2020 Hindsight

The 60th day of 2020 was a Leap Day!  There has been four years since the last one and, on 2/29/2020, I thought about how much has changed since 2/29/2016.  Are we better off now than we were then?  What is in store for the next four?  My 2020 Hindsight is four years between Leap Days.  I am hoping for better days to come before we get to 2/29/2024.....

This week has been a long week, with a lot of work tasks in addition to three days of training.  So I was glad that the 59th day of 2020 was the end of this week.  And, after catching up and meeting with people who have been awaiting my return, I ended the day with a meeting with one of my Class of 2023 advisees.  Even though it was at the end of the long business day, it rejuvenated me.  My 2020 Hindsight is advising interactions  So glad I am still able to advise, it feeds my soul!

I was in training for most of  the 58th day of 2020, so work was pretty uneventful on 2/27/20.  But, I did get an interesting email asking me about the history of Penn ID Cards.  So a lot of this evening has been collecting images (mine and others) of ID Cards from Penn.  OH THE HAIR (even I had some!)  My 2020 Hindsight is old PennCards..... oh the memories!

The 57th day of 2020 started with a basketball Facebook memory.  Alexa and her friends Sam and Abby after the Championship game of the Colls Rec Basketball league.  They were in 6th grade and it was the last Rec game they played in.  Flash forward to today, 2/26/202, and Sam and Alexa were on the same court again, this time playing on the same team, and playing their last Regular Season Varsity Basketball game.  Next week, the Playoffs start and, therefore, every game could be their last together.  It's a little overwhelming since they have been opponents in Rec, and then teammates in Travel, Middle School, JV, and now Varsity Basketball.  My 2020 Hindsight is Basketball - From Rec to Varsity.  Alexa and Sam, and it will soon be over.  I know a lot of these hindsights have been been basketball related lately, but what a journey it has been!

After work on the 56th day of 2020 I rushed to get takeout for a PTA Fundraiser and then rushed home so Sarah and I could make it to the HS Theater Production (Legally Blonde) Parent Meeting.  And, on 2/25/20, at the end of the meeting, we got a preview of the production (the Opening Number).  It made me smile and it made me remember my time in HS Theater.  I was backstage at Penn (with the Glee Club) but in HS, I had a part in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grade shows.  My 2020 Hindsight is those theater memories.  I hope Anna is having as much fun as I did back then, I actually think she is and more.  Looking forward to the show in a few weeks!

On the 55th day of 2020 (a palindromic day, so sure to be wonderful), there were two things that were on the forefront of my mind.  First, today is the 18th birthday of one of Alexa's longest standing friends.  We have known Meg since birth and she and Alexa have grown up together at Old First and are now serving together on the Board of Elders.  It made me realize that, in six weeks, we will also have an additional adult in our house!  And, then, on 2/24/2020, we went to Alexa's Senior Night at Basketball.  There were tears!  Two of her teammates she has been playing basketball with since she was 9 years old (and soccer since 8!)  It seems like yesterday!  And it made me realize my 2020 Hindsight for today: Time is FLYING!  Well, at least it means we are likely having fun!

The 54th day of 2020 was the end of a week filled with a lot of heavy stuff and a lot of busy days.  A hospitalization for a family member and a friend.  Some really tough news at work.  Senior Night for the boys basketball team at CHS.  Three games for Alexa's girls basketball team.  Anna's Concert with a fantastic solo amidst a wonderful evening of music.  An all-day softball tournament in Central PA.  WHEW!  No wonder we are all exhausted on 2/23/2020.  My 2020 Hindsight tonight is what a crazy week!  It had some good parts, some bad parts, and not enough sleep. I am glad it's over - let's get to a calmer week (I hope) ahead!

The 53rd day was a long day.  A fun day, but long.  02/22/20 is a palindromic day, and it was the day that the Merchantville Mustangs traveled to Spooky Nook (Central PA) to play in the 18U Softball Tournament.   And, although we did not do as well as we had hoped and expected, we all had a great time and a day of softball is better than most other days!  My 2020 Hindsight is the tournament at Spooky Nook.  I will remember this tournament fondly.  And I realize how much I will miss this Mustangs team and the parent community.  But, for now, we have another Spring Season to look forward to.  And, for tonight, I am heading to bed, exhausted, but with happy softball memories.

