Captain’s Log – Day 25

Captain’s Log – Day 25

Good Morning and Happy Good Friday My Friends!

When I was a kid, I could never understand why it was called “Good” Friday. If it is commemorating such a dark and bleak event, why in the world would it be called “Good” Friday? I think the Germans who call it “Karfreitag” which means “Sorrowful Friday” are much more accurate in naming this holy day.

Our Passover/Easter celebrations will look very different this year. I know we all miss getting together with family and friends but we need to make these sacrifices in order for the world to return to some sort of normalcy someday soon.

I did manage to finally find some potatoes so I’m planning on making latkes this weekend. I wasn’t able to make them in time for Passover but better late than never.

I wish you all a very Good Friday and I hope you all have a great weekend. Happy Easter to you and your family if you celebrate.

Stay safe and take care.















Physically distant but socially engaged,
~ MB

Captain’s Log – Day 24

Captain’s Log – Day 24



Good Morning Friends –

I’ve got sunshine, even on a cloudy day. These are certainly some dark and difficult times but we cannot give up hope. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only we remember to turn on the light. If there is no light to turn on, we must be the light. Let’s all do whatever we can to make our little piece of the world a slightly better place today and every day.

Happiness is amazing. It’s so amazing, it doesn’t matter if it’s yours or not. Happiness is not only fulfilling our own needs and wants but being able to put someone else’s needs ahead of our own. It’s looking for ways to help without looking for anything in return.

A society grows great when old man plant trees the shade of which they know they will never sit in. Despite what we all see on the news, there is good out there. Unfortunately, the bad news gets higher ratings so we don’t get to see that much of it.

Good people do things for other people. That’s it. The end. Put a little good out there every day. We need it now more than ever.

Stay safe, shine your light and have a great day.







Peace out.

Physically distant but socially engaged,
~ MB

Captain’s Log – Day 23 – Multitasking and Happy Passover

Captain’s Log – Day 23 – Multitasking and Happy Passover

Good Morning My Friends –

How’s everyone doing these days? I got up a bit later than usual this morning but, thankfully, the traffic from the bedroom to the kitchen for coffee and then to the office was clear so I still made it to work on time.

Even though we are being forced to live in our own small worlds right now, I feel as if we are multitasking more than ever. Parents are trying to work, teach and take care of the house all at the same time. We are trying to take care of everyone and everything in new ways. We are caring for neighbors and friends and doing what we can for those most at risk. There is no time to get away because there is nowhere for us to go. How will we maintain our sanity through all of this? Even simple things like making dinner has become a whole new challenge. What used to be a quick trip to the market to pick up something needed for dinner now takes hours and it is likely the store doesn’t have whatever we wanted anyway so we have to adapt and get what we can and make the best of it. We need to cut ourselves some slack and remember that we are only one person and can only do so much at one time. Stay calm and do what you can do given the circumstances we are in.

Most of us are pros at multitasking but it is not possible to do it ALL well. In our profession, we are used to multitasking and jumping from one project to another without missing a beat but the tasks we are trying to do now are not the same and they require more attention than our multitasking brains can handle. I think we all need to just take it one task at a time and do our best. Multitasking is just a fancy way of saying that we’re not giving anything our full attention. Sometimes the music sounds better a cappella than it does with dozens of different instruments being played at the same time.

*


*Only those who attempt the absurd achieve the impossible ~ Albert Einstein

For those celebrating Passover tonight – Chag Sameach!

Passover is about celebrating freedom and we don’t have a lot of freedoms right now. The plague element of the Passover story feels very real for the first time in my life. Some people are saying we are living through the 11th plague. It is sad we will not be able to be together with family and friends for Passover this year but we will be together in spirit and will have much to celebrate come Passover next year.



Peace out.

