2026 Life Logs, Day 186: Ken Burns, Doris Kearns, Jane Fonda
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2026
Weather: Rain Overnight, Partly Sunny; High Temp 78, Low 63 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Ken Burns, Doris Kearns, Jane Fonda … all individuals who make a difference. This morning I watched NBC’s Special Edition of Meet the Press and thought that Ken Burns summarized the situation we find ourselves in at this point in our history as a country spot on. I first met Ken Burns sometime in the 1990’s when he was working with the Board of New Hampshire Public Radio on a special project. Then, as now, he was wearing his signature jeans. I met and talked with him again at another New Hampshire Public Radio event in the late 1990’s when his daughter Sarah was attending St. Paul’s School, Heather and Justin’s alma mater. At this meeting, we talked as parents. Justin was in college at Hampshire, Ken Burns’ alma mater. So, we had much in common and I found him to be so positive and down to earth and easy to talk to. But this morning when I heard him speak about the history of this country, I heard a man with who has spent fifty years studying the history of this country, and who still has that positive attitude. There was also an interview with Doris Kearns Goodwin, and just a small clip of Jane Fonda, I think testifying before Congress. I you didn’t watch Meet the Press today, I highly recommend trying to see it.
Heather took me to see Patsy this afternoon, and Heather was successful in getting her new tv working. One problem solved. But I left as I have the past few days, feeling like Patsy is not settling into her new home. I knew this might be the case as moving anyone with dementia is problematic, but I had to hope it would work. The problem is that Patsy just does not socialize with anyone other than family. She has not for the past five years, and I am not convinced she is ever going to. I am struggling with how to best help her without making myself sick with constant worry about her. I am going to attend a Bridges caregiver webinar tomorrow night. Maybe it will help get me started on the road to understanding how to deal with this.
I stayed home with Shadow tonight instead of going to Heather and Jed’s to watch the Mexico-England World Cup game. Shadow had not eaten for two days, so I was also worried about him. But as soon as I wrote to Heather saying I was staying home, he ate. I think he stopped eating because it was so hot, but at least now that he has finally eaten, I will be able to go to Heather and Jed’s to watch the USA-Belgium game tomorrow night. Right now, watching world cup soccer games is the only thing that keeps me from constantly worrying about my sister. There are just so many problems. In addition to my car breakdown yesterday, I got a call around 12:45 am early this morning that Patsy was found sitting on the floor beside her bed. She had obviously tried to get up without help. Thankfully she was fine. But it seems that I just go from one problem to another. So World Cup soccer game diversion is much appreciated. One day at a time, one problem at a time, with one or two soccer games a day mixed in ,,, maybe this will get me through.
