The BoomerGuy Chronicles

This spring in Ann Arbor, I've developed semblance of a morning routine that includes a walk around the neighborhood.  The colder the morning, the less I have to worry about proper 'physical distancing' from other people. My route includes the local elementary school playground with map of the USA drawn on the asphalt (I step around the states and remember family members sheltering in place around the country). I've noticed that the playground which has been devoid of school children for several weeks has populated with robins.  They sing and fly and romp around the slides and swings and benches that aren't used by kids these days. I continue through the neighborhood of Cape Cod houses with gardens and SUVs and families ensconced for the duration of this pandemic. The neighborhood is covered with various yard signs as if we're in the middle of an election. Many sign have variations on the theme of gratefulness.... "Thank you  Essential Workers" ...

One thing all human beings have in common is that we have a mother.  The mothers I've known in my 71 years are pretty amazing people who have accomplished phenomenal stuff, often with few resources at their disposal. My own mom, who died in 1994, significantly impacted me.  I certainly appreciate her more now than I ever did when she was living. "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" is an old saying that bears some reflection in these challenging times. I'm just floored by what the mothers I know are accomplishing these days in their homes, workplaces and communities. Raising preschool/schoolage  children at home while maintaining  a job, holding regular Zoom meetings, managing a household , getting food on the table  keeping up on "what's going on"and dealing with the anxiety of the Pandemic's effects on the family taken together is a monumental set of tasks. This generation of children will fare well due to the love, hard work, grit...

I celebrated  48 years of marriage last week...Cathe Zimmerman and I spoke our vows along the Harpeth River south of Nashville on April 29, 1972. Rev. Sam Barefield officiated. Father John Kavanaugh gave the homily. He reminded us that practicing hospitality  causes people to "entertain angels unaware"....something we've done throughout our time together as couple and family. Our families and friends witnessed and celebrated together....T.C. and Beth, Terry and Mike...Stevie and Tinker and Debbie and Mary Ellen and Kelley and Kathy and Ellenita and Bill and Janie. Steichen and Mc Conville and Turg and Marty and Leo and Janet and Adah and Lorraine and Marge and Pat and Tim and Joan and George and Eleanor and Mike and Mickey.... We promised to love each other, be hospitable to even strangers, and to help each other be the best people we could be. "Morning Has Broken" opened the ceremony  as the clouds cleared away in the early afternoon. Wonderful memories...