Physically distant but socially engaged,
~ MB

Captain’s Log – Day 22

Captain’s Log – Day 22

The question of the day is “What if???”
What if they cancel the rest of the school year?
Students would miss 2.5 months of education. Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this.
Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education but what if…
What if instead of falling “behind," this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this?
What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing.
What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet.
What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?
What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home?
What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less?
What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home?
What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?
What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place?
What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?
What if they are AHEAD?
What if….
~Author Unknown

They say everything happens for a reason. What if the reason for all of this is to teach us to slow down and appreciate what is really important in this life?

What if….

I hope you all have a great day.

Peace out.



Physically distant but socially engaged,
~ MB

Captain’s Log – Day 21

Captain’s Log – Day 21

Good Morning Friends –

I hope you all had a good weekend. We spent some time cleaning up the yard yesterday and it almost felt as if it were a normal day doing chores around the house. Of course, that was only until we ran out of lawn bags and we weren’t going to just run to the store and get more. They say it takes 21 days to create a new habit so we should be used to our new routine now.

This has not been easy for any of us but, thankfully, most of us are just dealing with inconveniences and disruptions in our routines but we are healthy and safe. We have more than we need to get through this but we need to find ways to deal with the stress and worry. We must continue to isolate to give those trying to save lives a fighting chance.

This is going to be an especially tough week as many would be preparing for Passover or Easter celebrations with family. There will be no family get-togethers for the foreseeable future but we must do what is necessary in order to get back to living our lives on the outside. Our celebrations will be much different this year. We will not be able to have our family gathered around the table but we will be reminded of how much we cherish those memories of past celebrations and how much we look forward to having them again in the future.

Here’s another poem from my friend, Janet, I thought I’d share:

I miss our Sunday dinners with a table full of love
They’re the memories that I treasure and never tire of.
All the social gatherings that are in a holding phase
As we patiently wait for word that we’re heading for normal days.
The days all overlap and it’s like the world stood still
This can only make us stronger and I pray to God it will.
I’ll never take for granted things I may have in the past
The severity of this virus has left us all aghast.
We must all be extra mindful as we’re heading towards the peak
Sending positive thoughts as we enter a brand new week.
~ Janet Surrett

It seems as if we are living out an Alanis Morissette song - Isn’t it Ironic: Passover canceled because of a plague.










Stay strong my friends. Peace out.

Physically distant but socially engaged,
~ MB

Captain's Log - Day 18 – Separate but Together

Captain's Log - Day 18 – Separate but Together



Whenever we experience a traumatic event, we often look forward to just getting back to normal. We long for the days when we only had to deal with the silly everyday annoyances such as traffic, work problems, family disagreements and other trivial issues that seemed oh so important until we were faced with a real, life altering problem. We are quickly reminded that all of those little annoyances are just part of life and don’t mean a damn thing in the grand scheme of things. We’ve never had to deal with something this big. Even those who fought and survived brutal wars took some comfort in knowing their loved ones were safe back home. We have no such comforts now because everyone is at risk but we can do our part to make things better by staying home.

Just a few weeks ago we went to sleep in one world and woke up in another. Suddenly, there are no sports to watch, no parties, graduations or weddings to attend, no important meetings or vacations to go to, Disney has no more magic, Paris is no longer romantic, New York - the city that never sleeps, is sleeping. Staying home on a Friday night is no longer a choice but a requirement. Not visiting family and friends is now an act of love. Like those days after 9/11, we are, once again, reminded of what is important in this life. We all came together then and flew our flags with pride. We need to come together now more than ever. In times like these, it is evident that power is not that valuable and money is not that powerful. This virus does not care where you came from, where you went to school, how much money you make, who you voted for or what color your skin is – we are all in this together.

Some things in life are replaceable but the truly important things cannot be bought or replaced. Things like homes, jobs, cars, and material stuff can all be replaced. The important things like memories, family, and friends are priceless and irreplaceable so make sure you do everything in your power to keep your priorities straight and all your important things safe. Remember, we are all in this together.

Take care my friends. Peace out.









PS. I cringe after reading every one of these logs after they have gone out. I’m so embarrassed to find typos in almost every single one of them. My apologies.

