Can this be Iowa? The sun has been shining for more than two days now, and the snow is almost gone, showing the dirty landscape and all the potholes we need to avoid in our streets, but giving us hope that “spring” is really just around the corner!

It is amazing how many of trees were damaged and limbs downed in the ice storm. Until the ice and snow melted, they could not be detached from where they fell and cut into the size needed for hauling off. Our side yard and back yard are full of limbs which we are trying to ready for the March 31 pickup on the north side.

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In a recent visit to Mayo Clinic, there were people in masks in every department I visited and cans of instant hand sanitizer on desks as you went in for all to use. A doctor told me, “If anyone has a cough, we put a mask on them so they do not pass their bug on to other patients. It is an attempt to curb the high incidence of flu here, but we are not sure it is working.” I tried to sit away from all the masked patients, but within a day of arriving home, I, too, was coughing and a victim of some kind of upper respiratory infection which hung on for several days. I’ve heard that there are many ill in the Ottumwa area.

Are you reading about the candidates for office? Even if you are not heavily involved, you must read thoroughly the platform of each party so you really know what you want to support. Ask very careful questions. Make them answer, not just sidestep the issue. There are important issues that affect all of us.

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John Martsching, 89, was a special person who was a faithful member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, coming to church every Sunday, and to every dinner and event which was held at the church. He was always beside his lovely wife, Marjorie, who he married 64 years before on Dec. 25, 1943. Perhaps that is why the Lord blessed John on the day he died. Marjorie relates that she cooked his favorite lunch — noodles and beef over mashed potatoes and pie — and he rested after lunch. Then, he said he was going to fix the starter on their old truck. Later, when he hadn’t come in when she called him, she went to the truck where she found he had died while doing his last job. She was told that he died instantly. Besides the adults and family who miss him was a little boy, Aaron Trelstad, 3, who John carried about and played with since he was born into our congregation. John loved children and they had a special affinity for him, too.

We are excited about a May wedding in St. Louis. Justin has received a fellowship for three years post doctoral research study at the University of Wisconsin. He will go to England to speak for his supervising professor as his fianceé presents two abstracts to her international convention in Canada. Cathy and Justin are such a wonderful match, so committed to their goals, frugal, smart and wonderful senses of humor. It will be a great chance to see how they grow together.

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A short word about the Lipizzaner Stallions show in March. I had always wanted to see these horses perform and I wasn’t disappointed. What a show and what well trained horses they are. How lucky we are to have Bridge View Center so it is possible to bring in shows like this. It takes nine or ten years to train each horse and their riders are experts. It was also very educational as they went through all they performed even the aerial movements. It was a very responsive crowd of many people from an area exceeding the Ottumwa area, many who had never been to Bridge View Center before. At the same time other events seemed to be going on in the center, too.

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Soon, we will be seeing green instead of dirt and snow and then spring flowers. I hope you are looking forward to the end of winter as much as I am. May the Lord keep you ‘til we meet again!

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Joan Thompson lives in Ottumwa and can be reached at joant684@mchsi.com