Category: Uncategorized

Alana was sitting in her aunt’s penthouse. She spent some time going over her financial information and medicines. Aunt Solica was in good health for her age. Her financial situation was something most dreamed of. Uncle Jaco has been gone for several years. All missed him.

Alana bid Aunt Solica goodbye and said she’d back in a week or two. Alana walked down the block. She headed downtown where her black Infiniti was parked.

Anat finished her grocery deliveries for the elderly. Aunt Solica was not on today’s route. So the two enemies didn’t see each other. Anat went home and grabbed the small gift bag she was bringing to Jerry. She didn’t want to spoil him. She got him some fresh fruit and a toy truck.

She jogged down to the children’s shelter. She saw police cars nearby. That didn’t faze her. The NYPD was always nearby. A lot of crazy parents came by and caused trouble. She walked in and saw Anne crying while talking to two officers. Other personnel was crying. An onsite physician was treating a staff member who was assaulted.

Anne yelled out to Anat, “Jerry’s been kidnapped. Her parents came in higher than a kite and took him. His mom had a huge knife and went after Joe, security guard.” One of the officers in the facility remembered Anat from when she called 911 to save Jerry.

Tears fell down her eyes. She asked what the parents looked like. One of the center’s security guards quickly showed her the footage on the security camera. He said we saw them running downtown. The police told Anat to stay calm. That was not in her DNA. She left the gift bag on the floor and told them to give it to another kid.

She raced out. She saw other officers searching for Jerry and his parents. She heard faint screams. She raced like a marathon runner. Remember the streets were pretty empty as the Covid-19 virus still had the city by its balls.

As Anat got closer she saw Jerry’s mom. Then she looked again. She looked for the kid. But she opened her eyes wider than ever. She saw wine splattering all over Jerry’s mother. She saw huge apples flying by. She never in her life thought she’d be thankful to see Alana. She heard Alana yell, “Do not hurt that kid. I have no idea who you, the dirtbag you were with or the kid is. But I will make sure he’s safe. After I take you down.” Your friend is next. He can only run so far. He will be found.”

The mom tried to throw rocks and broken beer bottles at Alana. She hit her a few times.

This only fired Alana up more.

Anat wasn’t sure what to do. She knew she wanted to take out Jerry’s mom. But more than anything she wanted to find him. She figured he was with his dad. She prayed he was ok. She saw his mom falling. Happy as she was, she needed Alana to stop. She needed the mom alive. She still remembered the beating Alana and Marc gave her. That beating changed her life. She dialed 911.

No, I’ve never been to jail. People have joked around asking if I have. I joked back, “Yes, three times. “ I took the tour of Alcatraz and sat in a cell. I worked for a former Staten Island NYC Council Member and attended two events at the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility.

So whenever we are released from our government-mandated or self-imposed QT, what will happen?

I know are all thinking about this. I have tickets in September for the New Order-Pet Shop Boys Unity Tour. I was very excited to “Go West” with my “West End Girls.” The “Temptation” and “Power, Corruption and Lies” was just too inviting. But Ticketmaster sent an email saying it’s been postponed.

I’m a Philharmonic subscriber. I have tickets for several shows for the next season. They should have been mailed in April. I check the mail. But like Charlie Brown, who every Valentine’s Day checks his mailbox for his valentine, I have received nothing. Sorry, Charlie. In every way, I know how you feel. The opera I planned to see was canceled and refunded. For the record, Lincoln Center is a pleasure to work with in comparison to Ticketmaster. Will we ever be able to go the Garden like we used to? How will we see concerts? Operas? The Philharmonic? Sports? Visit museums? I’m still a member of several and have renewed during the pandemic. I am hopeful one day, I can visit the galleries of the Guggenheim, tour the apartments in the Tenement Museum and watch movies in the Museum of Moving Image.

How will we go to our favorite steakhouse? What I wouldn’t give to eat at L&B Spumoni Gardens or freely walk the boardwalk at Coney Island and ride the Cyclone. When and how will we watch a bar band in the Coney Island Brewery or Desmond’s Tavern? We all love seeing our favorite artists on Zoom. But nothing beats seeing them live the traditional way.

