During the recent lock down it was (whether you believed that social distancing did any good in combating COVID-19 or not), a time when not many places were open for business and on top of that, children were not at school and many jobs were also no longer places we had to spend a majority of our time at if we were not an essential worker, and for some this combination of isolation and disruption of the daily status quo lead to cabin fever, stress, and boredom.

Where we might usually go shopping, join a class, have a few drinks with friends or even just go out and relax in our favorite restaurants to enjoy a well prepared meal, many of those options were temporarily closed off to us, perhaps leading to a question of where we could go to get out of the house, especially if you had binge watched everything on Netflix already.

One answer was indeed to reconnect with nature, a place definitely large enough to accommodate more than six feet of distance between you and anyone else all while reminding you that while the world’s problems may have loomed large while watching the daily news broadcasts they were actually miniscule compared to the awesome shows Mother Nature created daily for our viewing pleasure.

Far beyond the mere mindless joy you may get from watching Tiger King or old Simpsons re-runs, nature also has many benefits to both your mind and body.

Many apps and recordings like to bank on the fact that they can bring the outdoors indoors with the intentions to allow you to meditate, relax, and let go of stress and strain, but they pale in comparison to the sensations you get when you kick off your shoes and wade your feet in the water of a river or lake or feel the grass between your toes under the shade of a tree.

Additionally, reconnecting with the natural side of our world can have many physical health benefits as well that eating another bag of Cheetos and watching another episode of The Office just cannot do.

Some health experts recommend children spend at least sixty-minutes outdoors a day resulting in a lower mass body indexes, making them less likely to develop myopia, and even improved motor skills as well as giving a daily shot of good old fashion exercise.

The adults have health reasons to tackle a trail rather than the trail mix as well.

Beyond the aforementioned stress relief such as the claims that outdoor activity could lower the risks for both diabetes and heart attacks by half, a possible thirty-percent reduction in colon cancer risk, increase your vitamin-D intake which by itself almost has too many positive impacts to mention here such as a better immune system, bone health, reduced cancer risk and even combating psychological ills like depression and anxiety.

The best part is that even if your lock down days seem behind you and the world is once again ripe with the fruits of dining and shopping, you can still make it a point to go outdoors and experience the natural world around you, even if you spent your time in COVID acting more like something naturally planted in your couch than the forest. “

Dear Editor,

Does anyone remember wearing “Bloomers” made out of “feed sack” material? The older I get, the more my mind goes back to the past. Daddy bought feed in pretty feed sack material, and Mama made me dresses and bloomers to match out of the pretty feed sack material.

I do remember being in the First Grade in school and sitting in front of Mrs. Wise’ desk. She asked me, “Are my bloomers showing?’ They were long bloomers and had elastic in the bottom of the legs
.
Dorothy Geraldine Wilson
Seadrift

P.S. Did anyone else wear pretty feed sack bloomers?

Editor’s Note: I did.

To our Awesome POC Community:

I would like to express my gratitude for our amazing gift baskets. Not only for that, though. Thank you for always supporting us throughout the years. This was a memorable year for sure. I was extremely excited to graduate, and very humble that you all came together as a community to think of how to make this time even more special for us.

All the items in the baskets were amazing! I am now starting a new job and college in the evenings. I was extremely grateful that I was able to purchase my first vehicle with all of your support. My parents made me save my money to purchase it, and your donations made that possible. They said I would appreciate it more if I earned it.

Again, thank you all so much for everything you guys did for us. I am extremely blessed to live in this awesome town! POC STRONG!

Noah Guzman
Class Of 2020

I would like to thank everyone that helped with the POC senior adoption. All the gifts and well wishes were greatly appreciated. You made that day special for all of us.

Sam Thumann

Thank you to the Port O’Connor Community and businesses for all you did for the POC Senior Class of 2020. The Senior sign, Senior shirt, gift basket, gift certificates, cash, and drinks/snacks were thoughtful and appreciated. Thank you for celebrating our successes! POC always goes above and beyond.

