2021, A New Hope

  Working at an institution of Higher Education, there are many years to which one can refer.  There's the Calendar Year (also known as the Tax Year), which is traditional in that it starts in January and ends in December.  There is the Academic Year which, at Penn, runs from the day after Commencement through the next year's Commencement.  And, on the 181st day of 2021, I am thinking about the Fiscal Year.  The FY runs from July 1 through June 30, so this means 6/30/2021 is Fiscal New Year (FY22)'s Eve!  As I said to a friend, Should auld spreadhseets be forgot?  But, seriously, I DO have Fiscal Year Hopes.  I am hoping that FY22 brings us less stress and drama that FY21 brought us.  I hope that our return to campus goes smoothly and is followed by smooth and successful transitions of the students back to campus (especially the Classes of 2025 and 2024).  I hope that budgetary concerns (and there always are some) do not hamper our abili...

  I had the good fortune to be back on the diamond on the evening of the 180th day of 2021.  6/29/2021 was the Final Championship Game for the District 13 11 year old baseball bracket.  And it was a pretty competitive game, until the end, with the usual highs and lows that sports can bring to a participant.  I, of course, was not a participant but had the lucky assignment of umpire (at 1st base).  And while yes, a District Champion was crowned, my hopes tonight are 2nd Place Hopes.  It's not easy to end your season with a loss but, for most teams, this is what happens.  Goodness knows it has happened to teams I have watched and teams I have coached.  So I have empathetic hopes for the 2nd Place finishers tonight.  I hope they realize how hard they worked and how well they placed to get to the final, elimination game (they forced the "If Game."  And I hope they had fun playing, because I had fun umping.

  We're in the grips of a Heat Wave on the 179th day of 2021.  I guess I should not complain because, on 6/28/2021 (it's STILL JUNE, PEOPLE) it was 100+ in the Pacific NW (PLEASE let that not be the case when we visit Seattle later this Summer) and it was only in the mid-90s here in Phila/South Jersey.  AND, I was lucky, I had a PTO day so I could get to the pool and swim.  I was there for more than an hour and it gave me cool pool hopes.  Yeah, the pool is heated to 82, but that seemed refreshing coming out of the high 90s.  And, walking back to my car, I felt refreshed and even energized (although my legs were sore from the aqua jogging, but it was a good sore).  I hope we all can find a way to stay cool amidst this heat and I hope to get back to the pool Wednesday evening!

  The 178th day of 2021 was a busy day, but I have to admit nothing specifically jumped out at me for my nightly reflection.  So, as I often do, I went to the checkiday.com website on 6/27/2021 to find a hope inspiring "holiday."  And, do you know that today is America's Kids Day?  And, coincidentally, I spent a large chunk of time WITH my kids this evening, as they were both done work early and we could have some quality family time.  Yes, I have hopes for my kids tonight.  Hopes that we can continue to have quality family time, even as they get older.  Hopes that they move towards their own hopes and dreams without moving TOO far away from us.  And hopes that they continue to mature and grow up and continue to make me proud to be their Dad!

I have been umpiring a few games in this past week (3 games in 6 days with more to come in the coming weeks).  And, at our game on Thursday, the crew chief, at our pre-game meeting, reminded us how lucky we are to be able to be doing this when there are others we have recently lost who can no longer do so with us.  Most notably, our friend and fellow ump, Joe Basera, who was one of the early folks lost to Covid.  And, on the 177th day of 2021, before I umpired another game, Sarah and I attended the viewing of another well-loved Joe.  Big Joe Coyne, the father of a good friend from the Penn Band, and a beloved figure in the South Jersey Community.  There were two viewings, Friday evening and Saturday morning, and the lines were out the door and down the block for both events.  It is obvious to me that Joe B and Joe C lived well-lived lives.  The number of people who love them and care for them and honor them in their passing was an indication of these l...

  I awoke on the 176th day of 2021 and looked at Facebook (OK, OK, I have issues).  But I smiled on the morning of 6/25/2021 because my Feed was filled with pictures from last night's Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2021 of Collingswood High School.  And I saw Sarah's video of the Class of 2021 flag about to get raised to be next to the flag for the Class of 2020 (Alexa's Class).  It got me thinking about next year and raised up all my Graduation Hopes.  I hope Anna and her class (CHS '22) are able to have a traditional Senior Year of HS.  I hope that we have weather for her ceremony like they had last evening.  I hope that the Penn Commencement Ceremonies (yes School Ceremonies too) are held as they have been in the past.  And I just hope the progress that has been made is not tripped up by anything.  I feel like things continue to get better, and I hope it stays that way!

