Aha! - 06 January 2022 - Plague Journal Day 665

Micah 6:8
Matthew 2:1-12
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

I know you're all wondering how things are going chez nous on the dog/cat axis, so here's a quick update of the situation.
Shockingly, it's Roma (the shyest cat we've ever had with the possible exception of Minnie in her first year spent hiding in the bathroom) who seems to be the first to warm up to Billie. They're not friends yet, but Roma is willing to walk through a room where Billie is without hiding behind furniture the whole way. She even just sits near the fire or on the couch seemingly unperturbed until Billie approaches too near and too quickly. As to Jack, we'll wait and see. Maybe he's just not ready for another dog to replace his old pal, Kooder. Change is tough when we get older - or so I hear.

On the liturgical calendar front, today is Epiphany, so Heidi and I will be braving the sub-zero temperatures to place a luminaria star / cross on the church front porch and walk. It seems appropriate on the day we commemorate the magi's having followed a star to find the One born the king of the Jews. Frankly, I'd take a slightly warmer evening over any of the gifts they brought back then. This is brutal, and it's tough to light candles with gloves on.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.