Editor's Wag
Mike Keithley

Welcome to the summer BC. Beware! Wear your mask, sanitize hands; wash your speaker, Jaws, and email program.

It seems to me that this Covid-19 period through whice we're living marks a cusp between losing taken-for-granted living and greeting new adventures. Take all those nice people who emerge from the woodwork that I only knew peripherally asking how I am and if they can do anything for me. It shows that caring people are not far away. And when you can do something for them, very cool!

But take the need to wear masks in public. I hate those things! I like fresh air on my face, and the first time I wore a mask, I was so impressed with my hot breath I thought, "hey I'm a fire-breathing dragon, outa find Puff!"

Why just this morning when Star and I were in a bagel shop, a man asked how I could see with my mask covering my eyes, which don't feel right under a mask. I thought my eyes were uncovered, maybe he saw me through a strange angle. Anyway, it was an interesting conversation starter when the man learned I was blind and didn't need to be concerned about covered eyes. Hope I made his day!

Take eating out. Nowadays we bring take out home, eat in the park or the car. I think the days when we can peacefully enjoy a restaurant won't return for some time, and we still have to wear those stupid masks. Have you figured out how you'll eat with that thing covering your mouth? But I can look forward to being outside in the summertime.

And then there's social distancing. It'll likely be going on for a long time and might become a folk habit. That'll be too bad since I've noticed that being aware of someone 6 feet away from me is often difficult with my hearing impairment. The days of being lonely in a "crowd" are here.

This evening I listened to a virtual graduation ceremony where my grandson got his diploma. Everyone was in their house or back yard posing this way and that, and though it was probably a gas for Star, who was looking for Andrew, all I noticed was how many Latino were in that 2020 class. But it did remind me of how my first dog Kola graduated from the University of Santa Clara with my diploma.

We rehearsed how we'd walk to the podium to take our degrees and return to our chairs. When my turn came up in the ceremony, Kola guided me to get my diploma and got a standing ovation. So when we got back to my chair, I gave it to her. Don't know what she did with it. I think she worked harder than I did!

And here's another really nice event to relate. A bird built a nest inside the drawer (which had a 2-inch hole in front) of our patio table. I imagine she somehow squeezed in and out. I don't know the species, but Star says she was around 3 inches long.

She laid five eggs in there, and 3 hatched. For around 2 weeks we kept track of those nestlings, very carefully opening the drawer. The mother perched on the light over the patio door, and sometimes flew at Star with a message: "dumb human, get outa here!" I stayed away from that scene. It's bad enough when governor Newsom tells me what to do, but a bird?

And then the babies were gone, done without us knowing, haha, sometime early in the morning. So we took the 2 unhatched eggs out of the empty nest, which is still there waiting for next season.

And now to the BC. You'll find this issue rather small. President Wilkinson recaps her presidency, Jeff Thom describes post Covid challenging days and Noel Runyan introduces us to the spirit of unhurtful pranks. And look forward to Susan Glass' article about birds. And those getting the email issue, enjoy attached bird songs.

Hopefully you'll get your BC before the virtual CCB conference and convention June 19/20. It's not an in-person event, it's over the telephone so you'll be at home to abide by the Covid-19 regulations.

You'll need to register by June 13, and that costs $10. The form is on the website at: ccbnet.org/drupal72/node/14

You can also call the office at 800-221-6359. You will be contacted with the Zoom calling information for the convention.

The general convention outline is:

First general session: Friday 9 AM to 12.

Second General Session: 1 PM to 4. Elections will be held.

Third general session: Saturday, 9 AM to 12.

Forth session: Saturday 1 PM to 4.

You should contact either the office or your chapter/affiliate president for information regarding programs.

Also note that affiliate and committee meetings will be held on Zoom on dates before the convention.