The Ride

I was recently pondering the current ride we are on.  Call it what you want, COVID Cruise, Viral Voyage, Pandemic Path, Antibody Adventure...have I mentioned that I adore alliterations?  My pondering was prompted by a song on the radio.  The song was Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel of Love...go ahead and take a quick trip down memory lane or enjoy it for the first time.  Let me make a personal point before we move on.  I do not typically listen to lyrics, I just pay attention to the song title, artist and the tune/beat.  So, ol' Bruce could singing about Satan worship on the Jersey Shore and I would be clueless, but if it has a good beat, then rock on with some pentagrams in Asbury Park.  Having gotten that clarified, then I want to point out that this song and these thoughts have been on my mind since mid-June, so the song and ideas associated with it have been percolating for a while.  

Let's run with this...one of Springsteen's lesser known songs as a metaphor for this ongoing Microbial March (got another one in!).  "Tunnel of Love" brings back childhood memories of carnival rides and firsts.  First time holding hands, first kiss, first time riding a thrilling roller coaster (Hello Scream Machine @ Six Flags over Atlanta!).  Looking back fondly.  Also looking forward.  Graduation, marriage, birthdays, holidays, new adventures, vacations.  The Boss presents us with two options...forward and backward.  But then, in life, we are encouraged to "never look back", "yesterday is history", "don't get stuck in the past".  Also, "be forward thinking", "life must be lived forwards", "define your future".  In these binary terms, in minimal verbiage, my COVID Cruise has been empowering (past) and hopeful (future).  Empowering in the sense that I have had more time to reflect, research, think deeply, and explore new interests.  Hopeful in the sense that this crapola of a ride has to end soon!

But Bruce, what about the side view?  Not just the forward and the backward.  The "Tunnel of Love" has no side view, but our present does have a side view.  This is the true ride....the moment we are in.  It is the journey and not the destination.  I always have to remind myself to look up and take notice of my surroundings...it is a product of the current "heads-down" culture where we are far too often looking at our phone during the journey.  So, let's look up and around.  I see the end of summer happenings...back to school blues, hot, sticky days (at least in the South), late afternoon thunderstorms, evening walks, brown lawns, fantasy football drafts, hissing sprinklers.  There is joy in these simple reminders of the normal rhythm of the season.  What does the side view look like for you? 

If we extrapolate this further, then how do we define a good "ride", a great "ride"?.  When we look backward, forward, and sideward, what do we see?  Is it a good ride?

Too.

Someone recently said to me, "You are too nice."  I am not much for small talk, so I just smiled and went about my business.  Let me give you some context.  My "business" was this:  I was at our neighborhood pool, laying on a lounge chair, reading a book, and got up twice to retrieve a ball for my daughter because she had accidentally thrown the ball out of the water.  "You are too nice."  This is not the first time I have been told this, and thus labeled.  The delivery makes it seem like a character flaw...an extreme.  Too divisive, too political, too liberal, too conservative, too strict, too old, too young, too much information (TMI!), too nice.  What is one to do when designated as being too _____?

First of all, I need to find out where one gets certified to classify others on site.  In other words, why did that person feel the need to comment at all?  I am not a big talker, and I do not typically initiate conversations.  But still.  Why say anything, in response to another human being helping another human being, other than something positive.  Or nothing at all ("Silence is golden").  Perhaps he subscribes to the "silence is complicity" philosophy.  I digress.  Shouldn't it be innate to help another living thing.  It is biological, right?  Families, communities, ecosystems, depending upon one other for survival, happiness, growth, development, etc.  Sure, there are parasites, predators, negative relationships and they have their place in the grand scheme of things, but do we not prefer, appreciate, and cultivate nice, helpful, cooperative, and so on?

