Welcome 2020

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Brave New World  

Three weeks ago I said so long to my students on what I thought would be an extended break from school has now turned into a very difficult time for a lot of people.  While I am learning the finer points of distance education, I am hoping my efforts will reach my students. In the meantime my new cry hour has been watching the news with all the heart wrenching stories of how this pandemic has affected us all.  In this edition of Cry Over Spilt Ink, I want to get the word out supporting those who are on the front lines that their efforts are appreciated.  

I hope as you read this you are safe and are not going stir crazy like so many of us.  In this edition I am featuring a Speak Out about “What the Pandemic is Teaching Us.” Sure we aren’t so keen on learning sometimes, but the fact is we are going through this together like it or not.  Meet Frankie Lane, someone whom you will never forget as there is a lot more than meets the eyes.  Enjoy a song lyrics that really hits me in the heart, "A Little Bit of Everything" by Dawes.  There is a poem an a word or two on what is coming in my world of Cry Over Spilt Ink.  Hope you enjoy.  

We are together and if we start to stray from the path of human decency, please follow the handrail, and even though you may be stressed, there is a good chance that the driver (explicit!!!) is probably stressed too.  And also, this idea of scapegoating exemplified during the Holocaust does not work in solving the problems we are currently facing. Do not point fingers at people using them as scapegoats for this Pandemic. This is Nature talking to us and many times we are guilty of not listening, but she has our attention now, doesn’t She?  When this is over, don’t you want to be on that long list of heroes who did the right thing and not the other list of jerks who made this even harder than it was supposed to be. Before you do something that will land you on the latter list, reconsider and try again.  

And finally, I also want to extend a thought about reaching out to people who need someone to reach out at a safe “social distance” and listen to what they are going through.  We need each other and as this edition states,”don’t ever assume what another person is going through.” So sit back, I know you’re bored, and take a few minutes to meander through Cry Over Spilt Ink.  You never know what you find that may help this trying time. And if not, I will keep trying...