2020 Hindsight

Wow - March 2020 - what a nutty month.  Early in the month I was worried because I had two places to be on March 21st (a concert and a family wedding).  On the 91st day of 2020, I looked back on my FB newsfeed from early in the month and laughed.  Little did I know that, by the time March 21st would roll around I wouldn't be going ANYWHERE. The month has only 31 days but, on 3/31/20, it feels like it's been an eternity.  And April looks to be even longer (if one day shorter).  My 2020 Hindsight tonight is the month that was.  I think I will focus on that so I do not focus on the months likely to come.

Well the 90th day of 2020 is in the books.  And 3/30/2020 was Day #16 of the Physical Distancing required due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Not much of note occurred today (Apply TV being setup notwithstanding) so I was wondering what I could focus on for my hindsight tonight.  And I thought back to a conversation I was having with a friend last night (remember, we need to physically distance, but we should remain socially as connected as we can!) and she asked me how I could fit so much kindness into one person.  I thought that was interesting, because I do not find it hard to be kind.  In fact, maybe I am strange, but I get happiness and fulfillment from being kind.  So I guess I am kind as much for me as I am for other people.  My 2020 Hindsight is that it's not hard to be kind.  It takes more muscles to frown than to smile and, especially in these times, everyone could use a little more kindness and empathy.  As the song I posted yesterday s...

It was 25 years ago, during the Easter Season, that I went to the first Egg Hunt at Grandma Weaver's House. I will never forget the fact that, after the Hunt, at the Lunch, we sat down and everyone had a name tent at their place. Including ME! It was a small gesture, but, as someone who had just started dating  Sarah , it really made me feel included and welcome. This year would be my 25th Hunt at Grandma Weaver's (not #26 because I missed Easter 1997 when Sarah was in the  UK) but we will not be there next week. COVID-19 (as you all know) has changed everything. But we think it will happen after things settle down. On the 89th day of 2019, the Oaklyn Civic Association was able to give us a similar experience. Sarah had gone to pick up a kit and, on 3/29/2020, she hid the eggs for  Anna  and  Alexa  and they had a mini hunt of their own. But my 2020 Hindsight is Grandma Weaver's Wonderful Egg Hunts. Can't wait to see her for the 2020 event, even if it i...

I awoke on the 88th day of 2020 and, when I opened up Facebook, I saw my FB memory (posted on my wall) from Phillies Opening Day in 2019, just a year ago.  The Phillies were supposed to open the season this past Thursday and, this Thursday coming up, we were supposed to all go to Phillies Opening Day.  Today was also supposed to be the PRBL Fantasy Baseball Draft.  But on 3/28/2020, I had to settle for watching the Nolan Ryan/Dwight Gooden Game #5 of the 1986 NLCS.  Nolan Ryan threw 140+ pitches and Dwight Gooden pitched into the 10th inning for the first time in his career.  What a game!  What a pitching duel!  watching it both made me happy (to see baseball) and sad (not to see 2020 baseball).  My 2020 Hindsight is that I REALLY miss baseball!  I cannot wait for this all to end (it IS going to end right?) so baseball can come back.

So it's 3/27/2020.  Two weeks ago, I was at work when we got the notice that we'd be working from home until March 31st.  And, on the 87th day of 2020, we were informed that the Remote Campus Operation Protocol would be in place "until further notice."  The past two weeks have been surreal.  What I have noticed is I am quite productive working from my kitchen table, but I need do to a better job of separating when I should be "off the clock."  I had enough trouble with that when there was a river between my office and my house, now there is a stairwell between my bedroom and my "office."  I also need to walk more.  The days I went for a walk around the neighborhood, I felt better.  The weekend will be rainy, but, looking back, I should have walked more, and I think I should moving forward.  My 2020 Hindsight is the weeks that were.  Memories, like the corners of my mind, misty watercolor memories, of the weeks that were.....

Another day inside for the 86th day of 2020, but Sarah and I did get out for another walk with the dog (since the weather was beautiful!)  And then, after work was done, I saw on FB that a friend's son turned 21 today.  And Sarah spent some of 3/26/2020 putting up some decorations for Alexa's Class of 2020 Year (celebrating at home, until we can celebrate in school) and took pictures of the girls in their softball uniforms for the School Yearbook.  And then, at 7PM, Penn's Regular Decisions came out and I, again, realized this is really happening.  "Kids" in my life are turning 21, are celebrating their Senior Years of HS, are getting ready to move on to college.  My 2020 Hindsight is that the kids are growing up.  I mean, it's the progression of life, but I will always look wistfully of the pictures of the "Kids" as kids.

