7 April 2014: Rene visits while I'm at the Y ... mom calls as I spin ... cancel dad's AAA membership ... sign up for Nielsen ... Eleanor's contribution in dad's behalf to Am Cancer Society ... Associates rehearsal at Gordon's tonight ... misty walk with Dancer

Working out was a challenge today. I was, as Helena declared, the "token" male in Body Pump today, hiding back in the corner, but it was a good workout as only the maid from Brighton can do. She is tough on herself and her fellow practitioners. Afterward, the minutes went slowly during cycling/spinning with Carla. It went faster when she challenged us to a 2-minute pick-up to see if we could make a mile on our monitor. My first attempt went for .97 mile and on my second attempt, I went for 1.03 miles, so the encouragement was vital and I even boasted of my achievement. (I was in the first row next to the middle-aged woman with the great legs, always riding in the first row, next to John.)

During my spinning got a call from mom. A nurse, Rene, came to visit and she called out the front window about the key under the mat. 

3 April 2014: Thursday ... Carla subbed for an ill Jennifer in Body Pump ... only guy in Body Vive w/Pamela ... Bachetti's trip (been a while) for lunch meats from Tyler ... Patti & Kathy at the checkout ... Mozart epiphany (again) w/Cosi fan tutte on car CD ... listening to Berlin's Mahler 1st w/Sir Simon Rattle (stunning playing) ...

31 March 2014: Monday ... Hellacious Helena's Body Pump ... Carla the Chipmunk cycling ... Mary Jane in the K-1st grade room ... Phillies opening day in Texas (15-10 winner) ...

A highlight to this morning was my short interaction with a young boy doing his math homework. I peered over and saw multiplication and the terms median and mode, to which I responded, it's been a long time since I solved that type of problem. The young student responded, immediately, "I just learned it yesterday."

27 March 2014: Thursday ... spreading ice pattern on a freezing morning car windshield ... Carla and her 3 sisters chattering, Body Pump fill-in for Jennifer ... Body Vive motion poetry with Pamela ... selfie with Sandy Tilford ... yoga video sent to Gwen, hopefully onto Christine ... tax papers to Tom Szewczyk good to go ...

An early celebration of Jane Goodall's 80th birthday, which will be on April 3rd, was a story on the npr.org web site.

Once again, rather than taking the time and persisting and showing grit, I abandoned this page last night for bed and other activities that do not benefit my being or what I believe is my essence, so, I am left to recall, a little more hazily, the events that marked the 27th day of March in the year 2014.

A frozen windshield and a spray of washer fluid led to an amazing spread of ice crystals in an intricate pattern, billions of years old, in front of me and lasted for the entire trip to the Y until the front visage of the Honda began to warm and the glass cleared. It was a majesty of joining and merging that truly expressed beauty of nature. 

Carla is a kick in the pants instructor whose constant chatter and energizing attitude is infectious. She is constantly up and spoke about her need to talk, incessantly. We were four sisters, she said, so maybe she couldn't get a word in edge wise. Well, she is an inveterate participant in Body Pump and really pushes herself and thus, her begrudging patrons. It was a good workout.

Pamela led a class of poetic movement to matching rhythmic music in Body Vive. She is a wonderful instructor and does all the movements while reciting them just prior to execution. Just amazing. I followed my friend Heidi, the one with the "feet" sneakers who I find delightful in her enthusiasm for these classes. And she is so good, does all the moves flawlessly and seamlessly. It was also a good workout and myself, and the two other middle aged (they were a bit older and probably retired, really) men in the class (for a whopping total of 3) got to watch the synchrony of the women, who truly demonstrate why they need to run the world and not men. They'd be far more effective.

