2025 Life Logs, Day 26: It’s All About the Wind
Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025
Weather: Mostly Sunny: Temp 39, Low 27 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

It was warmer when I walked with Shadow this morning, so I didn’t wear my warm scarf around my neck. But I didn’t factor in the wind. It was only blowing about 15 mph, but that was enough to make my face feel like it was freezing. By the time we got home, my face was still freezing, but the rest of me was on the verge of perspiring. When I checked the weather tonight, I see we are going to have winds over 20 mph for the next could of days. I guess I’ll have keep wearing that scarf around my neck. I should know from experience, that it’s all about the wind.

Around noon, I got a text from Ollie inviting me to come over and watch more episodes of The Mandalorian with him. He is feeling better, but his energy level is still not back to normal. He went ice skating down on the pond with his mom and dad this morning and when he returned, he didn’t have the energy afterwards to do anything other than be a couch potato. So why not watch more of the series we started last night? I really didn’t have anything that had to be done today, so I accepted the invitation. Watching TV all afternoon is not my usual M.O., but in another year of so, I know I will no longer get that kind of invitation. Ollie will be a full-fledged teenager, and we all know that teenagers are all about being with their friends. So, I jumped at Ollie’s invitation.

2025 Life Logs, Day 25: Date with Ollie
Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Weather: Sunny: Temp 32, Low 29 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

It barely got above freezing again today, but it felt warm enough to spend time outside without freezing. Shadow and I started the day with a nice long walk. When we got home, I read for a bit and then I drove up to the Sagamore Park and Ride to pick up Heather who took the bus home from Boston. She attended two days of the Massachusetts Municipal Association meeting which brings together the heads of local government of all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns. When I got home, I set about making chili for Ollie. He still has a temperature and no energy, but he loves chili, so I thought that might perk him up. Then I got a text from Jonah asking if I could come over this evening so he could have friends over to play ice hockey on the frozen pond. It is such a rare occasion these days on the Cape to have frozen ponds that kids want to take full advantage of them before they melt. Heather and Jed were going to Yankee Swap, so of course I said yes to Jonah’s request. The boys are certainly old enough to be home alone in the evenings, but the house rule is that there can be no friends without an adult in the house. Sam is in New Hampshire with friends skiing, Jonah and three friends spent almost two hours out on the ice, so Ollie and I had a quiet dinner date and watched episodes of The Mandalorian. I was going to write about Heather Cox Richardson’s blog post from yesterday, but I don’t want to ruin what was a perfectly delightful day writing about the events of this week. In five short days, Trump has managed to start dismantling federal government agencies that have taken decades to build. I’ll save that for another time.

2025 Life Logs, Day 24: Lunch with a Friend
Date: Friday, January 24, 2025
Weather: Mostly Sunny: Temp 32, Low 15 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

Not a lot to report today. I met a friend for lunch that I haven’t seen for ages. She had a morning exercise class at the Senior Center, so I met her there right after her class. The Senior Center serves good food at very affordable prices. I’ve only eaten there twice before, but it is certainly a good lunch option for seniors in Falmouth.

When I picked Ollie up after school today, he was not his cheery self. He said he had a headache all day and he felt like he had a fever. He was bummed because he really wanted to go to the dance at the middle school tonight, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen. I took him home and he said he was going to go to his room to rest. I went home, but then I had second thoughts. I emailed Heather to tell her I was going back to check on him. She was in Boston all day today and won’t be home until tomorrow evening, but she was going to check to see when Jed would be home. But since I was going back to check on him anyway, she suggested I check his temperature and make sure he was staying hydrated. He did have a fever just a bit over 100, but the headache had gone away. He promised to drink lots of water and rest until his dad came home. I checked with Jed tonight and he said the fever is down a bit. Now we just have to wait to see what tomorrow brings.

I got an email today from my daughter-in-law’s father who lives in England. During the past few months, he has been sending me articles from The Guardian focused on a world with Donald Trump as President of the United States. Today’s article listed 10 things you can do to resist Trump’s ‘neofascism’. In case you are looking for something you can do, I am listing the 10 things recommended below.

Trump’s neofascism is here now. Here are 10 things you can do to resist.
Robert Reich for The Guardian

“What can I do now?” Here are 10 recommendations.
1. Protect the decent and hardworking members of your communities who are undocumented or whose parents are undocumented.
2. Protect LGBTQ+ members of your community.
3. Help protect officials in your community or state whom Trump and his administration are targeting for vengeance.
4. Participate or organize boycotts of companies that are enabling the Trump regime, starting with Elon Musk’s X and Tesla, and any companies that advertise on X or on Fox News.
5. To the extent you are able, fund groups that are litigating against Trump.
6. Spread the truth.
7. Urge friends, relatives and acquaintances to avoid Trump propaganda outlets such as Fox News, Newsmax, X and, increasingly, Facebook and Instagram.
8. Push for progressive measures in your community and state.
9. Encourage worker action.
10. Keep the faith. Do not give up on America.

