by Paula | Sep 7, 2020 | Family, Paula Persists
There is a fable about a contest between the wind and the sun; in which they agree that the strongest will be the one that causes a man to remove his coat. The short version of the story is that the wind blows as hard as it can, which causes the man to wrap his coat more securely around himself. Whereas the sun glows warmly, which causes the man to remove his coat. The moral is that gentleness and kind persuasion win where force and bluster fail.
Does this moral held true in today’s volatile and often hostile social-media driven culture? I believe this is the great moral dilemma facing American’s in 2020. It is really HARD to feel hope in the midst of a pandemic, race riots and the ever-increasingly authoritarian behavior of a certain President. Yet, hope and kindness are the only ways through this.
I have posted something every Labor Day Weekend since I first started this blog in 2014. Usually, my musings center on the US Open tennis Championship (and Serena’s perpetual thrilling presence), the playoff chances of the Milwaukee Brewers (not good, by the way), and the bittersweet memories and sadness accompanying the end of summer.
This Labor Day feels like a temporary cease-fire of dread, a respite from the news, driven in part by the much-welcomed diversions of the resumption of my favorite sporting events. Yet, Tuesday Awaits.
As we enter the final four months of 2020 – we need to recommit to kindness and hope, to retaining our humanity in the face of sickness, division and fear. We need to show our hope, strength and compassion in both small and large ways, from wearing a mask to challenging racism.
I hope and believe that my post NEXT Labor day weekend will be under more positive circumstances; The worst of the pandemic will be in our rear-view mirrors, Serena will have won another slam, the Brewers will be in the playoffs, and Biden and Harris will be turning this country around!
by Paula | May 10, 2020 | Family, Paula Persists
These are unusual times, and I have taken the unusual measure of isolating myself in a small AirBnB in Minneapolis to ensure a clean bill of health prior to a much-anticipated visit with my new grandson, his sisters and his parents.
This has offered a rare (for me) opportunity to experience a week alone. Although in this digital age we are never truly alone, unless we go off the grid in some truly remote location, which I decidedly did NOT do. I arrived at my AirBnB with no fewer than 4 electronic devices, all of which have been employed regularly, including the work-issued computer I used Monday-Friday.
Even so, this is the closest I am likely to come to being a hermit. I have learned a few random things:
- I love Grubhub– who knew?
- Minnesota is cold in May. My daughter told me to pack my swimsuit ‘just in case’ they decide to break out the Slip N Slide during my visit. Today when I woke up the temp was 39 degrees. Ugh.
- I had to face my discomfort taking a walk in this urban and diverse neighborhood. (This could be its own post – so many lessons!)
- Doing a puzzle can be a pleasant distraction OR it can be an unhealthy obsession, wherein a person stays up into the wee hours of the night, squinting frantically at the puzzle that MUST BE DONE before Monday. (In a fit of healthy insight – I dismantled my ‘nearly done’ puzzle this morning before sitting down to write this. It is time to let go of those things that do not serve us.)
- I love talking to my friends and family via video chat. I also love that we don’t talk ‘too’ long.
- I am blessed with family that I can rely on even when I am not there. The critters and home are well taken care of.
- I don’t need a lot of stuff
- Morning coffee is best while reading the newspaper and watching the birds that flock to the feeders in our backyard; preferably with my husband and after walking the dog.
There is more, but you get the gist. During the time of COVID, we are all more isolated than before. We miss spending time with people, going to events, and participating in activities. Yet, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit back, simplify, and take stock of what is truly important.
Now, if you will excuse me, it is time to put on multiple layers of outer-wear and go for a walk. Also– I have a slightly used puzzle for anyone who wants it.
by Paula | Dec 25, 2019 | Family, Paula Persists
I am writing this on Christmas Day. After all the hype, the day itself is a bit anti-climatic; especially since we had our big family celebration last weekend: a joyous and chaotic gathering of four generations, ranging in age from 92 to 10 months of age.
Last night, on Christmas eve, Dan and I joined a smaller group of family and chosen family for a more subdued adult gathering, and Friday we will have dinner with a group of friends to celebrate Dan’s birthday. We are truly blessed.
