A woman messaged Maria the other day and warned her not to let me take all of the money she was getting from the insurance company for her totaled car. We both laughed. Maria answered  her more courteously than I would have; she said, “Jon and I don’t tell each other what to do.” I would have said, “Please mind your own damn business.”

My grandmother called these people “yentas,” a Yiddish word for busybodies who love gossiping and sharing rumors and nasty stories. They are among the many people online who do not mind their own damned business. There are a lot of them.

Maria decided to get a new (used) car; after all, we went to a dealer with some very good prospects this morning. I expect she’ll have a car sometime next week.

Maria is fiercely independent, as I am, and I respect her decision. She is younger than I am and would love her car, which would give her the freedom to go anywhere she wants whenever she wants. Freedom and independence are essential to both of us.

I’m doing my Zoom meeting, and then we will be off together. I chatted with the salesperson but left her to do any bargaining, questioning, etc. She insists on handling the financing herself; she won’t accept my help. She is sharp and well-informed; I’m impressed.

Zip likes to hang out with the donkeys.

This is Fate’s idea of sheep herding. I’m glad her parents aren’t seeing this.

Shoveling manure in the rain.

I get a morning kiss every morning. I am fortunate.

I love the way sheep meditate. They are calming creatures.

Zip gazing out over his kingdom.

I love taking photos of Roses; they have a lot of character.