COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Betty Kaiser: Chatterbox
Surviving sheltering in place
Betty Kaiser
T
hat crazy lady pho-
to in today’s columns
(above) is me — needing
a haircut! And today’s col-
umn is a rambling descrip-
tion of the new Shelter-in-
Place lifestyle that we’re all
living.
I agree with Tom Hanks
who said, “There’s no such
thing as a Saturday any-
more. Every day is just to-
day.”
In this pandemic era, ev-
ery day seems like the one
before. Time is running
them all together. News
flashes are constant and
contradictory. The govern-
ment rules to protect us
from the coronavirus often
change from day to day.
The truth is that some-
times, I am overwhelmed
knowing what to do and
when to do it.
Do I agree with the
need for restrictions? You
bet I do! Anything that
keeps people from catch-
ing COVID-19 and saves
thousands of lives is a good
thing. I support the rules
wholeheartedly.
But do I like the rules on
a minute-by-minute, day-
by-day, week-by-week ba-
sis?
Nope. Not at all. Espe-
cially when it means stay-
ing home 24/7.
At first, staying home
and sheltering didn’t both-
er me. I could find
plenty to do around
the house: organize
photos, clean clos-
ets, sweep the ga-
rage and a weekly
search for groceries
kept me busy (and
uptight) at the stores.
I learned how to wear
a mask and gloves while
shopping and to stay six
feet away from other shop-
pers and neighbors.
I made hand sanitizer
and use lots of hand soap
while washing my hands
and singing “Happy Birth-
day.” Until now, I never
knew how often I touched
my face.
Now I know not do that!
But… once the food cup-
boards were full, new rec-
ipes tried and phone calls
made, I tired of cleaning
house and I missed driving
into town, entertaining my
friends, going to church
and visiting my favorite Eu-
gene haunts.
Boredom started setting
in. And let me tell you,
it’s not easy to get bored
around my house. There’s
always something to do.
Six manicured acres of
rose bushes, vegetable gar-
dens, trees and meadow
grass will keep you busier
than a bee. Just trying to
keep the weeds from tak-
ing over the property is ex-
hausting.
It’s also not fun and I
need fun!
Between the cold, blus-
tery, rainy days and our
advanced ages we limit the
time we spend working
Preserving
Your
Pet’s
Memory
We off er a full line of aftercare services
to honor the life of your beloved pet.
Cremation Services • Burials • Memorials • Urns • Keepsakes • Grief Support
123 S. 7th St. Cottage Grove
541.942.0185
smithlundmills.com
6-day
weather forecast
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
85° | 52°
82° | 52°
Sunny
Sunny
SUNDAY
MONDAY
79° | 52°
70° | 50°
Cloudy
Showers
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
60° | 46°
61° | 47°
Showers
Showers
outside. A couple of hours
and it’s back into the house
to catch up with emails,
phone calls, texts from the
kids, laundry, bills, naps,
reading or TV.
That’s it!
Day after day after day.
Fortunately, Chuck and I
are used to working togeth-
er and that’s a good thing!
He likes to help. Howev-
er, my idea of household
chores is way different from
his.
An example: He’s still
surprised that doing the
dishes includes cleaning off
the stove and counter tops
every day! So, sometimes a
little togetherness feels like
too much and I’m sure he
feels the same!
Shelter in Place at our
house includes us and
two Dachshunds. And
right now we’re all feeling
stressed and a little claus-
trophobic. The dogs sense
our agitation and can’t set-
tle down.
They walk around whin-
ing for attention or sit at the
back door barking to go out
and chase a squirrel. They
quickly come back inside
and start all over again. It’s
a merry-go-round.
But last week, I had a
revelation. Everyone was in
the kitchen. The dogs were
sitting on their cushions in
front of the French doors,
guarding the property. I
was gathering ingredients
and putting together a spa-
ghetti sauce for dinner. And
Chuck was making doggie
meatballs.
As I looked around, I re-
alized that while the house
was eerily quiet, everyone
was at peace. We were safe,
happy and healthy.
“Aha!” I thought, “This
new normal is working.”
But it was almost too quiet.
So I went over and turned
on the TV so we could
all watch the depressing
morning news while doing
our part to shelter in place.
So, yes! We can do this!
But… I still need a haircut!
One final thought: As
we mourn all of those who
have lost their lives in this
pandemic, we do not know
what the future holds for
us.
Our future is limited by
the guidelines we’ve been
given. Cooperation is a
good thing. Our job is to
trust those making deci-
sions.
They are literally a matter
of life or death.
Please join me in pray-
ing regularly for those who
have COVID-19 and those
who care for them: heal-
ing, endurance and peace
for the patients; wisdom,
compassion, energy, rest
and protection for first re-
sponders and medical per-
sonnel.
Also, for the virus to stop
spreading and the research-
ers to create vaccines to
prevent it.
And one more thing:
Let’s be grateful for our
blessings. It could be worse.
Can I get an Amen?
Contact Betty Kaiser’s Cook’s
Corner at 942-1317 or email
bchatty@bettykaiser.com
LORANE NEWS
Contributed by
Lil Thompson
for The Sentinel
Our CAL Teachers con-
tinue to to a good job in
this new environment of
distance learning. Continue
to contact them if you have
any questions on assign-
ments or anything else.
