by Judy Handley | Apr 22, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 113: Remembering Rachel Carson on Earth Day 50
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Weather: Mostly Sunny, Very Windy and Cold; High 46 degrees, Low 31 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Rachel Carson has always been one of my heroes. She was a writer, a marine biologist, and a conservationist. Anyone who loves the world’s oceans has probably read her book, THE SEA AROUND US. But it was her book published in 1962 that had such an impact on those fighting to keep our environment healthy. SILENT SPRING sounded the environmental alarm about the use of pesticides. She died of cancer only two years after the publication of that book, but her words of wisdom have stayed with us. During her college years, she took a summer course at the Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole. She is honored there in Marina Park with a bronze sculpture depicting her in deep concentration as she looks out over the water. I told the Goldpebbles yesterday that I was going to take them to Woods Hole today to see Rachel. We planned to take face masks in case there were other people in the park. And we all agreed to stay in the car until there were no other people near the Rachel Carson sculpture before getting out of the car. The boys have grown up with Woods Hole as their ‘backyard’, but we all felt that today’s experience was so very different. There were absolutely no other people on the street, no other cars, and no one in the park. Definitely a first and it felt very strange. It felt like a ghost town. 
But we enjoyed having Rachel all to ourselves and I took photos of the boys with her with and without their masks on. Sam remarked that the photo with the masks will always remind us of celebrating Earth Day in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. It was also Sam that kept seeing things in Woods Hole that he had never noticed before. Like he said, “For the last month we have only been out of one house to drive to the other house.” The Cottage to Vidal Avenue to Grasmere Drive and back to Vidal. I promised him that things haven’t really changed during that time. It is just that our isolation has opened our eyes to a new way of looking at the same old things. But, like him, I kept seeing things I have never noticed before as well.
On our way to Woods Hole, we also visited some of our favorite places in Falmouth. We stopped by Falmouth Heights Beach, drove along Surf Drive to check out the various osprey nests, drove past Nobska Lighthouse and saw that it is being renovated, drove by Stony Beach in Woods Hole and were saddened to see all of the police tape keeping people from entering the parking area, and on the way home we stopped to see the baby lambs at Peterson Farm. There were other stops we wanted to make, but we ran out of time as we wanted to get back to my house by noon to watch the Woods Hole Research Center webinar hosted by Heather. I connected my computer to the television so they could see Heather on the bigger screen. It was interesting to see their eyes open wide when Heather started the webinar on the big screen. Jonah was quite impressed that one of the people Heather was interviewing was a young man named Jonah from the National Children’s Campaign. Sam was convinced that he would learn nothing new, but he was surprised to learn that he did not know about a website that Jonah (not our Jonah) mentioned as a resource for students in schools wanting to organize around environmental issues. Sam and a friend started an environmental club at their school this year and will now be able to use this resource going forward. https://schoolsforclimateaction.weebly.com/
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After watching the webinar, the boys were out the door and down on the dock launching all three kayaks. Exploring by kayak was their chosen activity to end our celebration of Earth Day 50. I sat down by the dock with Shadow and watched as they paddled and explored. The wind made it a chilly experience, but it gives me great joy to watch them explore. We had to end our day together early as I had a 3 pm appointment with my chiropractor. When I woke up this morning and my back problem was no better, I called and made the appointment. The office is scheduling appointments so that only one person is in at a time and they are taking every precaution to make it safe. Unfortunately, my chiropractor agrees with me. Whatever I did this time, is not going to be an easy fix. I’ll see him again tomorrow morning and then a couple of times next week. Then we’ll see how I’m doing. I can still function, but there are times when there is excruciating pain. If a just keep moving, which is not always easy, it goes away. So hopefully continued, careful movement interspersed with visits to Dr. Mike will get my back in working order soon.
by Judy Handley | Apr 21, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 112: MA Students Will Not Go Back to School
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Weather: Overcast, Windy, Rain Late; High 53 degrees, Low 33 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Massachusetts Republican Governor Charlie Baker announced today that schools in this state will not reopen this spring. The decision puts a huge burden on parents, but it is the right decision. In school districts where teachers are actually teaching online it is less of a burden, but in school districts like ours where teachers are sending assignments but not teaching the subject matter, it is quite a stressful situation even in the homes where both parents are working from home. For those parents who will be returning to work, I have no idea what they do with their children.