And yet… this morning I am pondering a remark from last night’s gathering, expressing the likelihood of the re-election of #45. The remark was made with a shrug, implying there is nothing that can be done. The remark has continued to echo and ricochet in my thoughts.
If we (individually or collectively) convince ourselves that there is nothing to be done, we will feel justified in doing nothing, expending no energy to stave off what is perceived as inevitable. A self-fulfilling prophecy is ever there was one.
But, 2020 is no time to take cover and despair. Having failed to keep a morally bankrupt, racist gangster out of the White house in 2016, we need to re-double our efforts in 2020.
Dan and I are comfortable, healthy, financially stable, and nearing retirement. In other words – we have the tempting, easy option of turning a blind eye to the atrocities of this administration, and simply mind our own business, letting things play out as they will.
We have Grandchild #3 on his way. On this Christmas day I have been fretting about the legacy that my Boomer generation will be leaving for his. The challenges can seem overwhelming, but we simply must do our best to preserve our democracy and our planet. For their sake, if not for our own.
Merry Christmas to all. Take this time to take stock and re-energize for what is to come.
by Paula | Nov 7, 2019 | Family, Paula Persists, Uncategorized
I recently started a new job in downtown Madison. It is a bustling area–traffic can be nasty and parking is at a premium on the relatively tiny isthmus between two lakes that constitutes the downtown area.
Many years, children and husbands ago, I took the bus daily to the downtown office where I was the ‘new business girl’ for a now-defunct life insurance company. This was before email, voicemail or personal computers; a time when companies had positions with the word ‘girl’ in them–positions that did not pay enough for the ‘girls’ to afford parking anywhere near the building. At that stage of life I had not yet gotten my BBA, and my livelihood was dependent upon my (really fast) typing skills, and (very possibly) on my youthful naivety.
But, I digress. After a decades-long absence, I am once again relying on Madison Metro to get to and from work. I have come to enjoy the opportunity to decompress before and after work, while letting the bus driver wrangle with the traffic.
It can be uncomfortable. Many of my fellow passengers do not easily fit within the confines of an individual bus seat, and my morning bus often gets crowded. As a result, it is not uncommon to find myself thigh-to-thigh and shoulder-to-shoulder with a perfect stranger, with the backside of yet another (standing) stranger mere inches from my face. Personal space is at a premium, especially now that we are getting into the time of year that necessitates heavy coats.
Some people read, some people stare out the window, but most people stare at their phones. I play Sudoku on my phone. This is not as benign as it sounds. Over the years, I have had stretches of time where I have had an unhealthy addition to Sudoku–often foregoing sleep and other obligations to play into the wee hours. The bus ride gives me the opportunity to indulge in my obsession, guilt-free, if only for the duration of the ride. So far, I have only missed my stop once while playing.
We shall see if I continue my bus adventures throughout the wintery months ahead. Unlike my younger self, I now have the means to drive and park downtown every day should I chose to do so. But for now, I am enjoying the relatively stress-free ride, and I am determined to improve my Sudoku personal best.
by Paula | Sep 8, 2019 | Family, Paula Persists, Uncategorized
The end of summer has brought several firsts: the twin grand-girls are in first grade–spending their days in separate classrooms for the first time; although they report that they regularly find each other at recess.
I started a new job, returning to my project management roots as a consultant with the State of Wisconsin. I am very excited about the project–which impacts children and families in the state.
Serena was once again in the US Open Women’s Final, and once again lost to a younger opponent; an opponent who wasn’t even born when Serena won her first US Open. This year, I had high hopes for Serena, as she had absolutely demolished her last two opponents en route to the final, displaying her former dominant form. However, her usually reliable first serve failed her; and she could not prevail over Andrea Andreescu’s aggressive style of play, a style that closely resembles Serena’s own powerful brand of tennis.
The latest news cycle has brought us ‘Sharpie-gate’, providing a ridiculous example of the extreme measures that our Clown-in-Chief will take to avoid admitting fault, by apparently using a Sharpie to alter a weather map in order to support previous (erroneous) tweets in which he stated that Alabama was in the path of Dorian.