  June is PRIDE Month and I have enjoyed seeing all of the ways that people are celebrating Pride on Facebook, on other forms of media, in commercials on TV, and in our neighborhoods.  On the 175th day of 2021, as I was driving to the ATM in Collingswood to make a deposit, I came upon this house, at the corner of Belmont and Lees Lane.  It filled me with happiness, I like colors and lights (must be my Glee Club, Dance, and Theater Tech Crew blood) and, on 6/24/2021, this house filled me with PRIDE hopes.  I hope that, with each passing day, that more people are comfortable living their authentic lives.  I hope that oppressive laws and cultural norms can be torn down in favor of those that are inclusive and empathetic.  I hope that announcements from athletes announcing that they are gay are no longer news events (because they are so commonplace).  I just want the world to be like the slogan of our church, Old First Reformed UCC.  LOVE FIRST. ...

  I have refrigerated hopes on the 174th day of 2021.  Because, over the weekend, the ice buildup (due to a small leak in the water line through the freezer) finally caused a jam and when we tried to open the drawer, it busted.  And busted badly.  SO, on 6/23/2021, we found ourselves at Best Buy, finally replacing our 16-year old (it served us well) fridge.  So I hope that it comes before its scheduled deliver by date (July 16th) and I hope the duct tape can keep the door closed tight enough so we do not lose any of the contents (so far, so good).  Come soon, new fridge, we are waiting....

I have to admit, work was a bit stressing and frustrating on the 173rd day of 2021.  So, as I sit here on the evening of 6/22/2021, I am bereft of inspirations for my daily reflection.  When that happens, and it happens to an extent many evenings, I turn to checkiday.com, because it is the source for Chris Carter, with Breakfast with the Beatles, for his morning "holidays" that often inspire me.  So, I went there and found out that today is Stupid Guy Thing Day.  SO, I have Stupid Guy Thing Hopes.  I hope that when I do things stupid (and I know I do) that people have understand and compassion towards me.  I hope that it is a rarity that I do stupid guy things.  And, I hope that when my family and I do fun, stupid things together, it is more like the love in this quote than it is something ACTUALLY stupid.  And, speaking of stupid and love, here is one of my favorite Michael Buble songs! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zucnwcJh6vk&ab_channel=O...

I had a great evening of the 172nd day of 2021.  6/21/2021 was my first umpire assignment for Little League District 13, it was the Championship Game for 10U Softball.  And, I got to umpire with three really good people, two of whom are from Oaklyn and who have taught me so much about umpiring!  The game had everything, pitching, hitting, an inside the park HR, a rundown, a rain delay, hot sun (at the start), dark clouds (at the end), and best of all is what it DID NOT have which was lightning.  So we got all 6 innings in and the Blue Diamonds from Oaklyn were District #13 10U SB Champs.  I am filled with umpiring hopes tonight.  I hope all of my crews this Tournament Season are as good as the crew we had tonight.  I hope I get all the close calls correct and don't call "foul" at the wrong time!  :-)  I hope I can enjoy watching the players play their hearts out as much as I enjoyed it tonight and, as my friends know, I hope I "Don't Suck!"...

  It should surprise absolutely nobody that, on the 171st day if 2021, I am filled with Father's Day Hopes.  And on the palindromic Father's Day of 6/20/2021, we had a great brunch, online Church, family errands, a family dinner on the back patio, and a small crisis that caused some upset, but ended u in the end (apparently you CAN keep your freezer drawer closed with duct tape!)  So my hopes specifically is for all of the Fathers in my life, those that have guided and mentored me, those who have been a shining example of how I should be as a father, and, of course, MY own father (who I hope to finally get to see (in person) for the first time since 2019 at the end of next month), and the ladies in my household who made me a father. I know I do not get everything perfect, but I hope they give me an A for effort!  I love being a father, and I hope that our relationships continue to grow as they get older, but hopefully still need their father sometimes! 