And the list goes on and on for tickets I have for other concerts, Yankee games, etc. I was supposed to work the Fall Dystonia Medical Research Foundation’s Bronx Zoo Walk. I’ve staffed it several times. Nationwide all zoo walks have been canceled. They were in September and October. I have staffed the viewing stand at the Celebrate Israel Parade for many years. Done my best to raise money for the AIDS Walk and always enjoyed spending the day in Central Park. Both events will now occur virtually.

How will we be able to do our fund and awareness raising events? When we get out can we just freely walk around the park? Can I spend a few hours and shoot pictures and then grab a beer at the boathouse? What restrictions will be in place?

So I am dying to get out of “jail.” But when I am discharged it doesn’t look like my options will be that exciting. I will likely still need to wear a mask and disposable gloves. Will I get to see should have been released but canceled due to the virus “Black Widow,” “Wonder Woman” and “X-Men: New Mutants” movies? These should have just been placed on demand. I would have loved to sit in my living room and watch them. Not that settling for Star Wars is a bad thing. I’ve been watching them repeatedly since “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope.” Right now I am feeling hopeless.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times

“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pandemic-watch-dressing-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

 

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

 

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

 

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

 

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

 

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

 

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

 

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

 

 

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At SUNY New Paltz Professor Brownstein opened his international relations class with “We live in interesting times.” I know the origins of the quote have been debated. That’s a debate that will likely go on long after we are gone. Not here to discuss its origins. Don’t care. But before I go further. Let me apologize to Lew. That’s Professor Brownstein. I took several of his courses. Before he offered the quote, he would say, “Good morning, I am Lew and that’s I how to expect to be addressed.”

As for living in interesting times, everyone can say that. We certainly do. I am going to skip discussing some of the things that happened when I was very young or a pre-teen, i.e. Watergate, the Iranian hostage crisis, Son of Sam, the gas lines of the ‘70s, Reggie’s three homers on three pitches (I surely remember that), the NYC blackout, July 13-14, 1977, John Lennon’s murder and Thurman Munson’s plane crash. Certainly, I remember the last two items and still think about them. I remember them all. As a little kid, I made some interesting statements or gestures about a few. Yes, there were more things. Much more. Hopefully, your vaulted aisles of memory have been stirred. These interesting times have changed our society and the way we live. Things changed perhaps for the better. Or, perhaps for the worse.

Let’s jump to the early to mid-80s. That was a great time. We had the best music to name a few — the Cure, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, the Psychedelic Furs, the Smiths, and U2. We had oversized Benetton and Champion sweatshirts and OP (Ocean Pacific) clothes. And we had AIDS.

I remember the last year of I.S. 34, Totten Intermediate School, Tottenville, Staten Island, and freshman year of Tottenville High School, Huguenot, Staten Island during this time. People were scared. People talked. Thank G-d there was no social media then. We see how good and damaging it can be. I remember students, teachers, and other school personnel gossiping about which teacher or pupil contracted AIDS.

There were letters sent home to our parents saying the school was safe. Similar announcements were made over the public address system. School walkouts were planned. Some occurred. I stayed in school. The only way I was ever allowed to stay home was when the school was closed by the city.

In the aftermath, we saw increased marketing for condom use. Of course, this was a dilemma. Religious reasons and the topic of safe sex education caused the predicament of what we could and couldn’t say. We saw be faithful and abstinence campaigns. There were underground support groups. People whispered when talking about this disease. Unfortunately, AIDS still exists and is still killing too many people. Thankfully there is far greater awareness and better treatment.

And although not enough, more people are being safer.

Then came 9/11. Yes, I am aware of many things that happened in between, i.e. the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, an assassination attempt on President Reagan, Chernobyl, the Challenger Explosion, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the First Intifada, glasnost and perestroika, the Iran-Contra Affair, Just Say No and Operation Desert Storm. The list goes on and on.

Most of us remember the devastating 9/11 attack. I remember the changes it brought — Enhanced airport security. Same for doing something as simple as entering a Broadway theater, the Guggenheim, Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium and many other venues. We adopted many protocols the Israelis have nearly always had in place.

