purchases, brought their
grand total to $614.25.
“To give some perspec-
tive, our annual operating
budget is approximately
$7,000,” said pantry
manager Susan Blachnik.
“They raised funds to pay
our expenses for one full
month. Amazing!”
“Their hearts are so full
right now,” Dockery said.
– Gini Davis
‘Amazing and inspirational’
Dan’s Plants
A SAFE WAY TO ENJOY ACRES OF NATURE
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
10 AM - 6 PM
Patrick Decelles, with mask, and Philip Jones help clear a tree.
Editor’s note: There were reports of
dramatic weather in the area this past
Saturday. Linda LaZar, an executive with
Magnolia Gardens and author of The
Chronicle’s Chinese astrology column,
describes what happened in her neighbor-
hood – and how neighbors responded.
NOW WITH TOUCH-FREE PAYMENTS!
T
he craziest thing happened Saturday
morning 11:10 a.m. – I think a small
twister blew past. The wind suddenly
picked up through an open window with such
force I moved to close it. Just then my daugh-
ter came into my offi ce and said a tree in our
back yard had blown down. It was a large tree!
A beautiful tree!
No one was hurt, and there was no prop-
erty damage. If the tree had fallen in the other
direction, it would have destroyed my house.
Before we knew it, maintenance staff and two
neighbors were clearing the road.
What struck me (aside from the amazing
kindness and quick action of our neigh-
bors) was that one of the neighbors, Patrick
Decelles, was diligent about observing
physical distancing, keeping everyone safe,
and obeying guidelines by wearing a face
mask. I had never met him before. He never
removed the mask while working so hard,
even though it had to inhibit his breathing.
And aside from the tree, no damage
resulted. The wind lasted for a few
moments, just long enough to destroy the
tree, and it stopped immediately after. We
Come enjoy
the wide-open
S PA C E S
are all so very lucky. It felt as if we were
spared a tragic outcome. A tree expert could
not have planned a more perfect removal.
Philip Jones, the other neighbor, is retired
and he was the fi rst man on the job. He
used to work in the lumber industry, and he
jumped right in. I thanked him for all his
work on behalf of the townhouse complex,
and he said, “That’s what I’m here for.” He
has lived in the townhouse complex for
20 years – exactly to the date of this freak
storm. I had never met him before, either.
As soon as the driveway was cleared the
two humbly and quietly returned to their
apartments. It looks like we have great
people in our community. They come out
when someone needs help.
It was quite amazing and inspirational.