  The 170th Day of 2021 is the first time that Juneteenth is an official, Federal Holiday.  And, on 6/19/21, this gives me hope.  Yes, I have Juneteenth Hopes tonight.  Hope that this new consciousness and official recognition brings an increased understanding and awareness of the "end" of slavery and a new telling of the history of that time.  I hope that it leads to a more inclusive teaching of American History in our classrooms, including ALL peoples and ALL issues, not just those that seemed important to the majority at the time the history texts were written.  I have to admit, before last year, I had very little understanding of what Juneteenth is and why it is important.  But, it is one thing of which I have become much more aware in this past year of Covid and political unrest and discussion.  Some really horrible things have happened in the past 12-18 months.  Let's hope that we, as a society and we, as individuals, actually learn fro...

  I have been working from home since my 51st Birthday (3/18/2020).  In the morning of 6/18/2021, Chris Carter (of Breakfast with the Beatles) informed me that today is Work from Home Fathers Day.  So, on the 169th day of 2021, two days before actual Fathers Day, I guess I get an extra day.  But, honestly, my work from home hopes are that my work from home, exclusively, ends soon!  Not that I have not enjoyed the lack of commute, the working with no shoes, the proximity to the kitchen, and other amenities.  But, as you all know, I REALLY miss the Penn Campus.  But the end is on the horizon, we return to work, for about one day a week, after the July 4th holiday.  And, hopefully, 3-5 days a week sometime in August.  Enjoyed working from home today, but my hopes are for a return, soon.

  So, now that we have four drivers in the house, we have one more driver than vehicle.  So there is often an odd-person out in the transit department.  On the 168th day of 2021, I benefitted from that situation as I got to do something I rarely do anymore, I got to drive my kids (and, in one case, their friends!) places.  Yes, on 6/17/2021 I have carpooling hopes.  I hope that, no matter what happens, I'll always be able to, even if just once and a while, drive my kids (and their friends, if they want) places they need to go.  I dunno, I like to be the carpool parent.  I guess that makes me strange.  Not as strange as this cat picture (sorry about that, friends), but strange, in a nice way, I hope!

We called my In-Laws tonight, to sing to Sarah's dad, Jim, whose birthday it is on 6/16/2021.  I have said, many times, that I really got lucky in the "In-Law Lottery."  The support we have received from Sarah's Dad and Mom has been amazing through the years and, even as the girls get older and we need less help, the support continues.  So, on the 167th day of 2021, I have In-Law Hopes.  I hope that Winnie and Jim know how much we appreciate everything, I hope that Jim had an amazing birthday, and I hope we can continue to visit often (especially as restrictions are lifted!)  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM!

  The 166th day of 2021 is National Smile Power Day.  I have ALWAYS believed in the power of a simple smile and I try, no matter what is going on in my life, to have an outward, smiley persona.  On 6/15/2021, I had a lot of reasons to smile.  It's another day closer to seeing my family on the West Coast.  I had a pretty good day of meetings at work.  I got my list of advisees from the Class of 2025 and started my correspondence with them in advance of Advance Registration that opens on Monday (6/21).  So tonight, I turn in a little earlier than normal (which is also good) filled with smiley hopes.  Let's hope that progress continues and we have more reasons to be smiley each day!

  It was humid in the evening of the 165th day of 2021.  But we made it to Somerdale on 6/14/2021, excited to play one of the last games of the SJGSA Softball Season.  But, alas, in the bottom of the first, lighting was spotted and the game was suspended.  After waiting for 20 minutes or so (and continuous observations of lightning), the game was called.  And we drive home and arrived in the driveway as the sky opened up and the rain came down in buckets.  Yes, tonight I have rain out hopes (not rainED out hopes).  Hoping that we can get these games rescheduled.  Not quite ready for my time with this Mustangs team to come to an end.  It has been a great five years and I want it to end with a bang of the thunder of bats hitting balls, not the thunder of a summer rain, ending our evening prematurely.

  June 13th is always a fun day for me.  Because today is the birthday of two of my best friends.  One, Alex, who have known as long as I can remember (our parents knew each other before we were born) and one, Kathy, who was one of the first people we befriended here in Oaklyn.  Yes, the 164th day of 2021 is a foundational friend birthday day.  And I realized, on 6/13/21, it has been TOO LONG since I have seen Alex and Kathy.  This is why I  want to to them (and to many of you as well), I hope to see you SOON!  Let's hope things continue to improve (I have seen some news stories about pockets of infections and different variants and that makes me nervous).  I have hope that we will be seeing each other soon!