I was at my dad’s house in Plant City, Fl when it happened. My return flight was delayed for a few days. I remember coming back to Staten Island, NY. The island lost so many people. My mom picked me up at the former Newark Airport. We went to my favorite pizza place. The place was usually lively. It was empty. The few customers and employees had drawn faces. This was everywhere. People were being friendlier to each other than usual.

Let’s jump to Covid-19. We are living through it. I hope we all live. I have had one or two social distance friend hangouts. Our buildings are next to each other. We stood outside on opposite sides of the street, he and his kids on top of the block and me on the bottom. For five minutes we screamed at each other and went back to our residences.

What changes will it bring? Will my 10-year-old nephew never know what’s it like to jump on the train and go to the city? Will he and all of us have to wear masks? How will we go to movies, etc.?

BTW, I know many great things happened during the decades I discussed. Many have changed the way we live and helped save lives. So not to be a total downer, here I go, the artificial heart, barcodes, MRIs, fiber optics, the personal computer, the original Star Wars and several Yankee World Championships (we need many more) and lots more.

What will the next decades bring? Likely they will bring more of the same — disasters and great inventions. Togetherness and fights. In many ways, all will become commercial successes.

We’ve seen great music and theater, as well as new medical treatments coming out of many of the listed and other events. We’ve donated to the “One Campaign,” watched “Rent,” heard “Biko,” “Red Rain, ” “Russians” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”

No questions these are great works. But let’s see us be more proactive to stop the next virus from taking hold and eradicating the current ones. Or to quote U2, we will be running to stand still. We probably always have.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pandemic-watch-dressing-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I know we need our masks and gloves. Got those. My Lacoste mask arrived a few days ago. And I have surgical ones. I bought a box several years before the virus took hold. Finally started using them regularly. The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation mask is in transit. It’d be great when we no longer need that one. I am hopeful one day we won’t need any.

What about our regular mode of dress? Yes, we’ve heard all about how cool it is to work in your pajamas. Or gym shorts and your favorite Yankee t-shirt. I went to work for years in my Lacoste or other dress shirts. Thanks to mom, I grew up in those. I remember going to the now-closed Lester’s on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue U. My mom always dressed me nattily.

These days, I’ve done business calls and job interviews via the phone wearing my gym clothes.   I’ve done plenty of Zoom interviews. I still put on a dress shirt and wear dress pants. Sure I could wear my gym shorts with a dress shirt, jacket and even a tie. Zoom only shows a head and shoulders shot. Sometimes I even dress up for phone calls. But I still feel the need to dress business-like and show respect for the people on the other end of the screen. Some have. Many have not. I did a job interview where the interviewer spent more time playing with her cat than paying attention to me. Didn’t get the job. I am allergic to cats. My eyes must have been tearing. LOL

Thanks to good friends in Rockville, Md. I get to do lots of great social and other events via Zoom. They are beautiful people in a beautiful place. Just never go there on a bus. Ask Mike Mills about how that became the second and final single on R.E.M’s “Reckoning” album. Out of respect during some of the events, we are dressed up. In some cases, we are in our “pandemic attire”.

I guess I am thinking of the respect we had in scout summer camp. Dinner was always in a Class A summer uniform, short or long-sleeved shirt, shorts or pants, bolo, scout belt and the goofiest looking socks. It was summer so we usually wore the short sleeves and shorts version. Class B official shorts and camp related t-shirt was acceptable for some programming.   At a young age, I was taught to dress respectfully. Same with giving a proper handshake, stand up, remove your gloves, and shake hands.

I don’t mind the new dress code. However, I open my closets and stare at the clothes I’ve purchased over the years. I bought way too much. I thought about all the money I’ve spent and how hard it is for me to find the right sizes. I close the doors and get sad. All I want it to put on my business attire and travel to and from the city for work, performances at Lincoln Center, and other events.

Yes, I will wear my favorite Yankee shirt and jean shorts at Yankee Stadium and on weekends. But I feel so much better knowing I can wear either set of apparel. And look forward to the time when we have to make the choice.

