Dear Mom,
Greetings smiley, sweet Nana! We received a call last night with the unfortunate news that a Coronavirus case has been confirmed down in your memory care wing. The good news is that it is NOT a resident there, but rather a staff member. These faithful workers have been wearing masks and gloves since early March as a way of protecting you if they contract the virus so we are grateful for these steps. And we are praying that no residents come down with the virus. Thus far there are NO cases among residents in any part of your retirement facility! JOY!
On to happier news. I love you! I’m so thankful that you are healthy and taking care of yourself. I’ve been reflecting on your fascination with orchards, tart cherries and apples. Drinking Montmorency TART cherry juice is a regular Door County treat for you when most of us can only tolerate the sweetened cherry juice. There is a magical quality to orchards, especially Seaquist Orchards where they trim the grass between the trees. What is it about an orchard that captures the human heart? Is it the abundance of fruit, the graceful ordering of trees, the history of cherry picking migrants camping out during July in long frame buildings, sleeping single file on metal cots? The ramshackle remnants of those cherry picker houses still line highway 42. A family transformed one into their colorful summer home.
Growing up, we always went cherry picking and so our children go cherry picking and even now in your 80’s when we head north with your caregiver Maria we revisit those reliable rows of trees at Lautenbachs or Seaquists. The last time we went, your hair stuck to your face as the wind speckled cherry juice on your sticky cheeks. Maria grew up in Poland and she too loves tart cherries so she took home ziplock bags full of them in her little, silver Nissan Versa. You have a friend who wrote a lovely poem about Door County which mentions the cherry trees. Kindly, after reading my letter about our favorite county on my website it came to me in an email. Close your eyes and picture the images in this poem as someone reads it to you.
DOOR TO PARADISE
Pure clear water, vistaed heights,
Glorious dreaming through the nights!
Bright greens and blues, cloudless skies
O’er crystal lakes of paradise!
There we’ll find sweet red cherry trees,
Warm as the sun, soft as the breeze,
Long peaceful trails, secluded bays,
And happiness throughout our days.
This glimpse of heaven is enough reward
For pious patience, for working hard,
For righteous efforts wisely spent
Weaving love’s ephemeral raiment.
Here the best scenes our memory saves
Wash over us gently like silver waves
Lapping repeatedly upon our shore,
Where storms and clouds return no more.
Pure clear water, vistaed heights,
Glorious dreaming through the nights!
Bright greens and blues, cloudless skies
O’er crystal lakes of paradise!
There we’ll find sweet red cherry trees,
Warm as the sun, soft as the breeze,
Long peaceful trails, secluded bays,
And happiness throughout our days.
J. Jennings, 1997
I look forward to picking many cherries with you this coming July!!
Love,
Margaret