I remember it was 2016 and I attended my first ChildrenSong Fundraiser Dinner Concert (sat with Tamara Duffy and family).  And on the 52nd day of 2020, I attended my fourth (missed 2017 because I was at a conference).  And on 2/21/2020, I sat in the audience and watched Anna get up on stage, in front of all of those people, and sing an amazing solo, singing her heart out.  And my heart was filled.  With love and with pride.  This is the kid who was nervous singing in a group at first, and then refused to sign up for solos.  But now, I saw her as a confident singer.  We knew from a young age that she had the gift of song.  And, tonight, she shared that gift with us all.  My 2020 Hindsight is my confident chorister.  And all of the gratitude I have for all of her teachers and directors.  Especially Polly Murray and Cristin Intracoso.  Looking forward to many more songs in our future.

The 51st day of 2020 is, like all Day #51s, my dad's birthday.  I have to admin, on 2/20/2020, I was a bit sad not to be able to celebrate with him in person (and not just because I like my mom's cake).  But I was thinking about him all day and was glad we all (even Sarah's parents too) got to sing to him and talk on the phone to make sure he knows that we were celebrating his day.  My 2020 Hindsight is my dad.  I am so lucky to have had the parents and the upbringing that I did.  My dad is one of the hardest working people I know, and I know that my work ethic is a direct result of what I observed of him (and my mom too, but this is his day!)  And my dad set the foundation for me and I try to model the love and care he showed to me and my sister when I parent my kids and, frankly, his giving and welcoming spirit is in me every day of my life.  Some mornings, I look in the mirror and I see him kinda looking back at me.  I could not think of anyone...

Day #50 of 2020 included a lot of time worrying.  Because, on 2/19/2020, I have both a friend and a family member in the hospital.  In both cases, it seems that this is a temporary thing, and that is good, but it has still caused angst for me and friends and family.  My 2020 Hindsight is that hospitals are scary.  Praying for a quick recovery for both of them.

On the 49th day of 2020, I worked the clock (and did the announcing) for the last Home Game of the 2019-2020 season for the CHS Boys Basketball team.  And it was Senior Night on 2/18/2020 and I was misty eyed as I read the tributes for the four senior players and one senior manager who are leaving the program upon Graduation.  And at the end of the game, I was surprised how sad I was that their season was over.  When I added the clock for the Boys Team (I was already doing the Girls) I did not think I would enjoy the Boys team as much as I did.  SO, my 2020 Hindsight is that the Boys Basketball Team grew on me.  I will always have a special place in my heart for my daughter and her teammates, but I guess I have made room for the Boys too.

We were all off as a family on the 48th day of 2020.  The girls had off for Presidents' Day and Sarah and I took vacation days.  It was another day of errands, and hanging out as a family.  And an awesome last practice for Alexa's softball team before our big tournament on Saturday.  But my hindsight thoughts are about Skylar, and how she is looking right now, after being groomed.  So cute.  Bows in her ears (well only one now and she'll get that one off by tomorrow), and so so soft.  We love it when she gets groomed and Nicole at PetSmart is so nice to her and seems to love Skylar as her own.  My 2020 Hindsight is Skylar Gets Groomed.  It only happens about every three months, but we always are pleased with the results.

After Church on the 47th day of 2020 I hustled to Penn's Campus.  That's because, even though it was a Sunday, I had somewhere important to be.  2/16/2020 was the day of the Penn Band Council's Retreat where the Band's Directors and some key alumni delivered some basic leadership concepts for our student leaders.  I thought the discussions that ensued were really good and appreciated the ideas and thoughts.  My 2020 Hindsight is Student Leadership... for today, I was back in Student Affairs and doing something fun!

I saw a lot of basketball on the 46th day of 2020.  We started 4/15/2020 at the SJIBT where the Panthers of Collingswood defeated Northern Burlington with a gutsy, solid, performance.  It was fun watching Alexa play well again (and her teammates too!)  Then, I headed to the Palestra for the men's game but, before they started, I watched the Penn Women (thank goodness for ESPN+) gut out a quality win at Yale, a very tough assignment, and then the men did the same!  Three gutsy wins from my teams today.  And tonight was also Penn Band Basketball Homecoming.  A made-up Penn event to get all of the Band alumni together for a basketball game (in addition to the fall football game).  It was great to sit and talk with those that came back and hear what they are doing but also hear them building networks with each other.  They call it Penn Band Nation (all of us, as Rico says, who have "worn the sweater") and that is my 2020 Hindsight for tonight, Penn Ba...

