Category: Uncategorized

Hard to imagine another Mother’s Day is here and almost gone. As tradition holds, breakfast was delivered in bed to include waffles bacon and scrambled eggs, orange juice on the side. I’ve come to enjoy these Sunday mornings each year despite the fact that we are now empty-nesters. It was nice that the sunshine bathed us as we lumbered out of the apartment mid-morning to take a long walk with the dog. Found our way to the back roads and a walk through a plowed field along Kulturi Park boundary and one of the many growing areas that are still in the surroundings of this suburban/rural area of Warsaw. The dog was happy to be off leash and Emily relished the sunshine on our backs and the warmth that remained despite the lightly blowing wind and moderate temperatures.

We chanced upon a bicyclist and his wife with their sleeping baby in tow in the carrier caboose and couldn’t help but remember the many years that we had our own two children in a similar one trekking through Washington and Shanghai.

It was a lazy but busy morning. One to remember. Kids scattered around the world, but our family Facetime call at 4:30p followed by virtual church with our friends/family at Mount Cross. Trying to decide if Emily gets another breakfast in a couple of weeks for Mothers Day II – the Polish version. Not sure if it is fair that she gets to double dip like this.

Should be more encouraged by resilience in the most difficult of times, but instead very depressed and dejected at the complicated and daunting situation in Poland and Europe right now. A bit of good news was a picture of the property sent by friends across the water. Uplifting to know, 1) that we will be visiting there now that we are vaccinated, and 2) that there is something I can see on the horizon – the silver lining.

Will chronicle the property development here, but for now, rainbows rule! Thanks, Laurie!!

I take up pen today to reflect on the frustration of the current moment – both personal and global. I’m caught in a cavalcade of conflicting feelings over the current situation as it confronts all of us. I don’t think I’m too far from the average on this and the global implications.

COVID-19 and Keeping School Open

We have a plan and it seems to be working. But, that doesn’t help me sleep better each night because the fear is still relevant and real. We are human, with all the frailties that this implies. We try to feign being indestructible, but we all know full well that the current unforeseen enemy is akin to the tales of David and the sling. We’ve been hit in the forehead with the protein spikes and the giant is falling.

So, while our work is being applauded from around the world, the trepidation of calamity is still in my mind. I’m hopeful of staying the course but thoughtful about what the alternative needs to be. We will prevail, but the question now becomes more political and less medical. We have to stir faith in our protocols in order to push back on political and policy expediency. As the CDC, FDA, and WHO have learned, that can be the greater challenge.

Home and Family and Health

We live in safety, but having the family in regions around the world, we have unique insight into the global implications. We don’t tick the box on third world, but we Poland, Italy and the US in our framework and each gives perspective on the other.

Erin seems settled in Florence and back to normal life. While much of the eating seems to be ordering delivery, there are trips to restaurants back in her life and classes back in face-to-face mode. Doesn’t help us be less fearful for her, but little we can do from a distance.

Jaisen seemed unfazed by the virus in Washington State, completing his BA degree in the at the tail end of the first shutdown and starting his MA degree during the summer (smartest decision he could ever have made). But, still worried about the second wave although Washington seems better than most.

Grandma holding down the family hub in University Place and seems to be reinforcing that we made the right choice to keep her in her home with caregivers under the circumstances in nursing homes and assisted care facilities. She’s so far avoided any significant impact.

Politics and Perplexity

The family have all voted. That’s good. This is Erin’s first election and she’s pumped after participating in some racial protests here in Warsaw in support of equity and tolerance. She’s on the edge of becoming an activist and I’m hopeful that we have inspired these values from our global adventures as a family. We are all anti-Trump which is the rough equivalent of anti-stupidity. I hope the articles about the potential that Trump might still win are just attempts at getting people to turn out and vote. If he pulls off victory in 20 some odd days, I’m not sure that the hope which has been inspired in my by Biden and Harris will survive. Dreadfully concerned still, despite the favorable polls.

Sanity

How to stay sane in all of this. I’m not sure. But, faith is being tested and, yet, I remain hopeful that possibility will emerge from despair.

Stay tuned. We are certainly watching…