October events

 October 6 was a happy day for our families. It was the day our great grandson was born. His name is Louis William White and will be called Loui. We have seen pictures of him,  but still haven't seen him in person. We look forward to that time.

I also stopped playing with our string quartet as my eyesight is fading from glaucoma  and Lib is in need of physical therapy. At the end of the month Lib and I both severed our participation in the Branderbells. We are slowing down  as age intervenes in what we can physically handle. We are still able to take care of ourselves and most of the small needs and repairs in our home. 

Top photo is Louis William White, middle picture he is held by his mother, Michele, and the last pic is him being held by his father, Dan White.

CLASS REUNION/BIRTHDAY PARTY

                   FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022

What a full and exciting day this was! Lib and I had two very significant events to attend and they were 100 miles apart.  

The first was her high school reunion with the class of 1957. The first class of the newly consolidated Turner Ashby HS in Rockingham County, Virginia. They had been meeting every 5 years for some time at the Traditions Restaurant near Harrisonburg. 

  Lib and I are beginning to feel the effects of advanced age so decided to attend this one. We were to meet there around 12 pm and have lunch and leave around 3 pm to return home and attend a birthday party for Andy Certner (violinist/violist) a musical friend in our area at 6:30.

   The weather was uncharacteristically clear and cool and the drive up I-64 and over Afton Mountain was pleasant and uneventful. I-81 was also less crowded and frenetic. We made it in plenty of time. 

We enjoyed reconnecting with about 25 or so classmates (estimate) and their husbands and wives. We missed seeing some that lived in the area and enjoyed some who had come a distance. Lib especially was glad to see Emily Kiser, a  friend who had journeyed from near Orlando, Fla. for the occasion. There was mentioned a new interval for the reunion of each year, the first Friday in June. 

   We left around 3 pm which would give us 40 minutes extra to drive back to Richmond, freshen up and drive the 35 minutes to our birthday celebration for a musical friend, who just happens to live a few blocks from our West Richmond Church of the Brethren.

   Near Staunton, Va. there was a crash on I-81 and we were delayed 25 minutes. On I-64 near Charlottesville, we saw the aftermath of a westbound crash involving a 16-wheeler. We arrived home at 5:50 and really scurried to prepare for our next party.

   After purchasing more gasoline we were on the road again and made it to our party by 6:40. 

It was a gala event for our quartet’s 1st violinist’s 70 birthday at their home! I estimated about 20+ were there for this very happy gathering. As most of us were musicians we had much in common to share about life experiences. Linda had prepared a sumptuous and tasty variety of light foods and desserts! The party was held outside on their sumptuous desk. What a wonderful way to end one of our most active days!

Putin Invades Ukraine

 As this blog is diary-like in form, some of it may be a little hazy on exact dates. Since this occurrence was so world-shaking I checked out the dates. Early on in January or perhaps even earlier Russia had been assembling what appeared to be a huge preparation for an invasion of Ukraine on the Russian border. Putin insisted he was only setting up a defense exercise that he had no intentions of invading his neighbor. NATO and American intelligence noted that there were hospital and backup structures to back up a real invasion. Satellite images showed numerous tanks and military vehicles parked in a neat row after row. Predictions by military experts began predicting when the operation might begin. Much of the world was in disbelief including the prime minister of Ukraine, who reminded the world that much of Ukraine spoke Russian and had family ties with Russia. A number of years previously Putin had tried a smaller incursion into southern Ukraine and failed. Follows a description I borrowed so as to have the date exact.

"Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The attack is internationally considered a war of aggression. It has triggered Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with over 3.8 million Ukrainians leaving the country, and millions more being internally displaced.'''

A horrible war began, something which normal people never imagined could happen again. Narratives suggest that Putin thought that his lightning-fast penetration would be welcomed with open arms by the Ukrainian populace.  It wasn't. The Russian troops were repelled in many places. What was supposed to be over in 3 days dragged out. It appeared the Russian military was not well trained nor supplied with the necessary equipment.  The Ukrainians fought back fiercely. The Russians began to shell and bomb the civilian populations in their dwellings, their hospitals, and schools.  It was similar to the Nazi blitzkrieg of World War II. The Ukrainian Prime minister remained with his people. He and his family are prime targets for assassination. He has become a knight in shining armor, guiding and encouraging his nation to repel the evil dreams of conquest by Putin. Several times Putin has threatened atomic retaliation and that has been rejected by rational people on all sides. 

Now the struggle appears to have reached a stalemate. Millions in Ukraine have become refugees. Poland has received a million. America has agreed to fast tract a hundred thousand. Many Ukrainian cities have been bombed into rubble. Half of its children have left the country. As the world slowly recovers from Covid it must now confront the evil that derives from the ambitions of powerful rulers. War is a greater threat to mankind than a microscopic virus.  Lord have mercy!!

MASKS OFF!! MAY 14

 Well, Well, Well!  The CDC says totally vaccinated may remove their masks in most circumstances. Must be masked in doctor's office, nursing homes, and where businesses require. Doesn't say how we're to authenticate. At least the number of deaths and new cases has dropped significantly.

Encountered a warning that this site may not be safe and may be phished. Not sure why? My understanding is that it is run by Google, yet Chrome warns to get the latest version so as not to be bamboozled I suppose. 

Just wanted to remember what day this year we received the news.

