So far, I'm doing fine, and I hope all of you are as well. It's amazing how quickly the day goes by for me. Cooking, cleaning, gardening and walking (3-5 miles a day). Trying to do a little writing,updating the plant database Tim and I created along with our friend Gregg... and talking with my Dad twice a day. Not to mention having FaceTime or Zoom meetups with friends. I just started experimenting with Instagram and posting photos I've taken over the years. You've seen a lot of my plant and flower photos on the blog over the past few years, but I wanted to branch out and try out a few other kinds of photos I've taken. If you're interested, my Instagram handle is blueozdragon. I'm interested in seeing your photos as well, so let me know if you've got photos to share on Instagram.

I've been fortunate to get back in touch with several of my cousins who are spread out over Ohio, Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina and New Hampire. We've been exchanging old family photos for the past few weeks. Unfortunately, just as things were getting going, my aunt Mil (my dad's sister and mother of two of my cousins) died of the virus last week. So, now it's just my Dad and his brother Pete who are still alive out of 7 siblings.

My scheduled monthly lab tests have been put on hold for the past few months. My docs think I can wait a few more months based on my last results back in early February. Fingers crossed.

I've had to cancel many different trips over the past few months, but the one I'm most disappointed in is my planned trip to Milwaukee to help my dad celebrate his 100th birthday. Dad didn't want any party in the first place, and he is perfectly content to stay by himself in his apartment. No fuss! He loves to cook, cleans his apartment every day, and walks up and down the halls of the complex to get his exercise. I talk with him every morning and night, and he always has a lot to say about what's going on in the world. He has all his hair, all his teeth, takes no meds and is still sharp as ever. With the one year anniversary of Tim's death coming up, it's been hard on my Dad as well. He really loved Tim. Even though I couldn't do it anyway, Dad is adamant that I not come out to see him any time soon. He is as worried about me as I am about him. The discouraging news that came out today was that those in high risk groups (like me and my Dad) may need to wait a year or more before they can safely travel, go out to eat, go shopping or even visit with more than a few friends. I know that all the information about the virus keeps changing as we learn more. So,maybe it won't be as dire as that.

So... if any of you know my dad (or even if you don't know him), send him a birthday card if you can. He doesn't do email or have a computer, so it needs to be regular mail. It doesn't even have to be a real birthday card, just something you drew or printed out at home. For those of you who've met Dad, you could just print out a photo of yourself or your family. He remembers all Tim and my friends that he's met over the years, and often asks me how everyone is doing. His social worker is planning to have her husband bake a cake for Dad.

His birthday is May 18. He was born in 1920.

Mike Preston
3983 S. Prairie Hill Lane #108
Greenfield, WI 53228

I'm also going to email this request to friends and family in case they're not on the blog. Please excuse any double posting.

Stay healthy and sane (as much as possible!).

*This is a photo Tim took of Dad and me when we were there a year ago.