First the fun part: An email the other day from First Congregational Church of Wiscasset linked to a video of Charlie the Church Mouse speaking to the camera, telling viewers how to make their own palms for Palm Sunday when the congregation couldn’t be together in person. I’ve covered enough events there to know Charlie, a stuffed animal, helps connects children to the services. But I apparently hadn’t seen enough of Charlie to know, Charlie talks. Or at least he did in that video.

And at some points, his voice sounded a bit like Rev. Josh Fitterling’s. So, multiple texts later, I had learned the talking is not new, but the video was Charlie’s first. “Well he loves talking to people so he really enjoys the idea of helping people through this time,” Fitterling said. “We are also both learning some new things with video recording and producing. New skills unleashed :)”

I also asked Fitterling if he’d noticed Charlie sounded a little like him at times. “I have. A little bit higher pitched :)”

And now the solace: We have appreciated readers’ sharing about their or fellow residents’ efforts and experiences during one of the most important and strange times, with its death counts, stay at home orders and no immediate end in sight for the danger and for the precautions, rightly set; when out getting needed items, more and more of us wear disposable gloves, masks, or both. A scene from a science fiction movie? If only. But it is a scene of people trying to keep themselves and others safe.

And if you see a flamingo walking a dog or Wiscasset teachers doing a karaoke tribute to students, email wiscassetnewspaper.com or call 844-4633. 

Week’s positive parting thought: Just keep going (at going nowhere).