A FUTURE TO ANTICIPATE

 It's been a week ago that Lib and I received our final Covid jabs. I had no immediate reaction but the next day felt as if I had the slight flu, just achey, sort of weak, and didn't do anything except nap and then go to bed early. Next morning I felt much better, Lib had a sore arm from the stick and next morning felt very faint for about an hour. She  also felt do less for the day and seemed to recover a little more slowly. In another week we should be much safer ...though to tell the truth we haven't lost a lot of sleep over it. 

Last year we had no snow to speak of. This year we had at least 2 little snows and Spring has been more normal with weeks of warmth followed by some freezing temps. We've had a professional service treat our lawn and it has grown rapidly on the warm and wet days. I mowed for the 2cnd time this afternoon, March 3rd. 

As time goes by and the huge nationwide vaccination program continues to put jabs in arms we should soon be reaching a safe level approximating normalcy. At some point, society will no longer need to wear masks and hugs and other family interactions will not feel slightly risky. All along normal behaviors have not posed grave risks, in my opinion, but just as the polio epidemics of the 50's, those who DID contract the disease often paid with their lives or lifetimes of disability. I remember not being allowed to swim in public pools because that was a place thought to be a good breeding ground. 

So Spring is bursting out all over. Biden, not a perfect President is quietly getting things done, instead of "trash talking" the opposite party. More and more Americans see the efficacy of the vaccines and are beginning to see realities in many ordinary life situations. We are beginning to view our neighbors as other humans, not the enemy, and that cooperation helps us all achieve shared goals. America can still lead the world to a better place by listening to its better angels. To do so, we must acknowledge and relearn our histories and suppress the more violent streaks of selfishness that tempts us to put ourselves always first both individually and nationally. Our own Civil War, two World Wars, and the subsequent "police actions" have taught us hard lessons about how war, the scourge of humanity can eat us alive. We truly are as the slogan says "..in it together!!"

So here it is ...another Easter. Christmas is that incredible notion that the Alpha and Omega for whatever reason came to live among us to show his creation and mankind how to live peaceably together. Easter shows that mankind in part was ready to accept this notion, but a small minority needing to hold on to power lynched Jesus. 

His resurrection proclaims that the "I am" still is in charge. "He is arisen!"

 

The Big Freeze-February 18, 2021

 It’s the 18th of February and nationwide we have experienced a bout of winter. Movement of the polar vortex has caused great tongues of Arctic air to move into the heartland for an extended time. In the great farmlands, there have been week-long periods of deep snow and subzero temperatures. We are still at war with the Covid virus and the treacherous icy/snowy roads have slowed down the delivery of vaccines and the administering of jabs. 

Most of the great state of Texas is without power because the intense freeze has curtailed power generators running on gas. It seems 60 % of the State gets its electricity from these sources and they were not winterized. There was no connection to the national grid because that would have entailed more regulation. Who would have thought that such a warm area would suffer such prolonged Arctic weather?!

News of Rush Limbaugh’s death from lung cancer is on all the news. His caustic comments about liberals propelled him to national prominence. He would sometimes remind his radio audience that he was an entertainer, but that his views could be believed. Over the years he became quite successful and wealthy by denigrating women, people living in California towns, those who were on the fringe of his self-made bubble whether college professors or “foreigners”. Rush was an enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump and was surely instrumental in his reelection and the Senate’s inability to raise the 2/3 majority to convict at both of his impeachments. 

We, here in the Richmond area have managed to escape most of the side effects of the brutal weather. In my other writing place, I have memorable pictures of icicles on tree branches. If I put them here and then later delete them from Google pics they will be automatically deleted here.

President Biden, even older than Trump is busy getting things done that Congress will allow. Vaccine is getting into more and more arms.   Just as exponentiation made it grow, the same process is minimizing it in reverse. Our application is over 3 weeks old, yet we haven’t been called. 

END OF YEAR THOUGHTS...

 So here it is the end of 2020! A year that began in innocence and ends in the midst of a pandemic that has upended our lives and put families and communities at variance. The impression remains that those in power at many levels lusted to remain in power rather than using it for the larger good.  Because there was an unprecedented flow of opinions and facts it was more difficult for the average person to sift out the truth. Whatever ideas were surrounding that particular mind reigned. For those engaged in the process of making a living, there was less time for research or reflection.  

The appearance of Covid in public perception occurred sometime in mid-February. One side said it was a horrendous danger, the other that it was like the flu and would be contained and soon be forgotten. These ideas were perpetuated month after month as a presidential contest evolved. Midyear it was generally apparent that it wasn't the flue and drastic steps were taken to slow it down. Those wrecked particular segments of the economy that were important to not only the poor and disenfranchised but to those who stood to lose great fortunes. 

At the end of the year, vaccines have emerged that create hope. The nation seems unable to discipline itself to those actions that may reduce spread. Unfortunately, in many communities wearing a mask is disparaged as a limit of freedom. When a significant number of loved members of that community become ill and or die then it is examined more seriously. Those in power find it difficult to make or enforce the requisite actions dictated by "common" sense. 

So good riddance to 2020! The one good thing you left us was exposing the numerous intellectual, medical, political, religious, and economic weaknesses that need to be addressed. If I live until this time next year, I hope that it will be apparent that America, "that great country on the hill" will have made apparent progress that I may report. 

Best wishes to all my readers, even if it is just one.