Drove past a sweeping Eleanor Hyde on her sidewalk and was stopped by a van blocking my way on Pickwick in front of the park. Thought I'd be late to my appointment with Tom Szewczyk, so I moved on but then had to back up and took the time to speak to this lovely woman, who is managing and who tells me that her husband, Ernie, is doing better than her. She made a point to tell me that she'd sent a contribution into the web site that had dad's obit and testimonials, et al., and I said that I'd check to see that it went through. Don't know where to go on the web but will see. Feel sure that it succeeded. Turned up McCawber to Cratchett and then to Milltown and made the appointment right on time at 1:30. Greeted by Chris, who showed me into the waiting room and Tom appeared momentarily. They are wonderful people. Chris' mom is in an expensive nursing home in Florida, cheaper than up here, and she and her sisters are working with the financing. It is challenging for a family. 

I really like Thomas "Tom" A. Szewczyk, CPA , who I had an appointment with today, just a day short from when dad last appeared in his office a year ago and told him that he would not be back the following year due to his diagnosis. He told me that in his own words. Well, he's just an amazing guy and so personable. Loved sports growing and played baseball and does golf now. Fortunately, he's had no joint issues and thus no surgeries like knee or hip replacements. He can still walk the golf course. He showed me a Spring Training Phillies cap that his brother, retired CPA in Florida, sent him. Tom use to work for the IRS, where they treated him professionally, but took over his brother's business and bought out the other CPA. Well, we got to the business at hand and thanks to mom, he got all the information he needs for the taxes and they are set to be completed in the coming weeks. They will busy for him. He did relate a wonderful story of taking his mother, late in her life, to Orlando and how she loved the flight and demanded a window seat. She had the time of her life, he said. I concurred that moments like that are true treasures to keep and to hold, much like the writings our parents have penned. Tom has the 8th grade graduation certificate from his grandfather (?) on the wall dated 1929. 

24 March 2014: Monday ... two workouts this morning (Helena on Body Pump ... sole male in the class; and then Carla, the chipmunk of activity, leading spinning ... Mom calls VISA ... reschedule Szcewyck this week?

http://www.robbkendrick.com/about/

Was so impressed with Robb Kendrick's photos for this story in the April 2014 edition of National Geographic, went looking for his Facebook. He has none. He spurns social media in place of family time and focus, so I found his web site and sent him an e-mail instead. Within a half-hour, I had a personal response from him. I was shocked and pleased with his attention.

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Dear Robb,

I feel like I can call you by your first name after reading, on your web site, your denial and avoidance of social media to spend time with your family. It is a surprising though utterly uplifting declaration of what is important in life and explains why I couldn't find you on Facebook. 

Well, to the point. What unbelievably affecting and storytelling images in this month's National Geographic in your story on "Coal". My hope is that the other images (many, I presume) can find the light of publication, perhaps in a book. They're that good and that heartrending. It is a story, especially those hellish coal mines in India, that needs telling. 

Again, Robb, thanks for your inspiring work and have a great next, six-week trip with your family. 

Sincerely yours,

Rudy Nyhoff

Wilmington, DE 

Cell: 706-544-8359

Hi Rudy,

Thanks for the kind note. Funny you saw the social media commentary.  I’m probably the only photog at NG that does not do social media or instagram etc. My days are full enough with email and  phone and letter writing to a couple of friends as well as family that I can’t take the time to participate.  I’m sure it’s a great tool but for me it’s not a great fit for my life.

A book from the work would be incredible.  Sorry to say that it would not be a big seller as the subject might be too depressing.  It was a cover story for NG, but the sales people thought it would hurt newsstand sales so hence the hedgehog photo. I get it a business decision.  Also, I think it’s hard for NG to look in the mirror and see something unattractive in ourselves (meaning the USA).  We consume the most coal per capita and are responsible for a lot of China’s coal consumption because of our buying Chinese made products iPhones etc.  Honestly I was surprised the story got 35 pages.  It was slated for 20.

Does mean a lot to hear from people who appreciate the efforts to make the images and get them out into the world.  Change will come, though I’m sure slowly.