I know of a family who suffered a tragedy earlier in the year.  A son and father were returning from a trip and get involved in a serious car accident.  Both are now well, but the father was seriously injured and had to endure significant physical rehabilitation.  The son was physically unharmed for the most part.  The mother shared, later in the year, that had it been worse, she would not have hoped for a different outcome because, seemingly, her husband had lived his life and her son still had a lot of life to live...he was too young to die.  Too young.  I guess the dad was too experienced to live.  I have reflected on this quite a bit.  A loved one commenting on when it would be appropriate, acceptable (not sure what word fits here) for another to die, based upon their age and/or life experiences, or lack thereof.  Too deep for me, but perhaps she was being too honest.  Brutally honest?  Another awkward combo....brutality and honesty.

Is there a point to all of this?  Anything to learn?  A takeaway?  A
product?  Perhaps it is too nebulous, too ambiguous, too hazy, too murky.  My takeaway is this.  I am comfortable with myself...it has been a journey.  Yes, I am likely too nice, but I consider that a good thing.  I am also reflective and will thus think about self-improvement based upon feedback from others and my own self-awareness (is that redundant?).  We should definitely think before we speak, but also keep in mind that we can control our actions, but we cannot control other's reactions.

In Charge?

We have a family joke about being in charge and the look associated with being in charge...hands on hips, stern facial expression, imposing body language and posture.  I am likely not alone in the realization that Mother Nature is still very much in charge these days.  The simplest of all microbes has interrupted and, in some ways, taken away from our lives.  Mother Nature with cruel hands on hips and a steely facial expression.

The titans of government and finance will likely not share with us mere mortals, for fear of civil unrest, but leaner times are likely on the way.  How will we do more with less?  We heard this during the Great Recession, but now we have time to prepare, time to think, time to read, time to research, time to play to our strengths.  Education has quickly transitioned to distance learning and everyone involved has made the switch under duress and stress, but necessity is the mother of invention.  Cliche yes, but think of how massive of a transition that represents.  No in-person, face-to-face teaching...the essence of our craft.  To see the lightbulb, tease out the answer, revel in the wonderment of discovery.  Missing.  Replaced with online submissions, morning meetings on Zoom, and recorded lessons from our kitchens...devoid of the passion and certainty, or uncertainty, of that moment in time.

How does this impact us going forward?  The higher-ups will be thinking of this, have no doubt.  What is truly necessary?  What, where, and how can we get "leaner" and "do more with less" in this "new normal".  Ironic how the phrase "lean in" can be easily transformed into "get leaner".  The here and now can be, and should be, a pristine time for innovation.  Sir Issac Newton did some of his finest work while in quarantine...in the mid-1600s!  No internet.  No Chromebook.  No Zoom.  No Netflix for heaven's sake!  We still have the ability to collaborate, but with more time for self-thought, daydreaming, reflection, walks, authentic brain breaks.  The mind should be freer and clearer from extraneous sludge, the day to day pebbles in our shoes, that hinders our concentration and impedes our momentum.  Pure, crystal clear ideas...put to paper...well thought out...shared...redone.  We can be in charge of the innovation in front of us.  Let's not allow this uncertain and challenging time be in charge of us.

"We must use time as a tool, not as a couch." 

John F. Kennedy

Live and Learn

We are one week into social distancing and we are settling in to our new normal.  The beautiful spring-like weather has been wonderful....we have enjoyed many walks, bike rides, and sitting outside to read.  The indoor time has been productive....we have caught up on laundry, done some much needed straightening and have had several game nights.  Just an FYI, classic Taboo is a bit outdated and a stretch for an 8-year old.  Ah, we live and learn.  Maybe that is just it.....we continue to live and learn even in these unsettling, bizarre, scary, anxious, uncertain times in which we currently live.

We have learned that we are not great homeschool teachers and learners.  We much prefer a bike ride, FaceTime with friends, assembling Lego sets, or just mindless web-surfing.  We have learned to appreciate the sounds of Spring especially in the absence of the constant background noise of airline travel.  We have learned to enjoy each other's presence and to respect each other's me-myself time.  We have learned that sweatpants, hoodies, and no footwear can be both professional attire and athleisure all at once!  We have learned that time is precious and can be filled with meaning despite what activity or lack thereof is occurring.  We have learned that livelihood is not defined by income but by health and happiness, both of which we wish for everyone out there.

Kelley Home School - Away We Go!