Captain's Log - Day 17 - No Words

Captain's Log - Day 17 - No Words
Good Morning Friends –

I don’t know what I was thinking but I broke my news limitation diet last night and I think I short circuited my brain. I can’t even wrap my head around the enormity of the situation we’re in.
I’m at a loss for words today. They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words so this is all I’ve got today….



Here’s hoping we’ll be able to get out and see the rainbows again soon.

Have a good day and please let me know if you need help with anything.

Peace out.

Captain’s Log – Day 16 – It’s a Whole New World

Captain’s Log – Day 16 – It’s a Whole New World

Good Morning Friends –

Every morning I wake up and think this has all been a crazy dream or some elaborate April Fools prank, but, sadly, Ashton Kutcher is not going to pop up and tell us we’ve been punked. This is our reality and I think April Fools pranks should be canceled just like everything else these days.

Is this really our new normal? It’s amazing how our day-to-day lives have changed so quickly. We no longer spend time commuting or meeting up with friends for lunch. We don’t go to the gym or out to dinner. We have separation stickers on the store floors and sneeze guards on cashier checkout stands. We have learned the new dance of distance as two walkers approach each other on the streets. It seems disrespectful to even think about our inconveniences while hundreds of thousands of people are fighting for their lives, and for the lives of others. There is no doubt that this event has already altered the planet and shifted how we will live. Long after the story fades from the news cycles, we'll be living with the permanently altered landscape of a society that's far more aware of the dangers of invisible pathogens. Will I ever grab on to the pole on a green line train again without thinking about what might be on it? Will we all be wearing masks? The politicians talk about timelines for returning to something approaching normal, yet I wonder what "normal" is, and whether or not that's something we should be holding out there for ourselves, like a giant carrot at the end of a very long stick. Normal is relative. We will have to adapt and find our new normal. Normal didn't exist before reports started emerging of this mysterious new virus, and it doesn't exist now. The world has changed and there's no going back to the way things were. This is the end of the world as we know it and I’m not sure what it will look like when we are given the ok to go back to the office and start socializing again. Will we still shake hands? Will we go back to carrying reusable shopping bags? Will we continue to stockpile toilet paper? What will our new normal look like?

One of the few certainties in life is that things are going to change. We will soon have to learn how to live in this new world and what changes, if any, were for the better. We’ve been forced to take time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and slow down, way down. Let’s try to focus on all the good things that we can learn from this bad situation. I take some comfort in knowing that we are ALL in this together. We all need to take care of each other and make sacrifices now so we can get past this and move on in the new world.

Say goodbye to March, it’s time to turn the page

As we gear up for April let me set the stage.

We’ll adhere to social distancing and follow all the rules

It can’t be very difficult as we’ve been given all the tools.

Stop hoarding all the goods because someone needs it more

Think hard about your wants before you walk into a store.

Check on friends and family because they may not be okay

Just a simple cheerful phone call could really make their day.

Pay it forward if you can during these very troubling times

Especially to the angels who are working the front lines.

We’ll return to a sense of normalcy if everyone is smart

I believe this too shall pass if we simply do our part.

~J. Surette

Peace out.

Captain’s Log – Day 15 – Destination Unknown

Captain’s Log – Day 15 – Destination Unknown

It is light year 2020, on what feels like the 99th day of March, where we find ourselves in a place we couldn’t have imagined a year or even six months ago.

Observations have indicated that the crew is living on the edge due to the fact that our destination is unknown. Not only do we have no any idea where we’re going but we have no clue how long it will take us to get there or when we’ll be able to find our way back home. We all miss our friends and family but we are on a mission to save lives. We must stay strong and do what we have to do in order for our mission to be successful. There are always uncertainties in life as much as we like to pretend we have some control. Our current orders are to stay the course, take care of the things we can control and let go of everything else. Just do your job. It is as essential to the mission’s success as the person who is fighting on the front lines.

The good news is that when you don’t have a clear destination set, you can wander around and find some incredible places you never would have known existed. Below are pictures from a Field Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard that we stumbled upon while exploring the island with no set destination in mind. Get out and explore a new neighborhood or trail. You never know what you may find.