Time to do the laundry. Normally I would drop off my clothes for dry cleaning and regular laundry at the store near the subway. That store’s been closed for a while. I think Laundromats should be essential.

I don’t mind doing it. My building has a decent laundry room. I was VP of its board when it was renovated. But never walked into it. People used to tease me when they saw me walking with my laundry bag and shirts. I heard, “You’re going to another laundry room.”

I decided to do laundry on Mother’s Day. After all, my mom is an expert on laundry. I remember when I would come home from school or camp and bring several weeks worth of laundry for her to wash.   She did it. I got yelled at.

The laundry room was empty when I loaded my clothes for the wash cycle. Thirty minutes later, I went down to move my clothes to the dryer. The laundry room was quite busy. A couple was in there moving there placing their clothes in the washer. Similar to food shopping, I do not feel two people must do the job. Certainly one person can load the machine, pour in the Tide, Downy, and swipe the payment card.  It should be easy enough for one person to move the wet clothes to the dryer.

One guy was there on the phone. I watched this from outside. He was holding court when people came in and out. Sort of like his social center. In camp, there was a camper who held court on his seat in the latrine. Laundry guy came in and out and said it would take him about 20 minutes to fold his clothes. Again, why do you have to fold them in the laundry room? Throw the clothes in your laundry bag and go upstairs and fold in your residence. He placed his clean clothes on the folding table. He did not place anything between the table and his clothing. Another woman did come in for about two minutes to take care of her laundry. They chatted.

Thirty-plus minutes later he finally finished. He seemed very proud of himself. I raced in and moved my clothes from the washer to the dryer. The couple from before came back in to do the same. But kept their distance. They did say hi and seemed very friendly. I realize couples like to do stuff together go to eat, the theaters, sporting events, see Depeche Mode at the Garden. For the record, doing that alone is great. The music talks more to you.

Forty minutes later, I went down to grab my clothes from the dryer. One of the women who were in earlier came in. She seemed friendly.   As I was pulling out my last towel and sock, her dry cycle ended. Naturally, the dryer was close to mine. Did she wait for me to finish? It was pretty clear I’d be out in less than a minute. Of course, not she had to race right over to her dryer. What would have the extra minute cost?

For the record, when I lived in an apartment complex in Bay Terrace, Staten Island, I was laundry boy. I did it on my own in a small laundry room. One day they closed it for renovations. What did I do? I brought it to mom. The renovations went on a little longer than expected. When do renovations ever start and finish onetime? Never. Mom did the laundry. When it went on a little longer she said, try dropping it off. I did. When the building’s laundry room was ready they put balloons and signs all over it saying “Welcome back, Mitchell, laundry boy. Please give us a full report.” Everything came out clean.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday

 

“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/how-skills-i-learned-as-a-teen-in-the-scouts-help-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

 

“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-causes-us-to-rethink-old-habits

 

“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

 

“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime

 

“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/i-want-to-help-restaurants-during-the-pandemic-but

 

“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608

 

 

“Trashy Parks,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alana went back to the upper east side to check on her aunt. She wondered if her “favorite” grocery delivery person, Anat would be dropping off dried fruit and the rest of her aunt’s stuff.

Alana arrived just as Anat was departing. Again they looked at each other. But didn’t utter one word. Alana went upstairs. While riding the elevator she wondered if she should have said hello and had an informational conversation. She and Marc were dying to know why she changed and if their fight did it.

Anat walked over to where Jerry’s parents lived.

She walked through a terrifying neighborhood. People were social distancing. But more seemed inebriated. There was garbage all over. She saw the building his mom and dad dwell in. It looked like a roach motel. She heard screams and fights threw the windows of several buildings.

She was nauseous.

She wondered what she was doing with herself. She never had a friend. In school, while students broke away from their studies and partied, she sat in the library.

She sat in a silent study room. She knew nothing about raising a kid. But knew she’d do a better job than her parents. Was that it? Was she doing this to get revenge and prove she could do it? She didn’t know. But she knew that poor kid wouldn’t stand a chance if he went back to those losers. Maybe she shouldn’t get him. Perhaps he’d be better with a loving mom and dad. Maybe a sister. Sisters can be strange. But good for you. But she knew she had to make sure he was safe.

