Dame Nature gave us a bonus this week – a few more days of Indian Summer. It was much appreciated because Laurie came down from Vermont on Friday to lend a helping hand for a few days. I had another of these short “vacations” in the hospital. It was nice to have Laurie for a visit. She did housekeeping chores, but also cleaned up the winter water dish for the birds and filled all the bird feeders, and planted daffodil bulbs – a spring surprise!

When old age sets in it is nice to have backup from a large family. Wendy did duty as chauffeur to doctor appointments. Susan took over telephone communications and Laurie, in addition to household duties, was on hand to offer sympathy when the Yankees bested Seattle Sunday night. If the Red Sox are ever going to win the play-offs and maybe the series, they’d better hurry up – age is really posing a time limit!

Sunday morning, Laurie opened the curtains on the patio doors and there was a junco checking out what food service the yard was offering. They have not arrived before unless snowflakes arrived shortly after. I suggested they go back to Vermont with Laurie and come back later.

Scott is coming down tomorrow for his turn at “going to the doctor duty” and will bring some of his new T-shirts to show me. Whenever anyone goes to a public event these days, the people emphasize their support for American by wearing all kinds of patriotic clothing – shirts, hats, jackets, and ribbons. Young people and senior citizens have been busy making hundreds of ribbon clusters and pins – some of them very handsome. Other decorative ribbons and wreaths adorn doorways and car windows and any other kind of vehicle. America is not leaving any doubt as to how its citizens are feeling.

The unique American flag painted on a group of trees in Newtown by artist David Merrill has been widely applauded by press and public. If anyone wants to exhibit a flag, our people have found a way. Even the owner of a dog, out for a Sunday walk, who fastened a small American flag to the pet’s collar.

This weekend we turn the clocks to gain back the hour we lost last spring. It has an effect on our spirits when darkness comes so early and the day seems shorter. Once more I will struggle with the clock on the microwave oven and the car. By spring I will have gotten them set properly. To change the time on the others with batteries, I just disconnect them for an hour. I do the same with the on electric clock.

Last week the column ended with a quote by Queen Elizabeth.

Who said, “You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.”