Where am I goin'?
I don't know
Where am I headin'?
I ain't certain
All that I know
Is I am on my way
When will I be there?
I don't know
When will I get there?
I ain't certain
All that I know
Is I am on my way
~Paint Your Wagon

Captain's Log - Day 14 - Blessings in Disguise


Hello My Friends –

I hope you all had a good weekend, enjoyed some sunshine on Saturday and stayed safe and connected - all while remaining at a safe social distance.

As difficult as things are around the world right now, I consider us all extremely lucky. While all our lives have been disrupted and inconvenienced, we have the technology that allows us to work and continue to stay connected with friends and family. My friends and I used the Zoom app to play games together Saturday night (Left/Right/Center) and I’ve been able to connect with others through Face Time, FB messenger, a text or a good old fashion telephone call. I believe we all lucky to have everything we “need” (food, clothing, shelter) and we just need to handle the inconveniences of the situation and go without some of our “wants” for a while. To keep my sanity, I’ve limited my news consumption to 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night in order to stay informed. These 24 hour news channels basically repeat the same information all day long so get what you need and then turn it off. I guarantee it will be good for your mental health.

While reminiscing with friends over the weekend, we were all saying how much harder this would have been if we had to do this without the technology we have now. We were trying to remember how any of us were able to meet up in the days before cell phones. How did we ever find anyone down the beach? If we planned to meet “in the square” and someone didn’t show up at the agreed upon time, how long did we wait for them before eventually moving on with the plans and hoping they would catch up or standing around the pay phone waiting for someone to call it and let us know the new plan.

Right now we are being forced to adapt to this new normal and since there isn’t anything we can do about it, we need to find ways to make the best of the situation. The quicker we get everyone to do their part to stay isolated, the sooner we can get through this.

If you’ve ever seen the movie Evan Almighty, you might remember the scene where Morgan Freeman’s G-d character says:

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient?
If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous?

If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

We have been given this rare opportunity to slow down and, while the reason for it is scary and stressful, we should try to make the most of it and find all the blessings and opportunities it is providing us.

For your viewing pleasure, here are a few photos from the “most photographed church in Vermont.” I’m not surprised it has been given that distinction since I must have hundreds of it from every season over the past 30+ years. No matter how many times I’ve taken this photo, each one is unique whether because of the change in seasons, the lighting or the people there at that moment in time. If you’ve ever taken a foliage tour of Vermont, you would likely have made a stop here. It is located right up the road from my in-laws tree farm on Rt. 25 in Waits River. I’ve seen it on calendars, placemats, postcards, puzzles and all sorts of tourist materials.

We always got a good laugh when our crazy neighbor thought she could prevent people from taking pictures of the church by posting a sign saying “views from this property are registered, photographing them is against the law.” Sorry Ms. Morrison - the views are there for all of us to enjoy.

I hope you take the opportunity to slow down and enjoy some new views.













Please reach out if you need help with anything.

Peace out, my friends.

Captain's Log - Day 11 - Happy Friday!

Captain’s Log – Day 11 - Happy Friday!
Good Morning Friends –

I hope you are well and doing the best you can under these crazy circumstances we are all in.

I’m sure we all have those projects we’ve put off because we can never find the time to do them. Consider this your ticket to get all those project’s done. I’m still plugging away on my photo project and having fun tripping down memory lane. I’ve been sharing many of the photos with friends and family and they’ve been digging out their photos and sharing them too.

It looks like we will have some good weather here in Boston, at least for tomorrow, so I hope you all get out and enjoy it. The walls sure feel like they’re closing these past couple of weeks. Of course, stay safe and keep your distance but it will do your body and your mind some good to get outside. Another perk of our current situation is gas is cheap and there’s hardly any traffic.

Well, hello Sunshine, my old friend:





 

 

To all my fellow Patriot fans, I hope you have fun celebrate 3/28 tomorrow.





Have a great weekend. Stay safe and keep your distance.