The 85th day of 2020 was our 10th day of quarantine.  And, all through 3/25/2020, all I could think about were the people who have no choice and cannot quarantine.  No, not the folks who are out and about by choice - those people need to get it together and get inside (for others, if not for themselves!)  I thought about the nurses, doctors, other allied medical staff and support.  The police and firefighters, the public works, the grocery workers, truck drivers, mail carriers, delivery people, all people who need to be out and about and, thus, put themselves at a bit of a risk.  We would not be able to operate in our sequesteredness without them.  And I have great appreciation.  My 2020 Hindsight is thanks, to all those out there, working hard - please be safe!

I do not usually like to walk.  But, again, I spent most of the 84th day of 2020 sequestered in my house, at my "desk" at the kitchen table.  It was another work from home day, and a pretty productive one, at that.  But, when Sarah got home (yes, she had to work today and again tomorrow) she told me I really needed to take the dog for a walk.  And, she was right, so I did.  And, you know what, I DID need it.  My 2020 Hindsight is a man, his dog, and a walk that was not that bad.  My legs actually felt better, once I cooled down :-).  Maybe I'll do it again tomorrow!

Another Day (the 83rd of 2020), another COVID-19 related Hindsight post (wonder if my grandkids will find these blog posts and learn some supplemental info for their history class).  As I reflected on the day, on 3/23/20, I could not help that, although this situation sucks, those before us have had it so much worse.  I mean, there is no rationing (as there was in WW II) and there is no draft taking our young men from us (as there was in Vietnam).  As I sit here in my house and I document my feelings I think, we can go outside, we can even shop a bit.  Our routine has changed and there is fear and worry, but think of how good we have it in so many aspects.  My 2020 Hindsight is that it's not great, but we really don't have it THAT bad.  We have a stocked fridge, remote school, remote work for me (Sarah does have to go back to Temple Student Health every other day and that is scary), and a limited ability to get out and at least walk around the block.  ...

So the 82nd day of 2020 is a Sunday, so we needed to start off with a Church Service.  But, on 3/22/20, Church was online again.  This time, we had 94 devices (computers, tablets, smartphones, not-to-smart phones) with over 110 people involved.  And the service was wonderful, the music was lovely (we even got to hear the organ!), and it was great to see all of our church friends in Gallery View on Zoom.  My Hindsight 2020 for today is that online church - not that bad.  I mean, I still prefer the in person services and seeing people in the flesh, but there were so many people we had not seen in a long time online today.  People who moved away, people who have trouble always getting to Church on Sunday, new people!  All were welcome and I look forward to seeing this grow while we remain quarantined.  And I REALLY look forward to us all being back at 4th and Race when this is all over!

With apologies, the post for the 81st day of 2020 will, again, have a COVID-19 theme.  Because, as we sat inside again on 3/21/2020 (I did venture out to go to the Dry Cleaner and sat out back on my patio for some sun), I cannot help but look back and think what could have been done differently to have lessened the impact of the coronavirus.  And, my 2020 Hindsight tonight is wondering, "are we doing all we can?"  I see many people not taking this as serious as I think it should be.  And I hope these people do not make it worse.  I waffle between thinking this is the end of days and wondering if we are overreacting a bit.  I have no idea, of course, so better safe than sorry.  In the meantime, we will hunker down, try to help as many local businesses as we can while following the NJ State rules, and hope this runs its course and ends sooner than later.  Let's all do our part and hopefully it is enough!  Stay safe and healthy all!

So the Hindsights seem to be of the same theme for the past few days.  Because, of course, the 80th day of 2020 was spent the same as many of the days this week, in the house.  Again, it was a productive day working from home and the kids got their schoolwork done, but on 3/20/2020 all I could think of is that this has just been one week....and we may have many more to go.  My 2020 Hindsight is one week down, and all we can do is take it one week at a time.

Well, we spent the entirety of Day #79 of 2020 inside our house.  It's the 4th day of our sequestering inside and, except for going out to shop, I am not sure when the next time we will leave the house will be.  And, I will admit, we're getting a little stir crazy.  My 2020 Hindsight for 3/19/2020 is it's only been four days.  Is it going to be 7-8 weeks more?

It was the 77th day of 1969 at 6:17PM when I came into the world but because 2020 is a Leap Year, my 51st birthday is on the 78th day of 2020.  I arrived a month early (my mom was worried I was too small so she started feeding me and I have not stopped eating since!) I arrived.  And, 51 years later, I was able to spend ALL of my 51st birthday with my family.  So, sure, I was sequestered at home and working from home at the same time.  But how could I be sad with my family.  And we Face Timed other family members and celebrated with them as well.  So, my Hindsight 2020 is 6:17PM, 3 x 17 Years Ago.  The West Philadelphia Sherrs became a family of three, soon to be four, and soon to be CA Sherrs, CA van Roodes, and NJ Sherrs.  I cannot wait to see what the next 51 or so years have to bring and how many more families we will create.  Thanks for all of the texts, FB messages, wall posts, comments on Sarah's post, etc.  It certainly makes one ...