I spent another spring vacation day with the Goldpebbles. While I walked Shadow and then fixed breakfast, I let the boys have some screen time on Granddad’s tablet. They also did some chores for me. Sam drilled a larger hole in the bat house they gave me for Mother’s Day last year and finally got it hung on the front of the house. All three boys then worked to replace the free play time in their new backyard. At first it was sunny, making the windy day tolerable. But when the sun went away, the boys gravitated inside to read until lunch time. 
Then it was back to my house to play with Shadow, do more reading, go kayaking, and attempt a ‘deforestation’ project. I put deforestation in quotes. We are not chopping trees down, but Sam and Jonah are practicing their Scout skills with an ax to remove some saplings from the tree line in the side yard of The Cottage. Tomorrow, on Earth Day, we hope to transplant some raspberries from 60 Vidal along that tree line.
I continue to struggle with back pain. I have tried all of my tricks and they work, for a very short time, and then the pain is back. Obviously I have a disc sitting on a nerve that sends shooting pains into my hips and on down both legs. Walking gives me the greatest relief, but I really do need to see my chiropractor. I talked to Heather about it, explaining that I don’t want to chance bringing the virus into our family unit, but she agreed that I should make an appointment. I think she is going to have to make another grocery store run in the next week and Jed is desperate to go to hardware store. Of course, we will all be as careful as possible, but after no exposure for a few weeks now, going out seems a bit scary.
by Judy Handley | Apr 20, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 111: Wetlands Walk and Kayaking
Date: Monday, April 20, 2020
Weather: Overcast; High 51 degrees, Low 32 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
I did, in fact, kidnap the Goldpebbles today. We had a fun day and now they are fast asleep here in The Cottage. Heather and Jed joined us for dinner, but the boys really wanted to stay the night. Heather and Jed were very appreciative of the extra time they could put into their work without the interruptions of three boys and I really enjoyed exploring with Pebbles today. 
We started with a walk through the 30-acre wetland that begins in their backyard. I didn’t have my camera with me, but I did have my phone and I found myself talking photos of everything to document the area in early spring. It will look so different in another month. I insisted that the boys wear mud mucking boots, but it is I who should have had on the boots. I slid on a mud bank and landed sitting on a pokey root with one foot in the water. I’ll wear my Bogs on the next walk! I have a big bruise on my bum where I landed on that root, but otherwise, I was fine. And I probably enjoyed the exploration more than the boys. New plants to identify, ducks, turtles, and egg masses in the water to keep an eye on . . . these are a few of my favorite things. After the walk we headed to my house for lunch and to brainstorm ideas for activities this week. Basically, all three boys want more time to explore the conservation area in their back yard and they want to do a little marsh mucking here at The Cottage. They want to kayak, and on a rainy day, they want to do a binge movie day. I have seen Harry Potter 1, 2, and 3 with them, but now that I am reading the books, I want to see them again. And so do they. Friday looks like our rainy day with Harry Potter. The weather this week looks miserable, but we’ll do our best to enjoy our outdoor explorations as we can. Jonah and Ollie are also interested in learning more about Mah Jong. I tried to convince them that it is just too complicated, but I lost that argument. We set up the card table and dove right in. It is great for me as it has been more than a month since I last played. This gives me an opportunity to see what I remember. We will also spend time transplanting raspberries from Vidal to here and hacking out more paths in the woods surrounding The Cottage for Shadow and I to enjoy.