Take care,

Robb

Robb Kendrick

robb@robbkendrick.com

512-426-4655

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Datong, China

                          http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/04/coal/kendrick-photography

At a coal terminal in Shanxi Province workers pick rocks from low-priced coal as it moves past on a conveyor belt. Often working without masks that would protect them from coal dust, they earn three dollars for an 11-hour shift.
Meghalaya, India
A miner works in one of hundreds of coal mines in eastern India that are neither sanctioned nor regulated by government. He lies on his back in low-ceilinged, unsupported passageways, without protective clothing, using a pick and shovel to load his cart.
Meghalaya, India
Coal is lifted out of the mine shaft two tons at a time.

12 February 2014: Wednesday ... "make a list" encouraged mom and I did and got a lot done, felt rested in the morning ... BodyPump w/Carla in early pm (nice conversation) ... snowlit walk with Dancer as storm moves in on Pecksniff ... lots of texts ... connection

5 February 2014: Wednesday ... found the other iPad charger in the living room at the end of the couch (it'd been weeks lost) ... visits from Skeesha and Beth today from Delaware Hospice ... great BodyPump w/Carla (who scowled at the sound system to get it to work) ...

LOST AND FOUND: Sometimes they just show up because you run into them again. Such was the case with my iPhone and iPad charger, which I had two of and then managed to misplace one of them and consequently, had to charge each item separately. There is something greater in significance to finding something that you've given up on for lost. There is the immediate relief and joy at finding it, but why did you give up on it in the first place. Was there no search process that covered all the bases, thoroughly? Well, when I saw the charger on the arm of the sofa under the Ubeda painting in the living room, closest to the lamp, I thought: It's been there for weeks and I have not noticed it. What is the reason it stayed there for weeks, lost in my estimation? Did I not water the plant my father treasured, a gift from Sydney Steele, did I not vacuum or dust? Obviously not, for there it was, unperturbed, untouched for days upon days. Will I learn from this? Probably not, I haven't in the past, and at the present time, the same urgings and desires run through me that are purposeless and hurtful. Discipline is not for the squeamish.

MOM SAYS I'M NOT FEELING WELL: That is often the refrain from mom when I inform her that Skeesha Johnson is coming. Well, I pooh-pooh it because she gets well, quickly, and enjoys the attention and the conversation with her Delaware Hospice contingent as was the case today in spades. The delightful young mother and CNA, born in Jamaica (?) or at least has a Jamaican father, who died recently and she went to the island nation for his interment, does her work with joy and competence. Mom just adores her and Skeesha seems to like mom, too. It's a nice pairing.

Later, Beth Kincaid, RN, showed up and we worked to clear up the medicine needs. We are short of Xanax, Tamazepam, and Hydrocodone, all essential to the well-being of mom, especially the anti-anxiety drug Alprazolam, which she did without this evening because the drug order did not arrive as Beth estimated (it came the next day, first the hydrocodone and then, still waiting at 1:34 p.m., the Xanax and Tamazepam), but she is a careful and deliberative health care provider and has mom's best interests at heart.

GREAT BODYPUMP WITH CARLA: One of only two men in the class, Carla, our instructor, feisty and fit and enthusiastic, really put together a great workout. She had some difficulty with the sound system and seemed to rustle it into order by looking up at the speaker in the ceiling and scowling as she pressed the buttons to start the bouncy, hip-hop music. One of the participants, Diana, a young mother with two pre-teen daughters, remembered my name from the yoga class yesterday where our instructor, Christine, led us into a circle and played a naming game. It worked for her. I remembered that there was some slight confusion over her name as she was initially called Diane instead of Diana. Regardless, it was a delightful interchange. She is a EMT studying to be a nurse now that her children are both in class. I asked where she knew Kristen, who works at the front desk of "Y" and is also studying to be an RN at Del Tech, where she is going. She did not recognized the name but was impressed that she was set to graduate in May. Believe she has just started the program, perhaps.