COVID-19 got you in the mood for some Home Schooling?  Well, we are going to run a One-Room School House at our Casa during the "break".  Below is the template we will use and some of the websites that we will be utilizing.  

Daily Template (for now anyway)

• Before 9:00 - Wake Up
• 9:00-10:00 - Morning Discovery Walk or Cosmic Yoga/Go Noodle (if raining)
• 10:00-11:00 - Academic Time (School-based activities)
• 11:00-12:00 - Creative Time
• 12:00-1:00 - Lunch
• 1:00-2:00 - Quiet Time (Device-Free)
• 2:00-2:30 - Typing Lessons - Typing Club
• 2:30-400 - Academic Time (finish school-based activities and/or interest-based lessons/activities)
• 4:00-5:00 - Outdoor/Fresh Air Time & Soccer Skill Building/Drills
• 6:00 - Dinner and Evening Free Time

Resources (so far)

• CMS Instructional Continuity Hub (here)
• Cosmic Yoga (here)
• Go Noodle (here)
• Typing Club (here)
• No Red Ink (here)
• Free Technology for Teachers (here)
• Code.org (here)
• Virtual Museum Tours (here and here)

Urgency

I spent Wednesday (1/29/20) afternoon with the friendly employees and our homeless neighbors at the Urban Ministry Center on North College Street. I was there volunteering as part of the 2020 Point-in-Time Count. We volunteers were in a largish room with chairs set up for us and our homeless neighbors we were to survey for the Point-in-Time Count. I was equipped with the survey app on my phone, a warm hoodie, and a smile. Ready, Set, Go! Homeless neighbors were called inside the room in small groups and directed to volunteers for participating in the survey. With a quick introduction, and a handshake, we were off and running. I am always struck by the sight of folks without homes. They often carry their “home” goods in a backpack, or two, and/or other bags. I remember, as a child, hearing the term “bag lady”......it has deeper meaning for me now. Those bags are important, perhaps more important than money. Everyday existence is often in those bags, not mere items, liveliness and livelihood, note the root of both words…..life, are/is in those bags. Another observation was the humanity of the room. Every human in that room had a family, a childhood, memories, clothes, and problems. Yet, half the folks in that room were taking a survey asking questions about themselves and their homelessness. How did this happen to you? What went wrong? How can we help? Those were not the survey questions, but the survey questions were meant to inform policymakers about addressing some of those questions. Informing policymakers and those policymakers using the information to enact change takes time and, of course, money. Two things, time and money, that often frustrate well-meaning and well-intended efforts in our community.

Most of the homeless individuals and families that I met, and surveyed, were friendly, hopeful, and willing to answer the survey questions. One gentleman, however, was skeptical. I introduced myself, gave my best smile and delivered the introductory information about the survey. I asked him to participate and readied my app for data entry. He asked, “Will answering these questions get me a home?” I smiled, I thought he was giving me a hard time. I gave my best diplomatic response, something along the lines of “this information will be used to inform local government about homelessness in hopes better allocating money and resources to help with homelessness”. Long pause and intent stare. “So, answering these questions will not get me a home?” “No sir, I am just a volunteer, I cannot promise you anything.” End of conversation and end, well it never began, of the survey. He got up and walked off. That gentleman wanted immediate results, an immediate solution, a home. In this time of instant gratification and overnight Amazon deliveries, why can we not have more urgency about providing housing for those in need. Why does politics have to interfere with helping the neediest among us? Why do we have to conduct annual surveys to inform us, yet the problem remains the same despite the collected information? Where is the urgency?

Have you ever.....?

Have you ever started a blog because you felt like you had important stuff to share?  Well, I did....10 years ago!  I posted exactly once.  I started the blog using Blogger.  Do folks still use Blogger?  I hope so.  Have you ever experienced something you felt was bloggable and felt the need to start a blog only to realize that you already had one (that you started 10 years ago!)?  Well, that happened to me too.......this week!  And so it begins.......again!

Please note:  I left the original blog vision for historical purposes.  I may expand beyond science and educational issues.  We will see how it goes!