by Judy Handley | Oct 20, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 293: Nada
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022
Weather: Partly Sunny, Windy, Cool; High 57, Low 45 degrees
Location: At Home in the Cottage, Falmouth, MA
I had nothing, nada, on my calendar for today. What a wonderful feeling. I had my whole day and evening to do just what I wanted and that was almost nothing! I spent a chunk of time outside with Shadow on walks and playing fetch. I did a bit of house cleaning. I made granola to take to Puerto Rico with me in November. I made lasagna for Jed and the boys to have on Sunday when Heather is off to Martha’s Vineyard on a work related overnight. And I had a little time to read between activities. It was a feel good day.
Justin called late in the day with some sad news. Justin and Jo’s horse, Hopi, had a baby boy they named Barnaby in the spring of 2020. I loved seeing the photos of the two of them together just after Barnaby’s birth.
Yesterday Barnaby slid down a hill in the mud, broke his neck, and had to be put down. He was such a good-natured horse that everyone loved. Sadness doth prevail.
by Judy Handley | Oct 19, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 292: Nice and Easy Fall Day
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Weather: Partly Sunny, Windy, Cooler; High 56, Low 44 degrees
Location: At Home in the Cottage, Falmouth, MA
Today was delightful—a strong breeze that made it feel cooler than it was, but not cold; a few puffy white clouds, but enough sunshine to make you forget about the slight chill. The morning was beautiful, just begging you to get out and walk.
And so, Shadow and I went for a long walk. However, when I came inside to have lunch, the clouds took over and the sunshine went away for an hour or so. But by the time I went outside to play ball with Shadow, the sunshine was back, and we frolicked in the yard side which has a beautiful covering of red and yellow leaves.
It was a picture-perfect New England fall day. But I now know that I am not a true New Englander. The other day I read something that brought me to that conclusion. Basically, if you have turned your heat on at this point in the fall, you cannot call yourself a true New Englander. Oops! I turned the heat on the first time the day after the first official day of fall on September 24. The temperature dipped into the 40’s overnight and I had Covid. The cool morning just didn’t feel good, so I turned on the heat. Then on subsequent days when it has been cool and rainy with no sunshine, I have succumbed and turned it on for a few hours. I resisted this morning even though it was cool inside because I knew the sunshine would warm things up quickly. Are you a true New Englander or have you cheated a few times in the past month?
This afternoon a attended a meeting of my Newcomers Public Policy group. The topic was: Unequal Opportunity – Race in Education. We had a speaker, Dr. Seyana Mawusi. She is life-time educator “with an extensive background in leadership development, curriculum design, mindfulness, trauma, neuroscience education, racial equity, restorative and social justice. Dr. Mawusi founded and is currently CEO of Intuitive Integrative Consultants. She coaches, consults, and intuitively guides leaders locally and internationally to reinvent, rethink and reframe their next steps to enhance their lives personally and professionally. Her clients include school districts, human resource departments, and city agencies.” Our group is small, so after her introduction, we had an intimate ‘conversation’ with Dr. Mawusi. My take-away from the conversation was to get involved in local politics, attend school board meetings and town meetings, and always ask, “Why?”
by Judy Handley | Oct 18, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 291: In Tribute to Zuzu
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Weather: Mix of Clouds, Sun, and Little Rain; High 66, Low 42 degrees
Location: At Home in the Cottage, Falmouth, MA
I was playing Mah Jong this afternoon when I saw a text message from Heather saying Ollie’s beloved guinea pig, Zuzu, was dying. Heather was supposed to drive Sam to rowing practice this afternoon, but naturally, she didn’t want to leave Ollie and Zuzu. I immediately left the Mah Jong game and headed to the Goldstones. Ollie and Heather were sitting with Zuzu on the back deck. It was heartbreaking to see Zuzu listlessly lying there but looking toward Ollie every time Ollie petted him. Zuzu held on until 7 pm tonight. Ollie is such a compassionate kid. He is sad but knows it was Zuzu’s time to go.