It was a ridiculous reminder of a primary tenet of this presidency; which is to establish himself as the one infallible source of ‘truth’, who (like any facist leader) cannot be questioned. Trump routinely dismisses any facts that do not align with his own agenda as ‘fake news’.
On a positive note, the whole SharpieGate fiasco has been a gold mine for comics and cartoonists. The resulting memes have been great–including an altered photo of his inauguration with lots of people ‘sharpied’ into the crowd.
While the memes are funny, the laughter is underscored with weariness. This administration and it’s draconian policies continue to take tremendous human toll. This morning’s paper included an obituary for a woman I did not know, that summarizes it well, saying: “Although pancreatic cancer is the official cause of death, she was truly aggravated to death by the lack of kindness, civility and justice being demonstrated in the leadership of our country.”
Amen Sister, and rest in peace
by Paula | May 5, 2019 | Family, Paula Persists, Uncategorized
Dan and I recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list vacation to Australia. We had a great time and thrived on two weeks of constant togetherness, away from the normal demands on our time and attention.
After travelling around the world, we wanted to get the most out of our trip, so we definitely kept on the go! A few highlights from our trip:
Day 1-3: Sydney: Our funky 1 BR AirBnB was right along the Coogee to Bondi beach walk. The walkway was busy from pre-dawn to post-dark everyday, mostly by the very active locals who love to run–frequently with their dogs. The walk was breath-taking, and was the perfect way to stretch our legs after the looong flight. The best breakfast we had during our whole trip was at a little cafe at Clovelly beach; a french-toast based feast, which we enjoyed with our new favorite coffee drink – a flat white.
We spent time downtown seeing the usual, ‘must-see’ sights: including the Opera House and the Botanical Gardens. We had dinner with a friend who recently moved to Sydney, and we navigated the public transport system with mixed results. Other highlights were the stunning sunrise near Clovelly beach and a day trip into the Blue Mountains.
Day 4-9: Carnes / Great Barrier Reef area: We stayed between Carnes (the ‘r’ is silent) and Port Douglas in a rather hoity-toity resort (which was a bit overly fancy for Dan’s tastes). We spent a much anticipated day on a dive boat in the Great Barrier reef, where Dan scuba’d and I snorkled. After all my unsuccessful struggles to get scuba certified, it didn’t really matter; the snorkeling was just as amazing as the scuba-ing. I have never seen such an incredible concentration of colorful fish and coral – words don’t do it justice.
Our best dinner of the whole trip was at a place called NuNus, near our resort, which was recommended by one of our guides: they had some lamb stuff olives that were amazing. Overall, the food on our trip was nothing that special – fish and chips (fries) were prevalant everywhere. However, I must confess, that we are not ‘foodies’ and did not go out of our way to research cuisine experiences.
We took a couple day trips to the Daintree Rain Forest, that included zip-lining, and a boat ride thru croc infested waters. Between the crocs and the jellyfish, the waters can be dangerous, and we carefully obeyed all posted signs and rules! One of our guides told us that he has never heard of someone being merely ‘injured’ by a croc, since once they have you, you ARE their next meal.
Day 10-11 Coolum Beach: On the eastern coast, north of Brisbane about 90 minutes: We only had 2 days here, and the weather could not have been better. A 10 minute walk from our rental put us at the most inviting beach imaginable – with no crocs or jellies to worry about. We were the oldest couple boogie-boarding on the beach, so much fun!
Day 12 -14 Adelaide / Kangaroo Island (Southern coast): Our last stop was a two-day tour of Kangaroo Island, kicking off with a very early am pickup from our Adelaide hotel. The downside was lots of bus time, but that was offset by the incredible array of wildlife that we saw; including the obligatory roos, wallabys and koalas, but also Australian Sea Lions, seals, pelicans, penguins, many birds and raptors, and even a couple dingos. We were able to pet and feed many animals – but not the dingos! We learned a lot about the ecosystem, and the unexpected fact that feral cats are taking over large swathes of Australia, further endangering many native animals.
Our final Saturday started at 5 am in Adelaide and ended at 11:50 pm in Wisconsin: a 34 hour long day. We made it home tired, but safe and sound. We are already looking forward to our next great adventure… wherever that may be.
