40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS

40 days and 40 nights since the "stay at home" directive. That's how long it rained while Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japeth bobbed around in their handmade ark. Their unnamed wives were also with them, along with every beast and every creeping thing that creeps on earth. Whenever I start to get that trapped, closed-in feeling, I remind myself of Noah's unnamed wife, cooped up in the pre-dramamine ark--the roiling sea, the named men, and every beast and every creeping thing that creeps on earth. She probably had to do all of the work, cleaning up after all of those men, and beasts, and creepy crawlies. I hope the daughters-in-law pitched in. Even so it had to be a lot.. On top of all the work she was trapped there with Noah, who was in his 600th year. I bet he was one grouchy old man. So here I am in my dry land ark, with an undemanding companionable dog.. Maybe there are a few unseen creepy crawlies, but not so's you'd notice. Groceries delivered to my door. The phone, Zoom, the Internet connections. My thanks to Mrs. Noah for reminding me of that expansiveness of my life, even during this "stay at home" time.