In retrospect: The month of July surprised Gerty. Daily, the weather challenged her wardrobe–should she dress for rain, summer heat, or frigid Canadian air masses? The first few days brought excessive rain and flood warnings from media weather gurus. A few days later, a heat wave set in.

Early in the morning, she beat the heat at its oppressive game and followed her usual path around city parks. Mind wandering among the swinging vines of her imagination, she missed an upheaved sidewalk and fell. Her elbows and knees bore her only, albeit superficial, wounds. She righted herself and kept going.

Eventually, even at sunrise, the city heat was too much. Gerty opted to stay home, work her crossword puzzles, and eat a buttery toasted bagel with her morning coffee. She had enough videos and CD’s for inside exercise, but she did miss communing with the birds, flowers, butterflies, and foxes she loved to watch on her morning runs.

Toward the end of the month, the impossible became possible. Her friend called. “Let’s meet for breakfast. It’ll be in the 70’s and no wind. I know a place with a patio, great coffee, and we can catch up in person, now that the restrictions have been lifted. Of course, if you are more comfortable with a mask…”

Gerty nearly tossed her phone in the air from the surge of unexpected pleasure she felt. She still masked up inside stores and other busy places–but the great outdoors? Yay! The friends agreed on a time and met the next morning–a sunny, cool-ish morning–at Clarice’s Cafe, for cake, coffee, and face-to-face conversation.

Wow! That felt so good.