Pi Day 2022

Frank showing off his timely sweatshirt

 This was taken on a Senior Trailblazers outing sometime before the pandemic hit. Frank is wearing this shirt on the day after Pi Day, which falls on March 14 every year, but we always hike on Thursdays. I don't join the group much any more, but I hear that Frank doesn't either. Times change, but I will always remember Frank as a truly gentle soul who took care of those of us who are not as strong as he is.

Do you know why today, March 14, is  known as Pi Day? It's because the date's digits are also the first three digits of pi (π) 3.14. Also, Albert Einstein was born on this day, and in 2009 it was declared to be a national holiday. Now remember we are talking about Pi, not Cow Pi as Frank's shirt suggests. The numbers 3, 1, and 4 are the three most significant figures of π in its decimal representation, which goes on and on and on...  3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 ... There is even a song to help you memorize the first 100 numbers, but I won't go there. You can look it up if you're really interested.

We are sitting here in the Pacific Northwest waiting for the atmospheric river headed our way. I walked home from the coffee shop without rain, but it's coming, and we are supposed to get somewhere around two or three inches in the next few days. I might have to curtail my walks, or maybe I'll head over to the YMCA for a workout, which I've avoided since Omicron emerged. Our statewide indoor mask mandates were lifted yesterday, and in shops and gyms fewer than half the people are still wearing masks inside. I'm one of them, but maybe one day before too long I'll feel safe not wearing one. I'll take it one day at a time. 

First leaves emerging

I have been walking right past the Cornwall Park Rose Garden, since there haven't been any roses, or even leaves, until now.These red leaves showed up last week. I'm not sure what the fine stringy bit is on these leaves; maybe some reader knows. They are too finely intertangled to take them off. Anyway, it's one more sign that spring is not far behind. I'll be looking for the first buds to show up soon. 

:-)