The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is on Wednesday, so we need to find a way to make that a special day for all of us. Heather will be moderating a conversation on Zoom at 12 noon about how climate scientists and climate activists can work together and learn from one another. That will definitely be on our ‘watch’ list for Wednesday. If you would like to join us, go to this address to register: https://whrc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z4TtWLzTSkaio3KqmoYekA. If clicking on that link doesn’t work for you, just Google whrc.org/spring-series/ and you will get to the registration page. Not a part of Wednesday’s program is a selfie video Heather did today at Marina Park in Woods Hole. There is a bronze statue of Rachel Carson there, so Heather drove down to Woods Hole to sit beside Rachel and do a little Earth Day video. I can remember when Heather was a little younger than Sam and read her first Rachel Carson book. A beautiful memory.
Back to today. I wasn’t the only casualty of marsh mucking. Sam, Ollie, and I launched two of the kayaks for the first time this year and the two of them went out for the first exploration. They returned with treasures–plastic trash for disposal and half of a big egg that a baby swan has recently hatched out of. Then Sam went out with Jonah and they attempted to combine kayaking with marsh mucking by pulling their kayaks through a narrow and shallow path in the marsh. Both ended up with muddy foot and a very wet boot each. But there were no complaints and we didn’t lose any boots to the mucky marsh. So we announce that the kayaking season has officially begun.
by Judy Handley | Apr 19, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 110: Keep on Movin’
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2020
Weather: Mostly Sunny, Windy; High 50 degrees, Low 44 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
We’re still at it. Jed and I moved some of the last things from Vidal to Grasmere today. Unfortunately, we are still not finished. Heather stayed home and started putting things away, but as anyone who has every moved knows, that is a very sl-o-o-o-o-w process. I spent some of my time transplanting things from one place to another. I dug up and transplanted the last of the rhubarb plants and Heather’s favorite hyacinths. The boys also want to transplant a few tulips, so we will do that tomorrow. We have no idea how the hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips they will react to being transplanted during their spring cycle. I guess we’ll find out next spring.
That was about it for today. Tomorrow morning I pick up the Goldpebbles at 10 am for our first day of spring vacation activities. I have asked them to give me a tour of the wetlands area behind their new house and then we will head to the old house to dig up raspberries and attempt to transplant them here at The Cottage. We’ll spend some time brainstorming ideas for the rest of the week. We’ll all have dinner here tomorrow evening and formalize a ‘spring vacation from virtual school’ plan.
by Judy Handley | Apr 18, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 109: Proud to Be a Global Citizen
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2020
Weather: Cold and Rainy; High 42 degrees, Low 34 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
These are challenging times for all of us, but I find myself constantly thinking about those that are impacted more than others. Tonight, I tuned into a two-hour special hosted by late night hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon. Global Citizen, in partnership with the World Health Organization, sponsored this event called One World: Together At Home. It was organized by Lady Gaga and watching it made me feel really good about being a citizen of this world, imperfect as it may be. This special was not a fund raiser. Its purpose was to celebrate health workers, and all workers who are making our lives at home in these days of Covid-19 possible, and to support the World Health Organization in their global fight to rid the world of COVID-19. It made me proud to watch this and to know that even though the leader of our country does not support the World Health Organization, there are those out there who do.
The artists performed from home and there were three songs that really hit home with me. One was Barbara Streisand’s PEOPLE performed tonight by Jennifer Lopez. “People, people who need people.” We surely all need each other right now. John Lennon’s STAND BY ME was sung by Johnnie Legend and Sam Smith. The second verse of that song seems so very poignant at this time. “If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall; and the mountains should crumble to the sea. I won’t cry, I won’t cry. No, I won’t shed a tear just as long you stand, stand by me.” This drives home the importance of family and friends who have your back and, hopefully, you are there for them.
Then there was the all time favorite, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD. It was sung by a couple who I didn’t recognize, nor did I catch their names, but Louis Armstrong would have been proud. What an uplifting song. “I see skies of blue, and clouds of white. The bright blessed day, dark scared night. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” Even during these bleak times, to know that there are artists like all of the musicians who participated and people of means like Melinda and Bill Gates out there doing their best to support those who put their lives on the line each day for the rest of us, makes it a wonderful world.