by Judy Handley | Oct 17, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 290: Errand Day
Date: Monday, October 17, 2022
Weather: Overcast with Periods of Drizzle; High 64, Low 59 degrees
Location: At Home in the Cottage, Falmouth, MA
Mondays are one of my ‘short’ days that basically end at 3 pm when I drive into town to pick up Sam and take him to rowing practice. On the hour drive to Harwich and on the drive home, Sam and I have the most interesting conversations. I really cherish that time with him. But I don’t get back home until 8 pm when I fix a quick dinner, watch a little cable news on MSNBC, write my log, and then head to bed to read. Today in the hours that I had prior to 3 pm, I walked with Shadow, spent some time making doctor appointments related to my back and my knees, spent some time on the phone dealing with some issues for my sister, did some deep cleaning in the kitchen, and then headed to town to do some food shopping and run a couple of other errands. By the time I got home, fixed lunch, and then ate, it was time to go. So went this Monday.
by Judy Handley | Oct 16, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 289: NH Rowing Championship Regatta
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2022
Weather: Sunny and Warm; High 69, Low 47 degrees
Location: At Home in the Cottage, Falmouth, MA
When I stepped out the front door this morning with Shadow, the sunshine and warm air felt sooooo good. I decided with that first step outside that I was going to reverse my decision to NOT drive to New Hampshire today to see Sam row in a regatta.
I instantly decided to drive the two and a half hours to see Sam for about five minutes total and then drive home. It sounded crazy, but I was going. I drove to Heather and Jed’s to check on Ollie who had chosen to stay home alone this morning. I was still there when Jed got home from Harwich with Jonah. Jonah’s soccer game did not go well, but he still seemed in good spirits. I said farewell and off I went.
I arrived at the race site about 40 minutes before Sam’s race was to begin. His coxless quad was given start slot number 8 out of 9 boats in that division, but when Heather and I spotted the boats rounding the curve in the Merrimack River, it looked like Sam’s boat was in fifth position.
They ended up getting fourth place which I am sure did not make the ‘boys in the boat’ happy, but the coach and parents were elated with their performance. The girls quad also came in fourth.
After Heather and I watched Sam’s boat pass by our location, we walked as fast as we could to the finish line and watched as the boats came out of the water and were carried on team shoulders back to the trailer to be transported back to the Cape.
Two hours after I arrived, I was back in the car and headed home. Jed was fixing dinner for all of us upon our return home. I stopped by the cottage to take Shadow for a walk and ended my day back at the Goldstones. The drive to New Hampshire was long, but it was beautiful. It gave me a chance to soak in the beauty of the autumn leaves.
While we were gone, Ollie and Jonah watched the Liverpool versus Manchester City soccer game and then Ollie pulled his wagon load of Scout popcorn around the neighborhood, going door to door to sell his share of popcorn for the Scout fundraiser.
All in all, it was a lovely day and all of us were grateful for such beautiful fall weather.
by Judy Handley | Oct 15, 2022 | 2022 Life Logs |
2022 Life Logs, Day 288: Ollie’s Soccer Game
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Weather: Overcast AM, Sunny PM; High 67, Low 51 degrees
Location: At Home in the Cottage, Falmouth, MA
For the past few years, Saturday Falmouth Soccer Club games have been a staple. On some Saturdays, both Sam and Jonah would have an FSC game and Ollie a Falmouth Rec game. But this year, only Ollie is playing in the Falmouth league and today was the first game of his I have been able to attend.
I was so glad the sun came out in the afternoon so we could enjoy a sunny, late afternoon game.
After the game, Heather and Sam headed to New Hampshire for Sam’s regatta tomorrow. Early in the morning, Jed and Jonah will drive to Harwich for Jonah’s 8 am game. I will not go to either of those—too far and too early—but I will be with them in spirit.
Yesterday Barnaby slid down a hill in the mud, broke his neck, and had to be put down. He was such a good-natured horse that everyone loved. Sadness doth prevail. 