Here are some of the sources Reich listed that he currently relies on for the truth: The Guardian, Democracy Now, Business Insider, the New Yorker, the American Prospect, Americans for Tax Fairness, the Economic Policy Institute, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, ProPublica, Labor Notes, the Lever, Popular Information, Heather Cox Richardson and, of course, Reich’s own Substack.

2025 Life Logs, Day 23: Encore Lunch In
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Weather: Mostly Sunny: Temp 28, Low 19 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

Today’s main activity was attending an Encore Lunch In. There are usually somewhere between 6-10 people who sign up for this each month. Today there were seven of us, and each of us brought as assigned food item. I was assigned to bring dessert, so I brought a poppy seed cake with fruit salad. As always, the food was wonderful, and the conversation was most interesting. I knew one person well, my good friend Jane Woodin, had met two others, but there were three new people I had never met. I love these small events as you can really get a chance to get to know new people.

The weather was a tad warmer today, but still the high was below freezing. I love the snow cover on the ground, but I do not like it on the sidewalks as I constantly fear that I will slip and fall. So, when Shadow and I go for our walks through the neighborhood, I simply walk in the street. It is a bit inconvenient, but I am not wishing for a melt anytime soon. Jonah and Ollie are enjoying playing ice hockey on the pond in their neighborhood. I am not sure we have had frozen ponds in the past few years, so hopefully it will stay cold enough for at least another week so they can continue their winter fun.

2025 Life Logs, Day 22: Cold North Wind
Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Windy: Temp 23, Low 14 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

For the last three days, whatever the thermometer says, it feels about 12-15 degrees colder because of strong north wind. This morning when Shadow and I ventured out the thermometer said it was 16 degrees F, but WeatherUnderground said it felt like 3 degrees. And after walking just a quarter of a mile, Shadow and I agreed. My fingers, inside my gloves, were already freezing, and Shadow was prancing telling me his ‘toes’ were freezing. So, we turned around and walked back home. No long walk this morning, but we did spend shorter periods of time outside playing ball throughout the day. Shadow will not play fetch in the snow, I guess because he doesn’t like the feel of the icy snow that sticks to the ball. It is the same with sand at the beach. But this week I found a rubber ball in the bottom of the tennis ball container. I tried that and it works.

Otherwise, I spent my day checking little things off my list that were time sensitive. I also made a poppy seed cake to take to a luncheon tomorrow. Next it was to Coffee O to meet with Jon Kaufman who co-leads the Exploring Public Policy group with me to do a little future planning for the group. He just returned from a trip to Costa Rica, and I got to see some of his bird photos from a birding trip in the cloud forest. So beautiful. And then I was off to pick up Ollie from his after school art club meeting. That was about it for my day.

Maybe it is the cold weather, or maybe it is depression over what is happening to our country since Trump took back the helm on Monday … for whatever reason, I seem to be moving at turtle speed this week. I don’t feel super productive, but then tortoise did win the race.

2025 Life Logs, Day 21: Happy Birthday to Sam
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Weather: Partly Cloudy and Cold: Temp 21, Low 11 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

Samuel Ellery Goldstone, my first-born grandchild, thus my oldest, turned 18 today. He was born on a day much like today, snow on the ground and very cold. But what I can’t believe is that I have an 18-year-old grandchild. I invited Sam and family to Hibachi Saga in Mashpee for Sam’s birthday dinner and we all had a great time. Sam was adamant that we not let the staff know it was his birthday as he did not want everyone singing Happy Birthday. About the time he made that very clear, which we totally respected, everyone at a different grill started singing Happy Birthday to disco music and flashing disco lights. The birthday person had on a hat with flashing candles. It was raucous and looked like a lot of fun, but Sam still said no. There was one other couple sitting with us around our grill. As Sam was pointing out that it should be obvious why he didn’t want anyone to know it was his birthday, the young man at our table announced that this was his 28th birthday week, and he certainly didn’t want to be deprived of the disco celebration. I don’t know how the staff found out it was also Sam’s birthday, maybe from the other birthday guy, but after dinner two birthday hats were distributed to the birthday guys at our grill and we had our turn singing Happy Birthday to the disco music and lights, flashing candle hats and all. The other birthday guy made it so much fun that I don’t think Sam really minded. The whole evening was filled with fun and good food. A perfect birthday dinner.

