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.