She kept walking.

A few very high druggies passed her. She ignored them.

The three of them surrounded her.

One pulled a knife and started screaming at her. The other had a needle hanging out of her arm. Anat knew she had to get out of there quickly. She probably should have called the NYPD.

But they have more important things to worry about with Covid-19 taking hold of the city. She didn’t want to waste their time.

The knife-wielder plunged at her. All of sudden out of Anat’s hands, raisins the size of small missiles flew. They knocked the knife right out of the guy’s hand. He went delirious. The lady yanked the needle out of her arm and try to inject Anat. She jumped back. Prunes and apricots were airborne. They nailed the needle lady in the eyes and nose. She fell back and landed on her butt. The other druggie sensibly ran. Anat let him go. She continued to launch dried fruit at the other two. When she felt she was secure she walked away.

She smiled. She was happy she still had her powers and could fight. She was gearing up for the next fight.

 

Marc and Alana picnicked in Flushing Meadow Park. They were socially distant. In fact, in the alcove, they set up their picnic basket no one was within 100 feet of them. They had not been to the park since their battle with Anat. The one that changed her life. Everything was quiet. They like everyone was waiting for this Covid-19 mess to end.

Anat did some work and went to the child protective services center to visit Jerry. She had some candy and toys. Not a lot. She didn’t want to spoil him. But she knew he’d been through a lot and needed to build trust and feel safe with adults.

As she walked in she noticed two dirtbags exiting. Funny for her to call someone a dirtbag. But she had been a different dirtbag. She could tell these people were druggies. She was just a mess. She spoke to Ann, the social worker, who informed her that the two people she saw walking out are Jerry’s parents. Yes, they are druggies. They are married and Jerry was not born out of wedlock.

Both of his parents have multiple arrests for drug use, domestic violence, petty theft, and assault.

Anat was pissed.

She knew they would try to take Jerry. Ann walked her into the rec room. Jerry was sitting there. His face looked gloomy, his eyes red from tears and he was shaking. Anat asked Ann what was up. She said seeing his parents caused him to get scared. He wouldn’t say a word to them. Not even hello. When they left he cried out, “don’t hurt me”.

Anat hustled over to him. He smiled. He grabbed her and wouldn’t let go. Anat cried. She spent her allotted time with Jerry. Ann was observing. She went back to Ann’s office. Ann let her know that Jerry’s parents would try to take him. There are legal proceedings. Their visit with Jerry was on camera. So were all of Anat’s. But Ann knew that they are his parents and would likely get people to recommend they get their son back.

Anat would probably be interviewed how she first met him. And of course, the police and medical records from the date his parents dumped in the park would come into play. Anat asked what she could do to get him? Or at the least, stop his parents from taking him. Ann gave her a link to fill out.

Anat went home filled it out and did her research on Jerry’s family. Nothing was good. Much worse than Ann laid out.   Anat was ready.

 

Let me start by acknowledging I know the BSA has its problems. It made mistakes. Every organization has. Let’s focus on the good.

Right now our lives have been turned upside down. We are confronted with social distancing, isolation, going out wearing a mask and gloves. The closures of offices, restaurants, sports venues and theaters. And more. Much more.

Growing up a scout the skills I learned are invaluable for today’s world or any other. I spent many years in summer camp where I learned to confront change and adapt to the circumstances. Let me cite a few examples from camp and other program areas and how its teachings have taught me to be prepared.