The 77th day was a palindrome, but it was also a LONG day at work.  I woke up on 3/17/2020, put on my St. Paddy's day tie (the Wawa cashier loved it, she's been asking about it for two weeks), and went into work.  I was one of two people working on the floor (two other colleagues were in the campus command center assisting with student issues).  I completed tasks for the project, attending online meetings, and configured computers so our employees could work remotely.  All pretty much alone.  Yes, I was productive at work, but something was missing.  My Hindsight 2020 is that I prefer people.  I think that may be the hardest part of social distancing for me.  I need personal interactions.  I am going to need a lot of video chats.  I miss you all!!

The 76th day of 2020 was our first day of homeboundness.  On 3/16/2020, Sarah was home from work, I was working remote, and Alexa and Anna started their first day of remote school.  It was not that bad of a day but boy did it crawl.  And it's only the first day.  Maybe this will start to feel more normal after a few more days, but it is so weird.  My 2020 Hindsight was "boy, that was a long first day."  And we have many more ahead.  Stay safe and healthy everyone!  And WASH your HANDS! :-D

On most Sundays, my family starts the day off by going to Church.  Sure, there are times when vacation or other events/travel get in the way, but I'd like to think of us as one of the "regulars" at Sunday worship.  But we weren't there on the 75th day of 2020.  But very few people were at 4th and Race on 3/15/2020.  Social Distancing was being practiced and we all participated by viewing some materials online (including an amazing sermon from Michael Caine) and then something I never thought of happened.  We opened up a Zoom Conference and there were 40+ members all online.  The gallery of congregants was amazing.  It was great to see so many of the faces we see in the Church most Sundays, to hear their voices, to pray with and for them, to laugh and to cry with them, and to be, dare I say, in online fellowship.  Yes, tonight's 2020 Hindsight is my appreciation for the congregation of Old First Reformed UCC.  Sure we were online and it's stil...

We spent most of the 74th day in the house.  Yes, we are social distancing on 3/14/2020 and only half of us ventured out for lunch.  Yes, we also celebrated the March Birthdays today.  My 2020 Hindsight is Family Borthdays.  So happy to share the day with Kevin (my Godson) and Bill (my Grandfather in Law).  This is a family tradition that is very special and I am glad it continues.

It was an interesting Friday the 13th on the 73rd day of 2020.  3/13/2020 started off with an ominous sky and included an edict from the job for Penn Staff to work remotely (a LOT of scrambling) , and ended with some people in the household not feeling that well (no, I do not think it is COVID-19, but nonetheless....).  But my hindsight 2020 is that we're not that unlucky today.  Good chance we'll all feel better in the morning (since we can sleep in with all things cancelled).  We have a pantry and fridge filled with food.  We have DVRed shows to watch, food to eat, and we're together as a family and ready to hunker down, if needed.  Friday the 13th, we'll see you again in a few months.  Until then, we're gonna consider ourselves lucky!

When I was a kid, I did a lot of theater.  Children's Theater at the Univ. City Arts League and three shows (Grease, Sound of Music, and South Pacific) in High School.  On the 72nd day of 2020, we had a family-only preview performance show of Legally Blonde. And I loved it.  I love that Anna is so excited to perform and I love watching her up there shining.  On 3/12/2020, I sat back and smiled.  I have a "theater kid!"  And my Hindsight 2020 is that I love my theater kid.  And I cannot wait until this pandemic passes and we can watch more performances of this show.  Great job, kids!

The 71st day of 2020 ended well. I rushed home from work on 3/11/2020 because I, and my good friend  Chris Sammon  volunteered to umpire a LL softball scrimmage. It made me think, when life is crazy, the Little League Field is a respite from the bad news and stressful events. My 2020 Hindsight is Umping as a Respite from life’s hardships. Thank goodness they asked us and thank goodness we had the time.

Sadly, the 70th day of 2020 consisted of me thinking a lot about the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.  A lot happened on 3/10/2020, campuses are going online (and some sending their students home), reports in the news are confusing and nerve wracking, schools in NJ are trying to figure out how to reply, travel has been cancelled, the Ivy League Basketball Tournament cancelled as well. It's tiring.  But my hindsight 2020 is trying to remain calm.  There is no reason to worry about things I cannot control.  SURE, we need to be smart (WASH YOUR HANDS), we need to be aware, but we should NOT be afraid.  Let's keep calm, everyone, we'll make better decisions if we are.

I left work kinda late on the 69th day of 2020.  But, as I left the Franklin Building at 6:35PM on 3/9/2020, it was STILL light outside!  Why?  Because we sprung forward and it is now Daylight Savings Time.  I know people are annoyed by changing time twice a year, but I think we should just stay in DST.  Days are getting longer and longer and I am loving it.  My 2020 Hindsight is let's stay on DST!  It's one of the few things on which Marco Rubio and I agree!

