A Ticking Time Bomb Day

 

Maybe it’s true that no day can be absolutely perfect, but today (Sunday, April 25) came as close as any I can remember. The day started with sleeping in until 9:00am and waking up beside my beautiful bride of nearly 25 years. And it kept getting better and better after that.

 

After eating a delicious slice of chocolate cake for breakfast, I joined Bethany on the front patio where we sipped coffee and enjoyed a gorgeous Missouri morning. While sitting in our matching rocking chairs, we listened to the Allman Brothers Band on my portable Bluetooth speaker and watched a pair of red-tailed hawks feed their nestlings in a tree in our woods.

 

Soon we were joined by Alex, Sarah, and our grandbaby Freya who loves being outside as much as the rest of her family does. After soaking up some soul-warming sunshine, we relocated to the screened-in gazebo on the back deck for some shade and some more fresh air. All that fresh air would eventually make for one sleepy baby—and Pop—so we made our way back inside for lunch, naps, and Cardinals baseball on TV. 

 

I managed to keep my eyes open for most of the ballgame, although I may have missed an inning or two. Nevertheless, it proved to be a great contest, with outfielder Tyler O’Neill’s two home runs helping lift the Redbirds to a series sweep of the Reds. 

 

After Freya woke up from her nap, the whole family piled into Bethany’s new-to-us Chevy Traverse and headed to Rock Bridge State Park. With a high temperature of 72 degrees, it was ideal weather for the seven of us to explore Devil’s Ice Box and Connor’s Cave and hike the 1.5-mile Sinkhole Trail. As we walked, we reminisced about our previous visits to the park. Three of those occasions were when our children were on school field trips. Bethany accompanied Alex and Tiana on their excursions, and I went with Truman on his. We recalled that both Alex and Tiana had fallen into the water during their field trips. Alex had been so thoroughly saturated that I had to bring him a change of clothing. Our family has been making great memories at Rock Bridge for a long time.

 

By the time we got back to the vehicle Sunday afternoon, everybody was pretty worn out, so we decided to refresh ourselves with milkshakes from Sonic. By the time we got to Sonic, we realized that it was dinner time, so we ordered enough food and milkshakes to feed our small army and headed to Grandma Glee’s house to eat. 

 

Glee was happy to have food delivered, but she was even happier to have a visit from her family. A few weeks ago, she suffered a pretty serious stroke, the effects of which she is still dealing with. She’s improved a great deal since she first visited the hospital, and we are all so thankful that she is feeling well enough to be back in the comfort of her own home as she continues to recover.

 

The clot that caused Glee’s stroke is in a major blood vessel in her brain, and doctors determined that it is too risky to try to remove it. They hope that the blood thinners she is taking will reduce the blockage over time, and we are optimistic that the improvement in her condition is proof that the plan is working.

 

Glee told Bethany that she worries that the clot is a “ticking time bomb” in her brain. Bethany assured her that if her doctors believed that, then they would have taken more aggressive action. Then something very profound occurred to me. We should all live our lives as if we have a ticking time bomb in our brains. 

 

Life is fragile and precious, and tomorrow is not promised to any of us. If we were to live our lives as if today could be our last day on Earth, then surely we wouldn’t waste another minute procrastinating or being angry or taking life for granted.

 

After dinner with Grandma Glee, we headed back home. I watched a fantastic extra-inning game between the Padres and Dodgers on TV while Bethany and Freya slept beside me and the rest of our crew played video games together downstairs. When the games were over and the kids had gone to bed, I sat down to write about this perfect day. 

 

It was a day filled with laughter. It was a day filled with baseball. It was a day spent in nature. It was a day spent with family. It was a day of coffee and rocking chairs, babies and sunshine, Grandmas and milkshakes. It was a ticking time bomb kind of day, and if I’m lucky enough to wake up tomorrow, then I’m going to make it a ticking time bomb kind of day, too.

National Honor Society

 As I sat in the auditorium at Southern Boone High School last Sunday afternoon, watching my daughter Tiana and her classmates being inducted into National Honor Society, I recognized most of the masked faces of the new inductees. These were the same kids I taught nearly a decade ago, back when I started substitute teaching at Southern Boone Primary School. They were second graders then, but now they are sophomores in high school, and I don’t know how I feel about that.

Because of Covid-related social-distancing measures and virtual this, that, and everything else, I haven’t seen most of Tiana’s classmates in well over a year. Imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw a parade of actual giants crossing the stage during the induction ceremony. It was jarring to see a group of people I remember as eight-year-old children suddenly looking like fully-grown adults.

 

Of course, their growth has been more than physical. While Principal Dale Van Deven and the current members of NHS spoke about the four pillars on which membership in the organization is based, I thought about how this year’s inductees exemplified those values of Leadership, Character, Service, and Scholarship required of every member. Let me tell you, the young people who crossed that stage last Sunday have grown into outstanding human beings.

