Susan E. Greisen

Those pink birds just keep coming. There seems to be no end…..

My books keep selling, five months into Covid-19. I delivered most by hand in the first weeks, many by mail. Village Books and internet sales are continuing. But during one home delivery, Nancy S. gave me a head ornament of two pink-felted birds. How appropriate. Last week I received these glasses from my sister-in-law, Joan. OMG. But later that week I opened an envelope that left me in tears. Patti H. made me a custom Covid mask with pink flamingos on one side and images of loving healthcare workers on the other. I experienced a rare moment of speechlessness. Adding these to my other gifts of a stuffed pink flamingo and a set of flamingo wine glasses, all have become like lucky pennies that one finds on the street; people seem to be discovering these pink birds everywhere. They are certainly a metaphor in my book and hopefully you will find that too.

But then there were other gifts. Peace Corps friends found me after we lost touch over forty-five years ago. Through word-of-mouth, a new batch of colleagues and readers has emerged. Reconnecting has been very special. Our volunteer work and its meaning has not been forgotten, and I feel the surge of energy and urgency to save the Peace Corps for the future. More about that in an upcoming blog.