• During Wilderness Survival merit badge we were left in the middle of the woods with our canteen, pocketknife, a camp saw, matches, mess kit and sleeping bag. Each of us was given about a pound of chop meat, a tomato, green pepper and onion. We were expected to make camp, cook and well survive. We did not have the usual equipment we would normally have on a camping trip. I loved this training and did it many times as a camper and staff member. Every time I did the skies opened up from the time we set out to the time we packed camp and went back to our site. Did that stop us? No. We made shelter by building it with waterproof plant life. We stayed dry. We knew which plants we could eat and which would poison us. We built a small fire. Not a blazing one. But it kept us warm and allowed us to cook

• We would often go boating in the lake. Our canoes would swamp sometimes naturally or our fellow scouts would swamp us. We had fun. Did we panic? No. We knew how to drain our canoe, flip it over and paddle
• We camped in areas without traditional showers. We were able to wash up by boiling water and cleaning ourselves
• I once had a leader, my mentor who took us hikes deep into the camp. There was not always a camp latrine along the trail. If you have to go you have to go. He always carried toilet paper. We learned to do so. I’ve seen panicked people on hikes I took later in life. I was able to help
• On the trail to Eagle, we had to learn personal finance management it helped us budget our trips and other events. We learned how to shop for our meals and stay within the troops’ budget
• We learned how to pack before we go on a backpacking trip and what’s needed and what we can leave behind
• We learned to police our areas and keep everything as clean as we could. Hygiene was always paramount. Check out “Trashy Parks,” mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks/.
  

  

  

  

Photos were taken at Ten Mile River Scout Camps, Narrowsburg, NY

So how does this help us during the Corona Virus?

Simple.

Our motto is, “Be Prepared.”

When business associates, family, friends, etc. were perplexed. The skills learned in scouting made it easy to adapt and be prepared to take on the changes we are beset with. Can’t do in-person meetings? Go to Zoom or Skype. I worked with the older scouts to teach our elders how to zoom. It was entertaining. But we did it. We were able to continue our business and scout meetings, religious services and keep our community centers going.

We used to have to remember to be properly dressed for our camping trips. We’d put on our boots, camp pants, shirts and make sure we had a raincoat in our pack. Now we need to go out with our mask and gloves. Simple keep your box right at your door. Keep the trashcan nearby so you can toss them right in when you return. Remember to stuff and extra pair in your coat or pockets if you plan to be out longer than expected and/or your existing PPE tears.

Do you have to stay away from certain areas or go a different way to get somewhere because your normal route is closed off? Think of Orienteering merit badge. Remember when we had to get to a destination by taking a different path than usual along the trail. Can’t take public transportation? Again, remember Orienteering merit badge and toss in Hiking merit badge. Map out a trail and walk. The gyms are closed. So we need to exercise.

Is your favorite pizza place or other restaurant closed or too far to get to? Remember Cooking merit badge and your survival training. Cook.

The list goes and on. But the scouting program gives us skills that will last us our whole lives. I am glad I “leaaaaarrnned” so much and am ready. Be Prepared.

 

 

Alana made Marc mop. He always hated mopping. But he did it. Alana was doing her nails. Black polish. She was making plans to go out. Not. She just had to look good.

Anat got all of the packages of clothes and toys for the kid she found a few days ago. She put on her black mask and gloves and went to the child center. She signed in. The boy, whose name they found out is Jerry ran right up to her and jumped. He smiled. She cried. She wasn’t sure what this was supposed to feel like. Other than her grandma no one ever was happy to see her.

She held Jerry for a few minutes. Then she gave the social worker the clothing and toys. He was probably going to be the only kid in protective services in genuine Lacoste, Fendi and Ralph Lauren clothing. Nothing for the best for a three-year-old kid she’s known for about a week. The toys were great, too. She wasn’t sure if he was too young for an iPad? So she got him Tonka trucks, coloring books, a classic Etch A Sketch and a baseball glove.  Oh, she did get him a Red Sox hat.

She hung with him under the social worker’s watchful eye for about 30 minutes. She walked out of the rec room. The social worker said he was doing better and talking a little. He mentioned the lady with black boots that helped him. Her eyes teared again. They are trying to locate his parents. The social worker told a little more than she should have. It seems the kid was abused. He kept saying people hit me. They drop me.

Anat asked what the rules were for adoption or foster care. What was she thinking? Here she was a single woman who fights with dried fruit and never a relationship with anyone other than her grandma and grandfather. Sadly he died when she was quite young. She has faded memories of him.

She walked out of the center and started Googling info about raising a child. But then thoughts went through her mind. What if Jerry’s parents try to come and get him? Would the city let them?