Sincerely,
Thomas Hawes

As a senior and a 2020 graduate, our year was cut short. The year that is supposed to be full of memories and moments spent with friends got taken away. However, thanks to the amazing Port O’Connor community, it was honestly the best year I’ve had. Seeing the people I look up to and the people I admire put their faith in me gave me a feeling I couldn’t explain. I’m so grateful for everything my POC family has done. On behalf of the POC Class of 2020, thank you so much. Thank you for thinking of us. Thank you for recognizing us and making our senior year one to remember.

Hannah Tucker

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.
Dolphin Talk – P.O. Box 777 – Port O’Connor TX 77982 – dolphin1@tisd.net

Summer Heat, Needed Rain and Baby Ducklings
Greetings from the island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well, and have plans to spend time with your dad, either heavenly or on the phone or in person, in a few days for Fathers Day. I am blessed to still have my dad, Henry, in my life, and to be able to talk to him and spend time with him on a regular basis. I get a lot of compliments on my gardening, and in particular tomato growing abilities, and I can assure you that gardening gene comes directly from my dad.

Well, the island finally got a good soaking of rain lately, just over five inches falling from the sky in the past several weeks. My rain tanks total 1,100 gallons when full, which is where they are right now, so I’m good to go for awhile. And my garden certainly appreciates the fresh rain as well. My tomatoes are doing pretty good this year, especially the Sungold cherry ones, my most favorite tasting tomato of them all.

I can certainly tell that Summer has pretty much arrived on the island. Other than a rogue norther lately bringing a little coolness and low humidity to the air, the days have been hot. I’m kinda relegated to doing outside chores, especially mowing, during the early morning and late evening hours, with the hot hours spent in the shade with a cold iced tea. I’m on my 21st year on the island altogether, and 15th year living full time out here, so my aging robust body creaks, moans and sweats profusely now in the prolonged 90 degree plus days. That old saying, “work smarter, not harder”, has hit home with me!

Well, there are some new additions to the Bennetsen Island Compound, after five pretty baby ducklings hatched out on May 30-31. The babies came from eggs that my only female Indian Runner/Mallard mix mom duck had laid and sat on for 28 days. There are four black ducklings with a hint of yellow on their chest, and there is one solid yellow beautiful duckling. The babies are doing just fine, and they love to swim in two water containers that I have for them, and they enjoy exploring the yard when I let the chickens, guineas and ducks out in the evenings. With everything going on in today’s world, they are a welcomed beautiful and innocent sight.

In closing, I would like to extend a heartfelt island welcome to the Proctor & Roderick families, the newest islander cabin owners. They are wonderful families and will be a true asset to the island.

Well, that’s it from the island for now, everyone please take care, give your dad a call and have a most wonderful day.

for the 2019-2020 School Year

Kindergarten Crystalline Garner, Paisley Pendergrass
and Nicolas Rendon.

First Grade Gianna Adame, Kole Goode,
Andrea Jaramillo Vazquez, Dominic Rendon
and Brady Treumer.

Second Grade Jennifer Barcenas, John Glover, Symone Smith
and Alie Villarreal.

Third Grade Cristian Ruiz and Lamar Williams.

Fourth Grade Jasenia Adame, Wyatt Eastlick, Lathan Griggs
and Anna Nguyen.

Fifth Grade Jai’Lynn Boots, Keegan Goode,
Jesus Jaramillo Vazquez, Timothy Jones,
Gunner Martinez, Cooper Rodriguez, Amaya Stringo and Callum Taylor.

Sixth Grade Sarah Armbruster and Caitlyn Griggs.

Seventh Grade Maci Bryan and Brilee Crittenden.

Eighth Grade Eric Anzaldua, Mileidy Anzaldua, Cruz Mayorga, Jonathan Nguyen, Braeden Ragusin,
Emma Spencer, Ethan Spencer and Nickolas Whiddon.