The 45th day of 2020 is Valentine's Day!  And, since the girls were out of School (PD Day for the teachers) Sarah took the day off and I took a half day. but we did not do many romantic things.  Doctor Appt, Vision Appt., Basketball practice, a haircut..... all things that needed to be done, and they were.  But, then we spent the evening in a place romantic only for our family!  We went to the Penn Basketball Game at the Palestra.  For our family, the Palestra is not only the Cathedral of Basketball, but it's a place where we can hang out with the Penn Band.  I mean Sarah and I did fall in love in the Penn Band, so why not spend the "Love Holiday" doing the same.  My 2020 Hindsight 2020 is All You Need is Love.  Love is all we need (every day of the year, in fact!)  I started this morning listening to Breakfast with the Beatles, so let's end the day with the Beatles as well! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EGczv7iiEk

I missed Alexa's basketball game on the 44th day of 2020.  I was working the Boys Basketball game so I missed the Girls game at Haddon Heights.  But I got a lot of texts on 2/13/2020 letting me know how the team was doing.  They were up, they were behind and, in the end, they WON!  Key game since they will face this same opponent in the Playoffs.  I am sad I missed Alexa score 6 points (after scoring 7 on Tuesday), but I am happy for their big win!  My 2020 Hindsight is A Big Win!  And here's to many more!

On the 43rd day of 2020, I thought a lot about my dad's foster mom. My 3rd (of 4) grandma, my Bubba, my Aunt Nettie. 2/12/2020 would have been the 104th birthday of this amazing woman who (with her husband) opened her home to my dad and his siblings, and cared for them as if she had given birth to them. And she was an amazing grandmother, caring, wise, funny, and a really great cook. I am so lucky to have had such a large "grand"-family and I cannot imagine my life without her. My 2020 Hingsight is Happy 104th Birthday, Aunt Nettie. We know you are smiling on us from wherever you are (and making some amazing food for all the folks!)

Two things happened on the 42nd Day of 2020 that I have been waiting for for quite some time.  First, at work, I completed a task that had been on my task list since mid-November.  It finally rose to the top of my priority list so that I could get it done.  Thank goodness.  I was feeling bad for the person who needed it completed and I was glad to make her happy.  Then, after her basketball game, Alexa go the bear!  The bear goes to the player who played hard and gave their all.  Of course, I think Alexa gives her all every night.  But today, she played awesome 'D', had some great passes and assists, and hit a SWISH three point shot that made me say "HEY!" (in a good exclamatory way.)  Both of these events I was glad to finally see happen.  So my 2020 Hindsight is patience pays off.  Alexa did not give up (and neither did I at work), and we achieved our goals.  Now to reward ourselves by going to bed early! 

Since the 41st day of 2020 is a Monday, after work I hustled over to the Band Room for rehearsal for the Penn Band.  But there was something special about the rehearsal on 2/10/2020!  It is Greer Cheeseman's 65th birthday!  So we had cake!  But that was not the best part.  Greer was so happy to show off his new SEPTA Key Card.  FREE for Senior Citizens!  So my 2020 Hindsight is Greer and the Senior SEPTA Card.  It's the little things that make us happy!

The whole family watched the Oscars Awards Telecast on the 40th day of 2020.  And, at the end of the show (which, strangely enough, did not feel as long as it was (over 3.5 hours), they played the part of the show that I always wait for.  In Memorium.  I do not think it's because I am morbid, but I Do like to see who we have lost in the past year.  They honored Kobe as the first memorial and Kirk Douglas as the last.  And I was not as emotional as I thought I would be (but I was emotional at some of the speeches for some strange reason!).  My 2020 Hindsight is In Memorium.  Not because I am happy they are gone, but I am happy that they are remembered for the wonderful artists they were and their impact on the movies and our culture in general.  Now I need to go watch Hair Love!

The 39th day of 2020 is a Saturday in February so we spent the evening with our typical activity.  Yes, on 2/8/2020, we were at the Palestra watching Penn Basketball.  And, as they honored the alumnae of the Penn Women's Basketball Program, I realized that I have been watching these ladies on the Palestra court for more than 30 years.  So my 2020 Hindsight is 30+ years of watching Women's Basketball.  So long that now I have kids that watch and even a kid that has been playing (albeit in High School). What a great sport.