I spent a lot of the morning of the 163rd day of 2021 preparing host and present (on Zoom) the ChildrenSong of NJ Spring Concert.  And the concert went off really well on 6/12/21.  Yeah, there was one mistake that I made, but I recovered from that real quickly.  And I really enjoyed the singing tonight.  And I am excited to think that the Summer Institute will happen in person (outdoors) this Summer.  Yes, I have singing hopes tonight.  For ChildrenSong and their Summer/Fall planning, for Choir at Collingswood returning to in-person rehearsals and concerts, to another fine production from the CHS Theater Department (boy was it fun to watch THEM singing a few weeks ago).  And soon, not yet, a return to in-person worship, WITH SINGING (as a choir AND as a congregation).  Some of these will take time, and planning, and a continual improvement in the vaccination rates and the nation's health.  Let's hope the progress we have made in the past few ...

  It was the evening of June 11th, 2013 and, as with many June evenings, I found myself at the Oaklyn Little League Snack Stand.  It was there that I saw the daughter of my friend Nancy.  Nancy's son must have been playing in a baseball game and, on her birthday, she was there.  I wanted to cheer her up so we put a funnel cake in the over, put a slice of ice cream on top, Nancy brought a 4 candle and a tradition was born.  And for the 8 years since, EVEN LAST YEAR (when it was just her, me, and Nancy, masked at the stand), we have celebrated her birthday, at the Snack Stand!  Tonight, there were no games scheduled, but we had a full crew in the stand (thank you Sarah, April, and Corbin) because we provided the snacks, drinks, ice cream, and, yes, funnel cake (fries) and ice cream for the tradition!  Tonight I have Birthday Tradition Hopes.  I hope that Nancy's daughter had a wonderful birthday.  I hope that we can continue this tradition for ...

  I spent the evening of the 161st day of 2021 assisting in the tallying and certification of an election for a campus organization in which I am a part.  Coincidentally on the day that I got notice that my primary bid for the Oaklyn Democratic Committee was successful (I mean there were three of us running for three spots but at least I beat "Please not Adam!"  And, on 6/10/2021, I have candidate hopes.  I hope the candidates victorious in the election I was tallying work hard for the organization and do what they can to better campus life.  I also hope that I and my fellow committee members can do a good job of recruiting and vetting candidates for local elected positions.  And, of course, I hope people are not impeded when they try to exercise their right to vote.  Locally, Nationally, AND Globally.

  On the 160th day of 2021, I thought a LOT about my Grandfather, Aaron Bechtel.  Monday would have been his 112th birthday.  And my mom posted a bunch of memory pictures which I always love (and they make me cry as well).  On 6/9/2021, I want to focus on this one, which fills me with Legacy Hopes.  My memories of my grandfather are numerous and very happy.  The joy with which he lived his life inspires me to find joy (or at least try to) in all that I do.  This picture, with Alexa, exudes AND inspires joy.  And represents our Penn Legacy as well.  First Gen Penn Student, Aaron Bechtel (C '31) holding future 4th Gen Penn Student, Alexa Sherr (N '24).  Alexa is also one of the most joyful people I know!  A legacy of joy, a legacy of education, a legacy of wonderful memories.  All amazing legacies and I hope we can continue to create more.

  It was Breakfast with the Beatles again in the morning of the 159th day of 2021.  And Chris Carter was a happy voice to wake up to as he prattled off the holidays we have the choice of celebrating (or not) today.  And I WILL celebrate that it is Best Friends Day!  "Make new friends, and keep the old; one is silver and the other gold," is how the song goes, and it's true.  I have SO many people in my life that I could state, at one point in my life, were my best friends.  And, of course, I am amazingly lucky to be married to my best friend.  Yes, tonight I have best friend hopes.  I hope that my best friends and I continue to stay connected, and that the number of them continues to grow.  Can we ever have enough friends??

