Daily Connector | A marathon or a ride | Lavonne van der Zwaag
Donald McNeil, the Times science reporter who has frequented “The Daily” podcast has suggested that we should view the pandemic as a marathon with staggered start times rather than judging the success of a country (or state) based on the per capita death toll at a given time. He says that we can only determine how well a country (or state) is doing when you add in the time factor — “…when the virus first exploded in a given place and what has happened since. McNeil adds, “we won’t really be able to judge until it’s over.” [David Leonhardt. New York Times The Morning. Sept 11, 2020] I find that is probably true for a lot of things: a book, a vacation, raising children, a marriage, a life. The perspective that time offers is invaluable but it has some limitations. Labor Day marked the second anniversary of Gerke’s transition and
Daily Connector | When can we get the hugs back? | Jenny Campagna
In the beginning of March, I was on a boat in the waters off Dana Point, CA watching dolphins and sea lions glide through the water. The small boat was crowded with families including two little girls from Indiana who immediately decided that they loved me a lot. Their younger brother was unimpressed by my charms, which was just as well because his giant rainbow sucker rendered his face a sticky mess. The girls threw their arms around my neck and kissed my face on slobbery repeat while their mother looked at me apologetically. They asked me what was my favorite color. I said blue and purple. I can’t choose one! They agreed those were very good colors though one girl preferred pink. They shouted with glee when I answered that Ariel was my favorite Disney princess. Them too! Can you believe it? They swore their undying friendship to me.
Daily Connector | Dear Friends | Maris Franke
Dear Friends and Members of Columbus Mennonite Church, I found these very inspiring words in a letter to the Editor of the Columbus Dispatch. On September 11, 2020 Camille Humphrey of Groveport, Ohio sent these words in response to the Dispatch’s publication of “2020 Everyday Heroes of Central Ohio”. She wrote: “These people typify John Wesley’s message in ‘Wesley’s Rule’: ‘Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.’ These heroes’ stories renew our faith in the goodness in our world.” Thank you, Camille. Maris Franke
Daily Connector | Rise Up, Butterfly Army! | Samantha Allen
Being home all day, every day, during these coronatimes, is getting rather boring. Luckily my husband has a very interesting summer hobby – to raise a large and intimidating new army – consisting of (newly hatched? born?) monarch butterflies. Did you know those teeny tiny white dots, gently laid on a milkweed plant, will grow into bright striped caterpillars, who make beautiful glasslike chrysalis, which blossom into the beautiful orange butterflies we know and love? Is there a greater transformation in the (animal) kingdom of God? Did you know that monarch butterflies across North America all make their way to one mysterious butterfly forest in Mexico to spend the winter months? They are the only butterfly to do so… and we still don’t know how they find their way there! Picture it – tens of thousands clustered on a single tree! Over the past few weeks, we’ve released about 40
Daily Connector | Kosciuszko Pilgrimage | Larry Less
In previous blogs, I have talked about one of my heroes and source of inspiration, Brigadier General Thaddeus Kosciuszko. In 2017 a number of events converged resulting in my taking a 2-week trip to visit my sister in Maine and also make stops along the way to the Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC, the 911 Museum, West Point, and the Flight 93 Museum in Shanksville, PA. My sister, Diane, in Kennebunk, Maine had a dryer fire in January 2017; fortunately she and her granddaughter who were the only ones home that evening got out safely. Since the fire station was nearby, the fire was extinguished relatively quickly limiting damage to the downstairs bathroom where the dryer was located. But there was extensive smoke damage which required her to move out for about 8 months. After spending a couple of weeks in a hotel, she was able to rent a vacant ‘summer’
