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John Maxwell

Michael McLeod

Congrats Jack.

And we do well to philosophize about our situation.

Things have been awfully abrasive in our country and in the world at large for a while.

I'm not religious but if I were I'd say God decided that we needed a time out.

Peggy Southworth (Townley)

Great post, Jack.   Congratulations on a healthy grandson! I'm grateful we all have the Skype option to keep in touch with our loved ones.   If you get a chance, post a photo of that new little one.   Blessings on you. 

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Congratulations, Jack!    

  Jordi Evole, a Catalan journalist, had a Skype interview this week with Pope Francisco about the pandemic. One of the Pope's comments was "God always forgives. We sometimes forgive.  Nature never forgives."  An interesting perspective.

Robert Berkemer

It's good to read all the posts which for me provides a sense of comfort and home... except maybe the idea of a "Bob roast"!  Thanks for that Tim...   What I want to suggest to you all during this difficult time is to stop and consider the many millions who are far less fortunate than us. I'm going to guess thats its very difficult for most Americans to go to the store and purchase a months supply of food. I am very, very fortunate to be able to do that but so many can't do so under normal conditions let alone whats coming with most people being out of work. Our local food shelf charity can purchase $10 dollars worth of food for every $1 dollar donated. I encourage all of you to contact your local charity food source (by phone) and donate what you can. Starving people are desperate people. This need not happen in our wealthy country. Bless you all, Peace.....

David Mitchell

Strange times!

I happen to have a local family that I formed a bond with some years back - long story. She is Black, and poor, with two daughters (one employed - one not - one with a husband who will be a ward of the State of So. Carolina for life). And she is gradnmother to about 6 kids, who are now old enough to drop out of school, get in trouble with the law, and get pregnant. And on my last visit, a new great granddaughter.

* (Added later:  and the house is a ramshackle mess) 

I enjoy the priviledge of making little "deposits" (not much really - sometimes little flat envelops - sometimes bags marked Kroger on the side) at her house from time to time and I always get a warm hug.

Now, the hugs will have to wait. But the visits won't - envelopes on the porch are pretty safe

Writing checks or making donations to charities is a wonderful thing. But finding just a single person to make a real one-to-one contact is reallly a life-changing eperience. I urge you to try it - it's a hoot!

Life is happening at a "theater" near you this week. Don't miss it! 

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p.s. Last I heard, they are urging us NOT to buy the masks, as medical personael are unaable to get enough for critical needs.

David Mitchell

My favorite piece of vocal music ever! And Pavoratti nailed it every time.

Nessum Dorma (Let No One Sleep)

And those last words  "Vincero! Vincero!   ("I will win. I will win") 

Leave it to the Italians to come up with this spectacular adaptation.

Joseph D. McCarthy

MEA CULPA!!!!!

It my haste to post an entry last night I forgot a few things.

Only purchase a box of N95 masks IF you are purchasing for your family, neighbors, and First Responders as gifts.  Otherwise just purchase individual masks.  Do try and get some bottled water and maybe some instant tea.

For some reason a few Nail Salon operators felt that they were an essential business exempted from shutdowns.  However I have noted that the Municpally owned (leased to a Firm to manage) Golf Course must be essential.  They have had groundskeepers tending the course and Duffers (inside joke) have been playing rounds since they can't go to work.

There is more, but that's for another post.

Joe

David Mitchell

Just taking a wild guess here - "Forum" activity will be on the increase now. 

Oh Joy!

Hey Janie, I think we finally found a way to "monetize" this thing.

For those of you "lurkers" who suddenly think the "M.M.L.J.H. Committee" (Mitchell, McCleod, Lavelle, Jackson, Hamilton Committee) is about to just sit back and welcome you all back on here without some form of remuneration, be advised - there will be fees enacted for you to be allowed to get back in. 

We will be mailing out an invoice for Bill Reid, Bob Berkermer, and Peggy Southworth to cover their recent outbursts. 

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Dave--Thank you for the beautiful Italian memorial.  As concerned as I am about our country, my heart bleeds for the Italians.

Michael McLeod

Whoa, Donna! Thanks for the awesome Pope quote. I don't think we've ever had such a savvy, genuinely thoughtful, and all-around badass papa in my lifetime.

And hang in there, hon.

David Mitchell

Yes Jeanine,

And the French. And my young physician friend in Germany says that the hosptial he serves on staff in Ellwangen, Germany is overwhelmed! All staff working to the point of exhaustion - which in turn makes them more suseptible to the virus. 