  It was a Chiropractor Monday on the 158th day of 2021.  And, so, I started the day off at the Offices of Dr. Kevin Smith in Mullica Hill.  It was the last adjustment I will get for about two months as Dr. Smith is getting a knee replacement.  So, I am glad it was a good one.  And, speaking of knees, he worked on my knee a little bit and also worked on my shoulder.  And it gave me RELIEF.  At the end of the softball game yesterday, I was barely able to hobble to the van on my bum knee.  Today, even after working all day at my desk (with knees tucked under), I was still able to go for 2,500 steps.  I mean it's only a quarter of what Sarah does on a daily basis but it's a (wait for it) step in the right direction.  Yes, I have relief hopes.  I hope my back holds up for the next 6-8 weeks, I hope my shoulder continues to feel better (I was able to do laps again this weekend which is good since I did not want to aqua jog on a bad knee)...

  It was another hot day on the 157th day of 2021.  And I spent most of 6/6/21 trying to beat the heat.  And, as I sat in the Mustang's dugout at the 6:30PM softball game (where they gave us the dugout in direct sun), I add cooling hopes.  We're the middle of a heat wave and, yet, we are on the softball field, in the Little League Snack Stand, and just being outside doing simple errands.  Drink a lot of water, stay in the shade, crank up the A/C and stay cool, friends!

Ever since I umpired a few weeks ago, my right knee has been sore.  This week, however, it went from sore to painful.  So, I spent a lot of the 156th day of 2021 trying to remedy that.  I went to the pool and changed my routine to stretch it out and give it aqua therapy (did so yesterday too).  And Sarah wrapped it really well,  And it seems to be feeling better, but still hurts a lot.  SO, on 6/5/2021, I have knee pain hopes.  I hope that all of these interventions pay dividends in the end and that the pain subsides or at least returns to the level of soreness and not intense pain.

It's 6/4/2021, and the 155th day of 2021 is the 55th (FIFTY-FIVE) Anniversary of my parents, Bonnie and David Sherr.  Tonight, I have Anniversary Hopes.  I hope their getaway was as nice and fun as it seemed in the pictures.  I hope to be celebrating MANY MORE Anniversaries with my parents!  AND, I hope that I can follow in their example and be celebrating MY 55th Anniversary in 2054!!!  Happy Anniversary to the best parents a guy could hope for.  And thank you for that shining example of love and dedication and willingness to work in a relationship, even when it is work!  You are my shining role models of love, caring, and dedication to family, friends, and community!  LOVE YOU!  

Maybe it's because I spent the majority of my time age 18-30 catering and/or working for Campus Dining at Penn, but I love providing good food to people.  I guess that is why I am still running the Little League's Snack Stand even though all of my kids are out of LL!  Our stand was open tonight, for 2-innings, before the rain came, but that is not why I have Food Service Hopes on the 154th day of 2021.  It is because, on 6/3/2021, Alexa and Anna started working in a restaurant.  Yes, an Italian restaurant on Haddon Ave. (I guess Sarah and I need to dine out and tip well!)  And I hope they find food service as fun, exhilarating, challenging, friend making, and, yes, exhausting as I did!  It's good hard, work making people happy (I hope) and, at the end, there is often good food.  YUM!

I had to give a practice run of a presentation on the 153rd day of 2021.  There is a Demo of an important component of our new Pennant System on Friday, June 11th.  And, today, I gave a "cue-to-cue" rehearsal to my colleagues and a few of the Project Leadership.  I THINK it went well, but my Presentation Hopes are plentiful.  My colleagues did a great job, on 6/2/201, throwing tough questions my way and I think I answered them well.  I hope that I can keep refining it so it is even better nine days from now and I hope the questions are manageable and I stay calm.  Zen is needed, and there are still days to go and worries to be had (but I also have more time to practice!)  DEEP BREATHS!

There was no question what would inspire my reflection today!  Even though Anna was born on the 153rd day of 2004, on 6/1/2021, we celebrate on the 152nd day of 2021.  Anna turned 17 at 2:18AM today, also a Tuesday (as was 6/1/2004) and also the Tuesday after Memorial Day!  And it was a grand day, highlighted by the PASSING of her Driver's Test, and family/friend time at the end of the day with cake and presents!  Tonight, of course, I have hopes for Anna.  As she enters her 18th trip around the sun, as she prepares for the Senior Year of her HS Career, and things, hopefully, return to "normal," including campus tours and an end to HS that is physically IN SCHOOL.  I am so proud of the young woman that Anna has become and how hard she has worked at her interests and activities.  A bright future is in store, and I am just going to sit back and watch her bloom.  And worry about driving, of course, hopes for safety are included in the bunch <3 :-)...