The 68th day of 2020 was the last day of the Philadelphia Flower Show.  SO, on 3/8/2020, I dropped Sarah and the girls at the Flower Show for their annual pilgrimage.  I have to admit I do not prefer seeing the Flower Show in person, but I LOVE looking at the pictures Sarah posts each year, on FB.  It's a sign of the coming Spring.  Spring brings warmth, hope, and the Little League season.  Things I am looking forward too as I review my 2020 Hindsight, a Flower Show tradition that Sarah and the girls have had for years, and I hope they continue on for many more.

On the evening of the 67th day of 2020, Sarah and I went to a fun party.  The OEF had a Fundraiser Winter Ball and it was filled with music, laughter, fun, friends, and food.  And, on 3/7/2020, I thought about how much has changed in a year!  My 2020 Hindsight is the formation of the OEF Board.  From a post on FB asking for interested people to a group of people who pulled off a fun community event that raised money (and whiteboard markers) for our town's school, its students and its teachers.  I am so glad that people replied - and really glad that the people who replied are so fun and easy to work with.  Look forward to a lot of good work (and fun) in the future!

On the 66th day of 2020, I said goodbye, again.  On 3/6/2020 it was to someTHING this time, not someONE.  I watched the Penn Men's Basketball Team beat Cornell tonight and, as the game was ending, I realized this will be the last basketball game I might see for 8-9 months.  I hope that both of our teams make the postseason and there is a chance that they may host an NIT game (if they do not make the NCAA Tournament) but, just in case, my 2020 Hindsight for tonight is Goodbye (for now), Palestra.  It is truly the best place to watch a game (The Cathedral of Basketball, College Basketball's most HISTORIC gym) and I am so lucky to be able to go there whenever there is a game.

A rare thing happened in the evening of the 65th day of 2020.  Yes, the whole family was in the family room on 3/5/2020 watching Grey's Anatomy on the actual day the episode was first aired.  A rare occurrence for a busy family.  And, in the episode, we all said goodbye to Dr. Karev.  One of the few original characters left from the 1st season, FIFTEEN years ago.  It's been a long journey with him, and I have enjoyed his development.  But, tonight, my 2020 Hindsight is Goodbye, Alex Karev.  We'll miss you.

So the 64th day of 2020 is National Son's Day.  And on 3/4/2020, I saw many posts on FB of parents extolling their love for their sons.  And it got me thinking, I don't have a son to praise today (but I did say nice things about my awesome Godsons), but one cannot be an amazing son without amazing parents.  So, tonight my 2020 Hindsight is one can't be a son without parents!  So, if I am an amazing son, then it's because of my amazing parents and they should be the one taking a bow!  <3

Something we were not prepared for happened on the 63rd day of 2020.  On 3/3/2020, Collingswood Girls Basketball hosted a first round playoff game.  I have to admit, I knew that their opponent was a tough opponent (we went 1-1 against them during the regular season) but I was not prepared for the results.  Collingswood went out to a 7-0 lead but it would not be held and, when all was said and done, the other team won 43-29.  So, there it is, Alexa walked off the court with just under 2 minutes to go.  This was the last time she would leave the playing court for an organized basketball game.  And thus ends a journey that began in the 4th grade.  Travel Basketball through Rec, through Middle School. through JV and now on to Varsity.  So many amazing coaches, many more amazing teammates, wonderful community with the basketball parents and family members... they will all be missed.  My 2020 Hindsight is when basketball comes to and end.  Mor...

I woke up on the 62nd day of 2020, looked at my phone, and realized that it has been SEVEN years since Koob and Kristy were married.  And, on 3/2/2020, I remembered that I married them.  No, we are not in a poly-amorous relationship, I was the officiant at  their wedding.  What a wonderful day that was!  And, seven years later it remains one of the most profound moments in my life.  My 2020 Hindsight is marrying someone 7 years ago.  I do not think I will ever do it again, because this was just a perfect time.

On the 61st day of 2020 I was reminded that it has been twenty years that my parents (and, following them, most of my immediate family) moved to the West Coast.  Yes, I saw my mom post on FB that twenty years before 3/1/2020, they moved to Moraga, CA since my dad had a job in San Francisco.  It was going to be a short-term move, but the climate and the outdoors environment have been such good experiences for them, that they've decided to stay.  And thank goodness for vacations, for phone calls, for FaceTime, for Facebook, for that matter, and the myriad ways that we have stayed in touch.  Sure, we are not physically present with each other as much as we might have been, but we also never take any moment we have together for granted!  My 2020 Hindsight is 20 years on opposite coasts.  In this case, distance has made the heart grow fonder, and our family bonds stay strong!