The finale was LET THIS BE OUR PRAYER performed by Johnnie Legend, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and Andrea Bocelli, accompanied by Chinese pianist Lang Lang. Spectacular performance. And the final thought was this African proverb, “For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” It reminded me that each of us needs to reflect on what we are doing to prepare for tomorrow.
Now back to life at hand. Today was a particularly miserable weather day here on the Cape. Cold and rainy. But Heather, Jed, Sam, Jonah, Ollie, and I worked to get the final bits and pieces moved out of 60 Vidal. The basement is not quite complete, but the rest of the house is finally empty. The couple buying it are very lucky that Heather and Jed were able to get the entire inside of the house painted in February. The house looks great. Heather and Jed are certainly leaving a home that has been much improved over the years. Now we need to turn our attention to the new home, but first we have to get the basement and sheds emptied ay 60 Vidal. I’m hoping that maybe Heather can stay at the new home and start putting things away while the rest of us finish up the move. We spent all of last week moving and then she and Jed both had to work full time at home during the week. So neither of them has had anytime to start putting things away in the new house. The boys have spring break this coming week. No school. So I am thinking of kidnapping them in the hopes that Heather and Jed will have some time to get their new home in order. I’ll let you know how the kidnapping plan works out.
by Judy Handley | Apr 17, 2020 | 2020 Life Logs |
2020 Life Logs, Day 108: Congratulations to Dr. Joshua Lee Martin
Date: Friday, April 17, 2020
Weather: Partly Cloudy and Chilly; High 45 degrees, Low 34 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
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I received a text this morning announcing that my great nephew, Josh, was defending his thesis today and later in the day I received a text announcing that the defense was successful. Congratulations to Dr, Joshua Lee Martin. Josh is a writer, specifically a writer of poetry. I don’t get the chance to see him often as he lives in Georgia. But he was here in June to attend a writer’s workshop on Martha’s Vineyard. I got a few photos of him with Heather and Jed and boys. To celebrate his success today, I wrote a poem for him. Well, a poem of sorts. I don’t think I’ve ever written a poem in my life, but I share my attempts here to show how very proud of him, the grandson of my brother, the son of my nephew Tommy. Here’s my tribute.
He was once a little boy;
Bright-eyed and curious about the world.
He loved to read about history.
But did any of us ever think he would become a poet?
His Great Grandfather Martin had no formal schooling.
His Great Grandmother Martin finished eighth grade before getting married.
She had little education, but she was a storyteller supreme.
Maybe that is where some of the little boy’s poetic talent originated?
His Grandpa Dickel was no poet, but he did have a way with words!
As does his father.
His Grandma Conda smothered him with unconditional love that words can’t express.
He lost his biological mother in a tragic accident when he was just five.
His father struggled to live on with two little boys.
Grandma and Grandpa Martin came to live with them;
A grandfather who offered love,
A grandmother whose love was so deep, so true, so strong,
That it carried all of them through.
The little boy continued to be a quiet child, those eyes always penetrating and questioning.
Then a second mother came into his life, pouring love into the void left after his mother’s death.
With the love and support of a father and a second mother,
That little boy became a man.
He became a man that expresses his soul through the words he writes.
Today that man became Dr. Joshua Lee Martin;
A man of letters;
A man who will move his generation forward with his words.
I am so proud of that little boy, now that man with a PhD.
And I know my brother, his Grandfather Dickel, is smiling down from the heavens above.
His Grandmother Conda was the core that held their family together.
She loved that little boy so much.
I know, too, that she is looking down and bursting with enough pride to make the heavens explode.
Congratulations, to mom and dad, Marilou and Tommy;
Congratulations to Dr. Joshua Lee Martin.
Carry on, my man . . .