 

Among them are members of FFA, 4-H, scouting, boys’ and girls’ sports (including state champions in soccer), and many other organizations. They serve their school and community as volunteers and mentors, they lead on the playing field and in the classroom, and they demonstrate great character wherever they go.

 

Yes, members of NHS must have a high grade point average, but Scholarship is more than just a good report card. A true scholar is someone who loves learning both in and out of the classroom. The 43 inductees who took their membership oaths Sunday are intelligent, curious, and determined. Their love of learning will carry them far in life. 

 

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that it wasn’t justsophomores who were invited to join NHS this year. Several deserving members of the junior class were also inducted, and in a separate ceremony, members of the junior and senior classeswho did not get to participate in an induction ceremony last year due to the Covid shutdown were also honored for their accomplishments. Congratulations to all the members of SoBoCo High School’s chapter of National Honor Society. Your parents and your community are very proud of you.

 

And on a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my daughter Tiana as well. 

 

Your mom and I are so, so proud of you, T. We both know how hard you work—at everything you do. Being born with cerebral palsy means that nothing comes easy for you, yet you never let anything stop you from accomplishing your goals. Over the years, we have learned never to bet against you. With your determination, you will achieve whatever your heart desires.

 

With that being said, give yourself a break once in a while. Enjoy being a kid while you still can. Try to spend as much time enjoying your friends and family as you spend working on your homework. And as strong and brave as you are, remember that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. 

 

Leadership, Character, Service, and Scholarship. You embody those four pillars as well as anyone, Tiana. Every day of your life, you make the world a better place—just by being you. Your mom and I are so lucky to be your parents, and we love you more than you will ever know.

 

Once again, congratulations to all of the outstanding young people who were invited to join National Honor Society. You will accomplish great things as you continue to grow as human beings, of that there is no doubt. Those of us who have had the privilege of watching you become the leaders of tomorrow ask only one favor of you: wherever you go in life, please don’t forget where you came from.

 

We are Southern Boone.

Hope, Love, & Grandbabies

 Although I imagined that it would happen when I was a little bit older, becoming a grandfather was always something that I had looked forward to. When my granddaughter Freya was born last September, I immediately discovered that there is never a wrong time to become a grandparent.

Aside from the inconvenience of being born during a pandemic, Freya’s timing was pretty close to perfect. Having a baby in the house has made the isolation caused by Covid precautions bearable. Yes, I’ve missed attending concerts and sporting events with friends and having large get-togethers with extended family, but having Freya to snuggle with has been immensely good for my soul.

I’m also grateful that Freya came into my life while I am still relatively young and healthy. Being able get down on the floor to play with her AND get back up again is a real plus. I can’t remember a time when my grandfather was fit enough to do that, but I can distinctly recall my grandmother joining my brother and I on the floor to play games such as Cootie and Yahtzee when we were little. Those are some of my most treasured memories of Grandma Sweetie Pie.

The last year has been tough for everyone, myself included. Just as the world shut down last March, Grandma passed away in her assisted-living facility. Due to Covid restrictions, I had to say goodbye to her through her window moments before she drew her last breath. Only ten people were allowed to attend her funeral, and we had to remain six feet apart.

It’s hard to properly console a grieving loved-one from six feet away.

 

That same month, the best job I ever had—a temporary, one-year gig as a music teacher—ended abruptly and unceremoniously when schools were closed down. A few weeks later, my intense depression caused me to reach out to a medical professional who correctly concluded that I had been suffering from bipolar disorder. 

Medication and being mindful of my mood changes has helped me feel better, but living with a mental illness during a deadly pandemic, a divisive presidential election, and several changes in my personal life has been a challenge. 

Then along came Freya.

I didn’t think it was possible to love another child as much as I love my own children, but it didn’t take long after Freya joined our family to realize how wrong I was. That little girl is literally the light of my life. I can’t imagine how dark and gloomy this last winter would have been without her around to cheer me up. 

Freya’s smile can warm the coldest of hearts, and her laugh is more intoxicating than any drug. The sound of her voice is music to my ears—even when she cries. And she has her old Pop’s good looks—as well as his sense of humor.

I think it is fair to say that Freya is my best friend. Because she and her parents live with us, I’ve been able to spend a lot of time getting to know my little buddy. Since I stopped taking subbing assignments, we get to hang out even more, yet I still can’t get enough her. And now that I’m fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, I can finally hold that beautiful baby without wearing a mask!

For over six months, I wore a mask every time I was within three feet of my grandbaby. Until this week, I wore a mask every single time I held Freya, fed her, took a nap with her, and changed her diaper. (I was secretly glad to wear a mask when changing some of those diapers.) 

I was diligent about mask-wearing because I had been working in a crowded primary school almost every day since Freya was born, and I would never have forgiven myself if I had inadvertently brought the virus home to her. My after-school ritual was to shower, change clothes, and put on a clean mask as soon as I got home from work each day. I wore a mask for eight hours each day at school and then for several more hours each evening at home. And I did it gladly.