I had to make sure I left work in time on the 38th day of 2019.  That is because OMAYSC had another Gym Night scheduled for 2/7/2020.  And over 50 kids came to the OPS Gym to play Gaga Ball, play basketball, throw a football, and to do it amongst other classmates and friends from Oaklyn (and guests from Collingswood).  And I was so lucky that so many people came out to chaperone and the event went (relatively) well.  My 2020 Hindsight is OMAYSC Gym Nights - they are loud and cacophonous and sometimes we have to mediate between young people who do not always get along, but the purpose is good and over 50 kids had somewhere safe, warm, and substance-free to hang out tonight.

On the 37th day of 2020, the CHS Girls Basketball Team faced their big rivals, Haddonfield.  Sadly, on 2/6/20, Collingswood was not victorious.  It was a hard fought game, close at times, but in the end it was still a loss.  As I pulled out of the parking lot and drove towards home, I passed Alexa walking to her car.....I rolled down the window and said "Hey, #25, I love you!"  She smiled.  I think it was the pick me up she may have needed at that time.  So my 2020 Hindsight is providing a pick me up.  It's another one of those things that can cost $0, but can make a huge impact.  What if everyone provided someone a pick me up each and every day?  What a different world that could be.

On the evening of the 36th day of 2020, we played trivia after work.  And it was fun.  But, on 2/5/2020, our team (Managed Mischief) did not come in last, but we were SECOND to last.  Sigh.  We event got a BIG FAT ZERO in the final round (it truly WAS Impossible, Johnny Goodtimes!)  So tonight's 2020 Hindsight is that trivia is fun..... but HARD!  We'll get 'em next time!

I had the day off from work on 2/4/2020, but I still went to Penn's Campus.  Why?, you ask.  Well, the 35th day of 2020, I got to act as the judge in the Physical Assessment/A&P Class for Penn Nursing.  And the students' presentations just get better and better each year.  I even had to rule on objections (sustained some, and overruled others) and was amazed by the persuasiveness of the students who made me consider the innocence of a negligent Nursing Home..... (they lost in the end, they always do).  My 2020 Hindsight is ALL RISE!  I hope some of these Nursing Students submatriculate into Penn Law.  As I said in the class, how amazing would it be to have some Penn Nurses in the Congress?

Although the 34th day of 2020 is the day after Groundhog Day, I thought a lot about Groundhog Day on 2/3/2020.  It was almost 60 degrees today and, although I enjoyed the weather, it made me realize we have had very little snow this season.  Is it that the Groundhog saw his shadow, or is it something more ominous.  My 2020 Hindsight for tonight is to determine whether it is an early spring or global warming.  Maybe both!

The 33rd day of 2020 has been an amazing day.  I KNEW it would be so because 02/02/2020 is a palindromic date no matter how one writes it (MMDDYYYY, DDMMYYYY, YYYYMMDD, YYYYDDMM).  Also, being the palindromic 33rd day (as 2/2 always is) is extra special in 2020 because, since it is a Leap Year, there are 333 days left in the year.  Wow (a word that is ALSO a palindrome!)  But that's not all.  We also had our annual Superbowl gathering tonight.  Although we usually rotate the locations, we hosted again tonight and I love hosting our friends for this annual event.  Work Family, through time, has been very important to me and the Superbowl is always a gathering that includes my work family of origin, Dining Services.  So we had great food (I mean we did all work for Dining), along with family, friends, and football.  Not much better.  And it was a great game.  My 2020 Hindsight is for Annual Superbowl Parties.  Already looking for...

I have been thinking a lot about time this year.  Having a daily theme about "looking back" can cause that and so can all of the milestones that occur in the last year of one's child's High School Career.  But, on 2/1/2020 I noticed two prominent things.  First, a LOT of people are posting about how long January was and how they are so happy it is over.  Me?  I feel like January FLEW by.  Second, I spent much of the 32nd day of 2020 in the Irvine Gymnasium, Home of the Panthers!  I once again was working the clock and scoreboard for the Collingswood High School Basketball Teams.  The girls game went to Overtime.  And I thought about how many of the games (girls and boys) have been coming down to the last minute and how those 60.0 seconds seem to take so long to complete at the end of a basketball game.  If I told you that you had 11.7 seconds to get something done, you might panic at such a short interval.  BUT, in the last 11.7 sec...