2020 Hindsight

We were in the van this evening, driving to drop something off and I was winding my way through back streets to avoid traffic lights.  And, on the 213th day of 2020, it made me realize that, yesterday, when I tool the girls to the Pediatrician, I found a route to and from that had 0 traffic lights.  And I was very pleased with myself.  And, as I sit here on 7/31/2020, I realize that my 2020 Hinsdsight is the road less traveled.  I know why this pleases me so.  It's because my dad used to do the same.  He seemed to find the back ways to get everywhere to avoid the crowded highways, avoid traffic, avoid traffic lights.  It's just another indication that we cannot fight genetics.  I am a lot like my dad.  And I like that!

As the saying goes, "There is Nothing Certain, but the Uncertain."  And, as we moved through the 121st day of 2020, even the palindromic nature of 7/30/2020 could not remove the discomfort I was feeling today.  There are so many issues on my mind and in the news these days.  Too many to get into specifically, but they are in World Politics, the Environment, the US Election, Covid, College and HS Fall Opening, the lack of Phillies baseball, and the list goes on.  But, we must persevere and my 2020 Hindsight is Courage in the Face of Uncertainty.  Yes, the human brain and human nature seems to object to uncertainty.  But, out of uncertainty also come solutions and possibilities.  Let us focus on those, instead of the worries.

Time is moving so fast.  It's ironic that it seems we are moving so slowly through these COVID times.  But, on the 211th day of 2020, some things happened that made we want to slow down time even so.  On 7/29/2020, I took the girls to the Pediatrician for their physicals.  Haddonfield Peds is 1.5 blocks from our first house in NJ.  The house now has a sign honoring their graduating 5th grader.  Wow.  I went in with them, because I knew I would have to sign forms.  But not for Alexa.  She is now an adult, even at the Peds Office.  And then, in the evening, there was a Senior Sandlot Softball game where Seniors from all over South Jersey came together for a "pick-up" (ok, it was a bit more structured) game under the lights.  Many of these players have been opponents through the years, some of them even teammates.  And I realized with each game, we get closer to the end of Alexa's Mustangs career.  So, tonight, my 2020 Hindsi...

I woke up on the 210th day of 2020 and heard from Breakfast with the Beatles that 7/28/2020 is National Milk Chocolate Day.  In a day where my creative juices are running now and my inspirations are not coming forward easily, my 2020 Hindsight is therefore is mmmmm, Milk Chocolate.  Except for those friends who are allergic, who doesn't like chocolate?  YUM!

The 209th day of 2020 was a long day.  I have to admit to feeling overwhelmed at work on 7/27/2020 and it took me until just now to tame my email box.  But my 2020 Hindsight has nothing to do with my daily work tasks (nor my email).  No, tonight I am thinking about Back to School as my Hindsight.  Because the OEF hosted the Open Forum at the Combined School Board meeting tonight and it was a long presentation (amazingly presented) followed by a bunch of questions (all answered, even if some answers were "great question, I'll get back to you with an answer."  And Penn continues its plans for a Fall opening and students and teachers are excited to get back, but cautious at the same time.  Back to School is where we all want to be.  I pray we can do it safely.

We have been attending a lot of Graduation Parties these days.  They are all outside, socially distanced, and they are different than those we have attended in the past. But, on 7/26/2020, I realized something that never changes.  These celebrations always highlight the support of Family.  And, on the 208th day of 2020, I saw this sign in the backyard of one of the graduates.  It inspired my 2020 Hindsight for today: Family Rules!  And, yes, these rules are excellent advice to implement in one's home, but the other way one could parse that is that family rules (as a verb).  And, that is true, family is the best.  And I am so happy and blessed by my family.  They are helping me get through these times, and I love them for it!