Sam opened his gifts when we got home. This year, every gift came in an envelope. It was a money birthday. I contributed money for a Eurail Summer Pass for Sam’s graduation trip with friends to tour Europe for 19 days. They are flying to Zurich, Switzerland, and then to Prague in the Czech Republic. From there, they will go by rail to Strasbourg in Austria, Freiburg in Germany, Maastricht in the Netherlands, Paris in France, Torino in Italy, and then to a yet determined destination from where they will fly home. The four boys that are going have planned this trip to be a combination of visiting World War II sites of interest interspersed with hiking in the Black Forest and hanging out in beautiful places. They have put a lot of thought in to the planning.

So even though I am still struggling with the fact that I have an 18-year-old grandchild who will be graduating from high school, going to Europe on a summer adventure, and then going away to college, at the same time, it fills me with pride to watch this process. Happy Birthday, Sam!

2025 Life Logs, Day 20: Too Much, but Heads Up
Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Chilly: Temp 32, Low 14 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

My head is spinning from a day filled with ‘too much’—MLK Day, Inauguration Day, Executive Orders and then more Executive Orders, Commutations for 14 individuals convicted of crimes on January 6. So how did I deal with all of that? I went with a friend to the Cape Cinema in Dennis to see a movie. That’s one way of sticking your head in the sand.

But I am now back home, trying to process everything that happened today. And it was a lot. Days like today do not happen in ordinary times. Tonight, I heard an interview with Timothy Snyder, Professor of History at Yale and expert on authoritarianism. He was also pointing out that much of what happened today was not ordinary. He said we need to be vigilant, not stick our heads in the sand. His quote was, “Heads up … look for the openings.”

Cecile Richards, previously the President of Planned Parenthood, died today at only 67. But something she once said will always stick with me in times like these: “One woman calling out an injustice is powerful enough; when we raise our voices together, we can shake the status quo to its foundation.” Or as another human rights activist and the world’s leading spokesman on the Holocaust., Elie Wiesel said, “One person is a protest, more than two is a movement.” In times like these, we need to join together to stand for what is just and right for our country. Look for the openings.

2025 Life Logs, Day 18: Gloomy Winter Day
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Weather: Overcast, Rain Early and Late: Temp 36, Low 28 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

WeatherUnderground says we should be getting light snow right now, but instead we are getting short periods of driving rain. The temperature outside is above freezing, so rain, no snow. After a nice walk with Shadow this morning, I stayed inside the rest of the day doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Then tonight I watched the second episode of Ken Burns’ Leonardo de Vinci. Hopefully I’ll be a little more energetic tomorrow.

Heather and family are skiing/snowboarding at Sunday River in Maine this long weekend. Unfortunately, Sam fell so hard on his left wrist that he had to go to ski patrol for an ice pack. They suggested he go for an Xray, so Heather stayed on the mountain with Jonah and Ollie and Jed and Sam spent the afternoon getting that done. Later she sent a photo of Sam on the sofa at their rental holding up his left hand with a Velcro splint and he sent me a video assuring me he is just fine. He has a lot of pain when he moves his wrist, but he is still hoping to be back on the slopes tomorrow.

2025 Life Logs, Day 17: Afternoon Tea and Evening Mingle and Mix
Date: Friday, January 17, 2025
Weather: Mostly Sunny; Temp 35, Low 23 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

Last night after writing and posting my log, I headed outside with Shadow for his last pee break for the day. As I opened the door, I was shocked to see a coating fluffy white stuff. Since the last time I took Shadow outside, it had snowed. Not a lot, but enough to cover the ground and turn the world white again. Shadow and I did a happy snow dance.

Engaging socially is listed as one of those things you need to do to live a longer, healthier life. You could say that I spent my day working toward a healthier lifestyle. Or you could say I spent the day just having fun with friends. Whichever you might say, you are correct. I spent my morning walking with Shadow and catching up on paperwork. But by 1 pm, I was at Midge Frieswyk’s having tea with close friends. It was wonderful just spending an hour and a half talking about the things happening in our world. I left at 2:30 pm to go pick up Ollie, take him home, and then go home for afternoon outside playtime with Shadow. Then it was time to go to the next social event, Mingle and Mix. There were more than 20 people there tonight, some I knew and some I had never met. That is the wonderful thing about this event. You get to visit with people you know in an intimate environment and you get the opportunity to add new people to your repertoire of friends. So, looking on the glass half full side of things, I spent my day lengthening my life by socializing with friends.