April 5, 2020 … Sunday
Happy Quarantine Sunday fellow lobster followers. Actually, I’ve been having issues when posting – so, you may not get this until Monday or Tuesday … but, regardless, hope it’s a happy day.
Ted is across the dining room table from me – the “aroma” of nearly burnt coffee is wafting in from the kitchen. He likes his coffee dark/strong. The smell kind of gets my stomach to flip around … like it needs any help these days.
Nice to have him here … nice for the company. Nice for the safety I feel. All the tracking numbers and the trajectory estimates and rates of this mushrooming virus are unnerving. It’s comforting to have another body in the house with me. And even better that it’s his.
Sadie went home today. We are now dog free. I need to vacuum as my house is not (fur free). With this quarantine comes an end to having dogs here … they are all at home with their owners – keeping them company instead of me!
The pull for a pug baby (or two … or three!) and a lab has been really strong the last week or so. I’m not good without an animal by my side/at my feet/under my covers. I’ve been looking at website …
I’ve been whiling away my time in quarantine by going through piles of paperwork I brought home with me after my dad died. It’s actually a good thing I have this time as I’m not sure I’d ever get it done otherwise. Dad was very involved in the local Park District when I was growing up and I’ve been perusing yellowed and brittle 1960s newspapers for a week now … sorting through and cutting out the articles that he is in … photos, columns, letters etc. It’s been a bittersweet journey.
Last night I unearthed photos of his paternal grandparents … my great-grandparents … my kids’ great-great! I’d never seen them before. It was a family photo of the parents with their surviving 8 (of 10) boys and families gathered for their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married in 1894 … so this photo was from (I’m assuming) 1944. Wow.
And, there, taller than anyone, was my dad – all 16 years of age – standing next to a handsome man – his dad/my grandpa – all of 48 years. I only knew grandpa when he was an older man – stooped by age and arthritis. He was in his late 60s by the time I could remember much … 70s from when I truly remember. It was lovely to see him so young and handsome! His wife, my grandmother, was about 40 in that photo … quite the beauty. But, then again, she always was a stunning woman.
There was another photo of Anthony – the patriarch of the family – at a print table. It’s amazing to me that he, too, was in the printing business. That connection flows through the generations, on that side, intentional or not – great grandpa, grandpa, dad, me … all associated with type/paper/the print media industry of some kind.
When going through dad’s things I came upon a stained, wrinkled, torn and very much folded piece of paper .. a story – one he must have loved and held close. He was involved for years with group meetings/panels/organizations and the public and I have to think that somewhere these lessons wove into his soul and these were words he lived by … lessons that he practiced.
So, on this Quarantine Sunday … which is really only the 3rd or so on this journey but feels like the 17, 486th one … now, more than ever, it seems a good time to take a look at the wisdom of the geese. Let’s take these lessons and practice them, as well.
Lessons from Geese – Angeles Arrien
Whenever a goose flies out of formation, it quickly feels the drag and tries to get back into position. Lesson: It’s harder to do something alone than together.
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for others behind him. There is 71% more flying range in V-formation than flying alone. Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of common purpose can get there quicker.
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the head. Lesson: Shared leadership and interdependence gives us each a chance to lead as well as opportunities to rest.
The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging and not discouraging.
When a goose gets sick or wounded and falls, two geese fall out and stay with it until it revives or dies. Then they catch up or join another flock. Lesson: Stand by your colleagues in difficult times as well as in good.
Stay in/stay away/stay healthy. Be smart. Check on your neighbors/friends/family. STAY SAFE! And, if you have to go out – wear a mask!