But not anymore. 

The first time I held my granddaughter without wearing a mask I inhaled deeply, hoping to finally smell that sweet baby scent that everyone raves about. My first reaction? “When was the last time this kid had a bath?” Then I kissed her on top of her stinky baby head for the first time ever and smiled the happiest smile I’ve smiled in a lifetime of smiling.

 

This pandemic is far from over, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope. There is love. And there are grandbabies. Do them and yourself a favor: get vaccinated as soon as you can, and wear your mask and maintain social distancing until then. If we all do our part to keep each other safe until we develop herd immunity, then we’ll all be back to kissing babies before we know it.

National Library Week & School Library Month

 “Libraries show us anything is possible by encouraging a love of learning, discovery, and exploration.” –Natalie Portman, 2021 National Library Week Honorary Chair

April 4-10 is National Library Week. I encourage everyone in Southern Boone County to take advantage of the amazing libraries located right here in our own backyard. According to the American Library Association (ALA), there are over 116,000 libraries in the United States. Five of them can be found in Ashland.

The Southern Boone County Public Library, a branch of the Daniel Boone Regional Library, is an asset that makes Ashland the envy of small towns everywhere. If you haven’t been inside to “check out” all that our public library has to offer, then this would be a great week to do so. With a decrease in Covid-19 cases, the library is open to visitors once again. Hours of operation at the Ashland branch are: Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-6:00pm; Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm; Saturday, 10:00am-2:00pm; Closed Sundays. 

Library patrons are limited to one-hour visits, required to wear masks, and must maintain a distance of six feet from others. For patrons who would prefer to reserve books online, curbside pickup is still available. 

In-person group activities and programs are still temporarily suspended, but there are many digital resources available to patrons such as online learning, audiobooks, eBooks, and streaming services.

 

Although I prefer reading good old-fashioned books, the kind that are printed on paper with pages that I can feel and smell, I did recently download Libby, a free eBook app for smartphones and other devices that enables patrons to borrow digital materials from their local library. The process could not have been easier. Downloading only took a couple of minutes. Once I opened the app, a prompt asked for permission to find my local library through which I would be checking-out materials. I clicked yes, entered my library card number when asked, andthen I was instantly ready to browse DBRL’s 59,000 currently-available digital offerings.

 

Libby users can search for books by categories such as new, popular, random, kids, teens, mystery & thriller, and business, or by choosing from over 150 different subjects. In addition to books, thousands of magazines and audiobooks can also be borrowed. With Libby—and the public library—the world is at your fingertips without ever having to leave home.

In addition to the Libby app, our public library offers a host of other free digital services such as Freegal, Hoopla, Kanopy, OverDrive, and RBdigital for music downloading, streaming TV shows and movies, and downloading audiobooks and eBooks. As the pandemic situation improves, in-person services such as Bookmobile visits, meeting rooms, test proctoring, library tours, field trips, and children’s story time programs will once again be offered, too.

Seriously, if you don’t have a library card yet, go get one this week. It’s easy, and it’s free for residents of Boone or Callaway Counties. (Actually, your tax dollars support library operations, so you might as well get your money’s worth.) Click on DBRL.org for instructions on how to sign up for a card online, by mail, or in person. And while you’re at it, sign your kids up for cards of their own. A library card is one of the most empowering gifts a child can ever receive.

Speaking of children, the kids in Southern Boone County have four excellent libraries available to them that their parents don’t have access to. The primary, elementary, middle, and high schools each have sizable collections of books and magazines as well as computer labs/media centers. More importantly, they have dedicated, professional librarians/media specialists helping students get the most from their libraries. Their jobs have been made even more demanding with the need for students to each have their own electronic device in case of a switch to virtual learning. The school librarians in Southern Boone County all deserve a huge raise and a mountain of praise for the job they have done during the pandemic.

I have subbed as a primary school librarian many times, and I can tell you that it is a tremendously demanding (and rewarding) profession. Imagine teaching 450 kids ages 5-8 how to make a username and password for their new electronic devices, teaching them how to use various apps on those devices, teaching them how to use a desktop computer, teaching them how to do a research report, teaching them how to type, edit, and print their reports, teaching them the difference between fiction and non-fiction books, teaching them how to check-out books, and finding the time to read to them as often as possible so that they will fall in love with reading and with learning about their world. 

April is recognized by the ALA as School Library Month, but I would like to amend that to “School Librarian Month.” If you get a chance, please say thank you to any or all of Southern Boone’s school librarians for the great and important work they are doing. As educators go, they are often overlooked and underappreciated, but they deserve to be recognized for all that they do for our kids. 

If you really want to help a school librarian, make sure to let the school board and administrators know that if our librarians are going to do the work of two or three people, they should get paid as much as two or three people—or we should hire two or three people to work at each library/media center.

Let’s all celebrate National Library Week and School Library Month by utilizing the great resources our libraries offer and by recognizing the dedicated librarians who make it all possible.