I’ve been semi-laid-up since mid-April when I returned from running (read: ambling) with Roxie and Dolly. While walking down stairs, I heard a very loud “pop” in my left knee. Last week, as an “elective” surgery case, my name came to the top and I have been repaired.

During my confinement I continued to enjoy my sedentary activities, all the while trying not to pout about all the things I could not do.

My big losses were tutoring, choir, gardening, kayaking, walking. However, I was able to assemble my book of poetry and photography from the ’90’s and submit it to the publisher. The draft will be ready for my editing at the end of the month.

I found some open fields where the dogs could run while I sat and watched from the Subaru. Learned a hard lesson there. Sweet Dolly got an abscess from a foxtail in a weedy field. Two surgeries and $1000 later, she is on the mend.

Big gains were keeping in touch electronically with literally everyone, from Zoom meetings with groups to FaceTime appointments with doctors, to playing Scrabble with daughters.

Reading, of course. Both the sublime and the ridiculous. I have researched and sung all the hymns that Dr. Klemme has played. I have written my usual letters to the editor and blogged. I’ve watched birds at my feeders with new intensity.

I did stumble out into the garden a few times; but now that I can get out there more easily, I can see that things carried on just fine without me. My early spring plantings and perennials have flourished unattended.

Not available for photos, the root vegetables — Walla Wallas. onions, beets, and potatoes — are coming along in their underground nests.

Roses, hollyhocks, and magnolias are thriving without any help from me.

“Confined” is a funny word and this spring it assumed many synonyms: housebound, sheltering in place, quarantined. This I know for sure: if I have to be stuck in one place on this earth, 1880 is my first choice.

Now to look online for a recipe for that patty pan squash.

Since I’ve been doubly housebound recently, I’ve been reading stuff I’m not proud of reading. Essentially, anything that might keep me from going stir-crazy. So, block me if you must, I downloaded Mary Trump’s book and read it during the night. I am ashamed of my behavior.

Logically, or not, that led me to the Mayo Clinic site to learn about narcissistic personality disorder. Here’s what I learned:

• Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
• Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration
• Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
• Exaggerate achievements and talents
• Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
• Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people
• Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
• Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations
• Take advantage of others to get what they want
• Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
• Be envious of others and believe others envy them
• Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious
• Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office

At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can:

• Become impatient or angry when they don’t receive special treatment
• Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted
• React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior
• Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
• Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change
• Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection
• Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation

There you have it.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love having a Little Free Library in front of my house? Just a few times?

Today, I noticed that the Amazon delivery woman parked across the street, got a book, and sat in her truck and read while she ate her lunch.

And Elwood’s is back in the neighborhood. Taking out some old pines at Burt and Katja’s.

I went out to snap some pictures of the work. The grinding up of the pines smells so good.

While I was out there, I rudely peeked in one of their trucks to see what Josh chose to read while he had his lunch.

Rocks and Minerals. Good choice.

Yesterday was a totally random day, and these days that’s something to be very grateful for.

As usual, I took the dogs for a walk behind the neighborhood cemetery where there are no graves, but, near where I park, I always notice this one:

Thank you, Winnie, for making me smile.

Next, I picked up groceries at Fred Meyer’s depot and then went to get gas. These days, I’m only buying a tank a month on the last day of the month, to use up my discount. I save about $5.00 Then I tip the nice attendant who cleaned the windshield $5.00. Sometimes I make no sense at all.

Back home, I harvested a few peas. Not enough for a serving, but plenty to toss into my tuna salad.

Dolly had her sutures removed. She really shouldn’t chew on big sticks.

Later, I noticed this beautiful shadow on the bedroom wall. Suitable for framing. If you open your eyes, you can often see something amazing

The magnolia thinks everything is all right. Makes my bedroom smell wonderful when I open the windows at night.

But, sadly, magnolias don’t know everything and everything is not all right, so this morning I ordered some filters for my home-made masks.