I live in a cop and nurse neighborhood. Neighbors are teachers, insurance guys, and CPA’s. Nothing fancy, just a Leave it to Beaver type of street with sidewalks, big trees, cul-de-sacs and driveway hoops. Middle America within 110 homes.

The other day I got in a shipment of really cool Chestnut boards from a 115 year old barn in Kentucky that I was told, fell over. Salvaged wood, wood with character, wood with the same bumps and bruises that many of use carry with us. For the 1st piece done I wanted it to be something special, had to be to honor the wood, but I was at a loss for the words, words not only thought provoking but would also fit the space.

Last night I was out putting a garbage bag over the new, large Hibiscus that I got bb for Mother’s Day (we dipped into the low 30’s last night with snowflakes) when I heard from across the street, “Hi Don,” and when I looked up it was 2 neighbor friends of mine out for a nightly stroll.

He is a state trooper, she is an ICU nurse assigned to the COVID floor.

Both face the virus daily, both face it for us, to help us. I asked them both how they were doing, we’ve known each other for over 25 years now, so it’s a truthful answer I get back. He: “I’m okay but I worry about her…” said of his wife who only bows her head, “and you,” I say pretty much knowing the answer, “ok,” is all that comes back which means…maybe not so ok.

At times like this the best next question is no question asked at all, “It’s so tough Don, so tough never seen anything like it,” he moves closer to her, “you know Don, life matters, life matters and we are losing so many lives to this, I just don’t know.”

We talk some about that, private stuff I won’t put here, but when I came back into the house I pulled out the vinyl we’ve had for months and painted this: Life Matters because I think that was the message the universe wanted me to know, wanted me to paint.

So the first 115 year old Chestnut board says this…Life Matters…

As I was told it should be.

db