Captain's Log - Day 9 - This is Your Life

                    

Good Morning Friends -

Are you settled in to your new home office for the long haul? Have you been working on house projects that you never seem to find the time to do? Have you been getting out for some fresh air and sunshine? We are all worried about physical health but I think our metal health is just as important and will have a lasting impact on the rest of our lives.

  

I’m still working on my photo sorting project. Last night I was reliving so may fantastic memories and thought “this is your life.” All my loved ones, friends, family, places I’ve been, all right here in these boxes of pictures. Digital is great and it certainly takes less time, space and money but most of our photos stay trapped on our computers or phones after we text or email them to a few people. There’s something about holding a physical picture just like holding a real paper book. It’s not the same as looking on a screen. We no longer have to be selective about how many photos we take as long as we have enough storage on our devices or in the cloud. We can take thousands in the matter of minutes. Back in the day, we only got 12, 24 or 36 pictures to a roll so we had to use them wisely or carry a big stash of film (which I always did). Not only was it expensive for film and developing but you would then have to hold your breath as you opened the developed photos after waiting over a week just hoping you were lucky enough to get a few really good shots. I’m sure many of you have never even had to load or change a roll of film. Yes, I know, I’m old.

 

I remember being at a Boston Celtics/Chicago Bulls game that went into triple overtime. It was a battle between Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. I was able to sneak down to the court and sit down next to the row of photographers with my camera/zoom lens in hand. The sad part was that I had already run out of film so I was just pretending to take pictures. These pictures were from a different game but probably my last pictures of Michael Jordan in the Boston Garden:

 

   

 

Does anyone remember the show “This is Your Life”? It was before my time, I’m not that old, but I remember seeing reruns of it. At the start of each episode, the host of the show would surprise a mystery guest (typically a celebrity of some kind). Consulting the series' trademark red book, the guest is told that "This is your life!" and is then transported to a previously-prepared television studio. As the host recounted important events in the person's life, the guest was reunited with family members, old friends, and other important figures from their past and present.

              

 

The subjects of This is Your Life were kept in the dark until they were on a live TV where every little detail of their lives might be examined. It's not hard to believe that some of them were bound to be a bit unhappy about the situation. Some of the subjects found out about the show in advance and flat out refused to appear. The show was not without concern about what the shock of being brought to a live show might do to an unsuspecting guest. However, most of the subjects relaxed after the initial shock and enjoyed meeting friends, acquaintances, and relatives that they hadn't seen in a long time. Imagine seeing your fifth grade teacher who helped you with a reading problem when you were ten years old, or an Aunt who took your family in during the depression? Or who you spent time with in isolation during the virus pandemic? Or someone who you saved from drowning when you were 20-years-old and they were 4-years-old? Or the casting director who gave you your first job in show business thirty years ago?

Would you be happy to be the subject of “This is Your Life”? What would your “Red Book” say? Ten or twenty years from now, what will you remember about the corona virus pandemic of 2020? Will you remember the difficulties of getting toilet paper or will you remember having the opportunity to slow down and spend time with your family? Will you have developed a new skill or found a new passion now that you have more time in your day not having to commute? What do you think you will remember about these days? I’m hoping I’ll remember how we all eventually realized that we had to do what was necessary to save lives. The sooner we all socially isolate the sooner we’ll be able to get back to socializing again. It’s hard to believe just a few short weeks ago we were all happy to be staring at our screens and now that that is pretty much all we can do, we want to get out and connect in person. I am thankful for the technology we have so we can at least stay connected through the screens. My friend’s company even started having social gatherings by video conference just to see each other face to face safely through a screen. As much as we may be isolated, we are not alone.  

Take care my friends. Have a great day and, as always, please let me know if you need help with anything.

Hang in there. We can do this!

Stay connected but

PS. Sorry for being so late with today’s log but I had some actual work to do which has to take priority. I’ve already gotten a few e-mails asking “Are you ok? Haven’t heard from you this morning. I look forward to your emails in the morning!  Just checking that you are all right.” Glad you are enjoying these and thanks for checking in on me. You guys are the best!!!

Peace out my friends.