• Also, the students are
doing a great job. Remem-
ber to have a schedule and
place for students to work
to stay focused on their
work.
The high school princi-
pal and staff are sincerely
hoping to have something
for the 2020 Seniors.
Stay tuned for future in-
formation.
• Lorane Grange will
be suspending all Grange
meetings, on the recom-
mendation of the State
Grange, for the months of
May and June. If there is a
change, the Grange Secre-
tary will notify all mem-
bers. They will be keep-
ing in touch with Lorane
Grangers.
• Once again, Lorane
Christian Church held a
wonderful Sunday drive-in
service and were blessed
with sunshine. Until this
is over, Sunday morning
drive-in services at 10 a.m.
will continue.
• Due to the cancellation
of the April Talent Show,
the Grange will still hand
out Outstanding Commu-
nity Service Awards. Due
to the Coronavirus, Lorane
Grange will award the fol-
lowing for Outstanding
Service to our community
during this difficult time:
Lorane Family Store and its
workers who regularly drive
to Eugene to get food so we
don’t have to; Lorane Deli
for its pick-up service and
posting its dinner menu on
the Lorane website; and Lo-
rane Christian Church for
thinking outside the box
providing Sunday services
for the community.
We have a marvelous
community and everyone
helps each other. THANK
you! Everyone stay safe and
continue social distancing
for your health and others.
Again, this will end and
we will return to normal or
a new normal.
SOUTH LANE COUNTY
FIRE & RESCUE
The Only Emergency
Medical Transport
Service
in South Lane County
Save your money by
bundling home & auto.
|
MAY 7, 2020
|
5A
Pet Tips
‘n’ Tales
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
Puppy Hi-’jacks’ Car
On a remote highway, Jack ‘hitchhiked’ to his forever
home.
O
ne torrentially storming Louisiana day, Anne
pulled into a remote gas station to wait for the
downpour to quit. Before she could turn off her
engine a teeny-tiny toy Maltese/Shitzu mix puppy
raced towards her car. She watched the desperate
fur baby, as it hopped on three legs, across the high-
way, making a bee-line towards her.
One leg was obviously broken and as soon as he
reached her driver’s door, he stopped, and rolled
onto his back.
Anne, having two dogs, knew that being in a
parking lot is a dangerous situation for any dog.
She opened her car’s door, and the drenched pup
jumped in, sat down on her lap, and looked up at
her, as if to say, “What took you so long? Let’s go
home!”
She took her scarf off and futiley tried to dry off
the cute, thin hitchhiker’s white and black ears. She
discovered that he was covered head to toes in ticks
and fleas. He’d obviously been starving and alone
for a long time.
She ran into the station and inquired about the
dog. Everyone was as purr-plexed as she was at the
appearance of the homeless puppy. None of the
customers were its owner and the employees didn’t
know where the dog came from. She returned to
her car and named her little passenger Jack, as he
had just hiJACKed her vehicle; and the two drove
home.
She phoned animal shelters and put an ad in the
newspaper, but no one claimed him. In the mean-
time, the friendly, easy-going little guy had leg
surgery, was paper trained, and happily joined her
family of dogs as if he always belonged.
While Jack was recuperating from his surgery, he
did not want to be away from Anne, so she dragged
a mattress into her living room so they could all
sleep together.
Dr. Agnes Thomas, a pet communicator, asked
Jack where he came from. “I was dumped in the
woods, and I am very grateful for my rescue,”
Thomas interpreted from Jack. “I was hungry, there
a long time and very scared. Then an angel appeared
and said she would find me ‘a mother’. I hid in the
tall grass where she told me to and when Anne’s car
stopped for refueling the Angel said, ‘Here she is’
and so I ran to my new mother.”
It is a mystery why anyone would dump Jack. He
could have starved, been injured/killed by vehicles,
and a larger animal could have caused him great
harm since he is so small. Jack, a sweet dog, de-
served better.
Apparently, even an angel knew it. Jack graced
Anne’s home for seven years before his passing.
Anne called him, “The best behaved dog I ever
had.” He was affectionate with her and her guests.
“He followed me around the kitchen, constantly
cuddled next to me on the sofa, and was a great
traveling companion. On our many trips, he en-
joyed looking out the windows watching the scen-
ery.”
Some animals leave a forever paw print on your
heart, Jack was one of these. Having an angel send
him flying into Anne’s life made their connection
even more magical.
Author and animal rights activist, Anthony
Douglas Williams, said, “When I look into the eyes
of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living
being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.”
TIPS:
“When I was training my dog, Belle, I also trained
her to hand signals,” said Brenda in Kentucky.
“When we met Spanish speaking children, I would
tell Belle, in the only few Spanish words I knew, to
sit, shake and high five. Belle did not understand
me at all, but I also included hand signals which
she had learned. The children were laughing, so
impressed that my dog understood Spanish.”
(541) 942-0555
Call 541-942-4493 for info.
FOR EMERGENCY DIAL 911
Serving South Lane County.
www.southlanefi re.org
Share your fur-avorite pet memory or adventure at
angelscribe@msn.com. Visit Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on
Facebook at/www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales
Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Program.
541-942-2789