Sunday, April 25th

ON THE WAY home from Clark University I stopped to see Judy and take her out to lunch … we had a lovely walk by the “Rude Bridge” and up to the big house that has now been given the town, as I had hoped to see the formal beds in flower. A little too early for that, but “the leaves of the willow were bright as wine.” It was a perfect hour of sharing the early spring leaves—“point d’esprit,” Judy always murmurs when she sees them. A great sweetness flowed through me and I hated to leave her. “It is going to be awfully lonely,” she said as I kissed her good-bye. And it’s the first time she has ever said that.

The heat wave, meanwhile, has gone on and on, so it is good to hear the sound of rain today … so much will burst out after a good soaking. Yesterday when I walked the “crits,” as Marynia always called her animals, I saw the wood anemones were out. The goldfinches are gold again and the purple finches are back, very gay at the feeder, unfortunately also frequented by hosts of grackles, cow-birds, and starlings.

I’m in a whirlwind because not only did I find tons of mail when I got back on Friday, but also the proof of A World of Light which they want back day after tomorrow. That is not possible, but I hope to get it off the next day. Tomorrow I spend the day at Durham at the Elder-hostel board meeting. Heaven knows when I’ll get off the roller coaster of these past months! I found a rosebush with the mail, and managed to put that in somehow yesterday, in spite of the proof. Living things can’t wait.