Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232, Tel. 941-371-4974
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Staying at Home

4/25/2020

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Diane and I have done a pretty good job of “staying at home”. We do venture out each day for a walk, keeping a good distance  from the few other walkers, even developing a “back off” gesture for anyone who approaches us within the six foot range. And we did make one foray into a nearby Publix where, encased in our masks and gloves, we grabbed a freshly wiped cart and whipped around the aisles lobbing food and paper items into the cart, ignoring prices and brands. Sometimes we found ourselves going the wrong way on one way aisles, necessitating some quick u-turns.

When the “stay at home order” came from the governor, we started worrying about who would take care of the Memorial Garden at church and then Diane said “Aha, I see that ‘landscaping’ is listed as an essential service.”  We are “landscaping” volunteers (and thus essential) so most evenings we escape from home and head over to the church gardens.  Upon arrival, we yell out “Is anybody here?” And there never is.  Other members of the UUCS garden crew have done the same, showing up at odd times for the much needed upkeep.  

For us, there has been something restorative about evenings in the garden.  There is a quiet beauty in a world of ugliness, satisfaction in doing something productive after a day spent reading or watching TV, and a measure of hope as the garden persists in doing well despite the on-going drought and lack of tending.

But there is also something missing, something we hope to get back in the near future. Our UUCS garden crew has always ended Tuesday gardening mornings with a gathering on the sanctuary walkway overlooking the Memorial Garden. We hydrate, chat and laugh. Lots of laughs. We miss that weekly gathering and look forward to the day when that much needed social connection will return. And there will once again be a time for laughs, lots of laughs.

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    ​From the Garden Gate

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    Dr. Dick the Garden Doc used to write a monthly column for our newsletter. He has recently returned to continue the tradition on this blog with occasional comments by himself and his wife, Diane.

    Authors:
    ​Diane and Richard Happy

    Picture
    Diane and Dick have been Sarasota Unitarian Universalists since 1997.  Both have been active participants, holding a variety of church offices and serving on a number of church committees.
    Currently Diane heads up the volunteer church gardening crew and Dick is secretary of the Church Endowment Board.

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Contact info:
3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232
Tel. 941-371-4974
Office hours are 9 am - 4 pm, Tuesday - Thursday; 10 am - 4 pm Friday

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