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

One good thing:  Yesterday my son and DIL in Napa gave us our fourth granddaughter, Valerie Preston Decker. She is beautiful, of course, and joins her big sister, Reese Jeanine Decker.  Don't know when we will get to see her (I know Jack understands this) but we will drive there as soon as we can.  Life does go on.

David Barbour

Dear Forum,

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2020/03/a-letter-from-your-coronavirus-future-its-not-as-scary-as-you-might-think-john-barbour.html

Okay, here is something from our kid in China.  It was published in the Plain Dealer yesterday.

Some of us think its worth reading.

Thomas McKeon

Dave great article by your son tell us a little more about him and why he is in China. And Dave you can forget a tax on lurkers love to all and stay safe and healthy

David Mitchell

Very interesting Dave.

You did tell me a little bit about him when you stopped here in Bluffton, but I have forgotten what he does. So ditto what Tom asked about his occupation.

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Tom, we will get over this shock, and consider you in a category all your own, thereby temporarily waiving the fees. 

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And congrats to our new grandparents!

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Thank you Dave for sharing your son's perspective on COVID-19.  Very reassuring. and it is also good to know that he remained healthy through it all.  

Congratulations, Jeanine on the new granddaughter.  A baby is definitely God's opinion that the world should go on no matter the circumstances.

Peggy Southworth (Townley)

Dave B. - I just read your son's article from China.  I forwarded it to my daughter also.   Very well written and encouraged, indeed.   Thank you for posting it. 

David Barbour

Tom McKeon!!!!  Whoa, I'm blown away!  John graduated with an engiineering degree

and failed to get a job right away so took his couple semesters of Chinese and set out

to improve his language skills.  He taught english for about 5 years and then found a sales

job with a manufacturer of heavy machine parts and hydraulic equipment.  He is the only

native english speaker in the office.  He has worked steadily to improve his language and is

still working on written text.  Thanks for the interest, everyone.

DB

Michael McLeod

And yet we're all so surprised.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Af6b_wyiwI&feature=youtu.be
 

Michael McLeod

Idiots.

Five University of Tampa students who had traveled together and with other UT students during spring break have tested positive for the coronavirus, the university announced on social media Saturday.

The announcement comes as experts fear that Florida spring breakers could become spreaders of coronavirus in their campuses and hometowns.

Pictures and videos of young people drinking, partying and going to the beach over the last few weeks, even as Gov. Ron DeSantis was warning not to congregate in groups larger than ten and restaurants and bars were closed, has sparked outrage on social media.

Gregg Gonsalves, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, told Politico Saturday, “What is happening in Florida with spring break partying-on by students oblivious to the epidemiological implications of their actions is nothing short of tragic."

Michael McLeod

Dave: I sent your story to my girlfriend's daughter who has been home from Beijing for a month now.

I think it will help her to contend with her PTSD to know the scene that she left behind is so different now. She was traumatized by the ghost town/zombie apocalypse the country had become, all the blockades and policing and fear. Now she can visualize the better things in her memory about what is actually a beautiful and fascinating country, for all its troubles and differences. Oh, on the PTSD: she is obsessive about putting food in the pantry, getting medical supplies, etc. I know we are all a little freaked out about it but I can see an irrational level of panic in her -- it has begun ebbing away -- that stems from what she went through in the last two weeks she was basically living a captive and extremely oppressive existence in Beijing.

Janie Albright (Blank)

I wanted to tell those of you who don't follow me on Facebook that I returned from Puerto Vallarta on Saturday almost 3 weeks early. My son in law who is a pilot for United urged me strongly to get home. Now I'm in quarantine. But luckily I can go out on my balcony and look down on my grandchildren and have little chats.  

I want to congratulate Jeanine and Jack and pray the day that they can hold these precious babies comes soon! 

I am thoroughly enjoying every post. Keep it up! David's son's article is amazing. I've also forwarded that. Fred, I love Neil! I've seen him in concert at least 4 times. I know he stopped touring b/c of Parkinson's but although his voice is great I'd wouldn't recognize him. I will be sending that around too. 
 

Prayers going out to all of you that you survive your isolation and that none of us are stricken. Love you all! 
 

Here is a photo from Friday evening of my last sunset in Mexico for 2020. 
 

David Barbour

Mike,

These are photos from Dec. 1 in Hong Kong.  During the riots.  John and friend did a weekend for 

his birthday.  Its all location, location, location!  Remeber the riots?  That was THE subject before the 

virus.  Best anxiety medicine is stop watching the news!!!

DB

David Mitchell

Oh by the way Dave,

per you son's article,,,loved his photo.

OMG, the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree!