MEMOIRS OF AN ORDINARY WOMAN: June 2020

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Nepal

June 1999

Katmandu, Nepal- town square where the people go to bath and fetch water. A grandmother is bathing two young girls. Another woman is doing her laundry. It had just stopped raining and it was a little chilly for a June afternoon.

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Protesting

Facebook post from a former student

Protesting

BLM

June 2020

West Chester, PA

This post is from, Dr Bridget E Kelly, former Vice Principal of the High School in which I graduated from. I want to share this to show my daughter Brianna Schotker how proud I am that she is exercising her First Amendment rights by peacefully protesting. I am very supportive with what you are doing by using your voice to stand up for what you believe in. I love you very much Cookie. Be safe, be aware of your surroundings. Thank you, Dr Kelly, for allowing me to share this post

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing and stripes

Image may contain: one or more people and people standing

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Image may contain: 1 person, crowd and outdoor

Thursday, June 25, 2020

So Deeply Sad

A FB Conversation with a Friend

Bangladesh/Philadelphia

June 25, 2020

An announcement from the university administration:

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)

We are deeply saddened by the demise of Prova Motia Hoq of the Department of English and Humanities (Batch 201) on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 (inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un).

My friend: I don't know what to say... I just wish that such young souls would not depart from this world so early...
Prova was my student this term. She was bright, talented and very communicative in the class. A rising star has fallen.... Rest in peace Prova Motia Hoq.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun.

Bridget E Kelly: Nothing ever shocked me to my core as losing a student. I always mourn the loss of their friendship, lost possibilities and contributions, and positive influence on me. I self reflect on my relationship with them. Did I give them enough? Could I have made more effort to enrich their lives? I feel a deep sadness, a hollowness, just as you are feeling today. May your broken heart mend quickly and peacefully.

My Friend: Bridget E Kelly you have just spoken my mind... These are the thoughts I kept having since I heard the news...so deeply sad.

Bridget E Kelly: Of course you are sad. This is too big a loss.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Just An Idea

My Tweet of the Day

May 11, 2020

"Just an idea: the USPS should make an Obama stamp. We would all buy them and save the post office while we are also pissing off Trump."

OMG, I am going viral and I am so damn excited. I posted this tweet mid afternoon and by the time I went to bed, I had 75,000 views and two days later, I had 890,000 views and counting. And the comments are coming in like crazy. I have been trying to keep up with them but that is impossible. I started to write a quick thank you to some of the stellar responses. But then that becametoo much. So I just gave them a thumbs up. But then I couldn't even do that because the responses were piling up on each other.

I spent yesterday, just watching the numbers rise. And I started viewing myself as a professional tweeter, one who could tweet and make a difference in the world.

And all of the positive responses filled me with joy. And the few negatives were annoying to read but I didn't response to them as I did not want to ruin my good karma here. I just let them slide. I think it's 1,893 positive comments to 4 bad comments. Not bad, if I say so myself.

Here are some of them:

Great idea, I am in for 2000.
Tweet of the day.
Genius
Perfect idea.
Ha!! Anything to piss off the #CheetinChief
Imagine if they sold out. Trump would lose what's left of his mind.
Hell Yeah!
I like how you think!
Seriously, this is a good idea!
Excellent idea.. they should and we would.
I can get behind this 100%.
Brilliant

This is chef's kiss level genius.

Good idea. Obama welcoming a black kid to the WH.
They should also issue a stamp featuring T's rump for his avid followers.
Make an Ivanka stamp and comrade drums will move heaven and earth to keep it open.
If I could love this more than once I would.
And mail millions of letters to theWH.
The portrait should be of him in the tan suit.
How do we get this done?
USPS forever stamp of Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize.
I'm with you 100%
Great idea... great idea..let's get this done.
A Michelle Obama "Becoming" Stamp would sell out...
I can't rememberthe last time I mailed something out but I would buy 50 sheets and plaster his face on a shitload of postcards and mail them to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. I'm pretty like that.
First class! I can already hear the explosion!
Or a "fuck trump" stamp.
Just passing this thought along.
Also, what about a Dr Fauci Stamp.
I give it an hour and it be sold out, the lines be like Nov 2008.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Quarantine Day #11

Facebook post

I think this quarantine is working for me. I am down 5 pounds, which is so hard to believe because I have been a sloth, doing little more than watching Youtube video snippets of the Family Feud, The Tipsy Bartender, The Russian Hacker and various cooking shows. I think I may be on to something. I am too damn lazy to get out of my chair to eat.

Monday, June 22, 2020

BRING BACK THE BIRDS

FACEBOOK POST

Bring Back The Birds

West Chester, PA

June 15 at 10:09 AM

"Prior to our quarantine, I would only see a few birds in my courtyard. During the quarantine, there were lots of birds and they would sing all day. Now that we have been allowed to hang here again, the birds are fewer and fewer each day. I want the birds to come back."

Joseph Bosak: The simple things in life truly make you happy . I aspire to be like you more . I wouldn’t even notice birds if they didn’t land on me. You worked so hard for so long you deserve to have a beer and look for birds doc.

Sam Stein: You may be in luck, the second surge has already started! In all seriousness it is amazing how much wildlife had been able to expand their roaming when the streets were empty. For example we often have coyotes in the 2 parks near my house, but many more started coming around while we were bound to SIP.

Alan Crawford: Bridget, anything interesting? Or just the usual suspects?

Alan Crawford: One thing I always missed after moving to WC was hearing the Morning Chorus from the woods and fields. Sounds like maybe you had a Morning Chorus from the courtyard!

Sam Stein: A mountain lion was caught on surveillance camera walking the streets in the very busy north end of the city last night!

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Quarantine Day #17

Facebook post

Quarantine Day #17
West Chester, PA

April 5, 2020

"Could be mistaken but I think I have been wearing the same clothes for the last three days".

Maxwell Kofi Donkor: You're not alone and making music🤣🎶!

Cynthia Field: I know. Some days I really question the need for a shower🤪

Steve Shur: I have lost track of the days.

Lisa Madzin: No need for deodorant either -😂

Lindsay Pi: You’re not alone

Susan Descano: Only 3?

Betty Diane Ulrich: No trouble with social distancing there!

Robert Hunt: Days? What are those??? I couldn't tell.you WHAT today is!

Marzuk Ahmed: That happens to me everyday, Maam

Joanne Murphy Pappalardo: My shirt, at least four days, and sometimes sleep in it!

Sal Pappalardo: Mine beeps when the expiration date passes on my 30 - day shirt !

Melissa Christie: Is this social distancing going to kill you? Finally, something I am good at! Introverts can rejoice!

Jamie Downs: You are not alone

Suellen Sorenson: Me too!

Kathryn T Nicolella: Why did you get out of your pajamas?

Bridget Marea: I've lost track.

Kathy Flatley Bandos: U have a lot of company

Katherine DiSimoni: Hahaha! I had to shower and wash my hair--only because it was Palm Sunday!

Meghan Lynn: I couldnt remember if I showered today or that was a memory from yesterday...or maybe the day before 🤭🤣

Monday, June 15, 2020

Quarantine Day #21

Quarantine Day #21- Red Phase

April 5, 2020

I took a road trip to Berks County and just drove around and took photos. The governor has requested that we all wear face masks, in public, to protect each other. It seems as if the people of Berks County didn't get that memo. It seems as if they are unaware of a pandemic virus.

I got home and had a message from a Stroudsburg teacher. My friend, Mary Ann Hynes, died a few days ago from corona virus. She had a compromised lung problem. She was diagnosed on Wednesday and died on Saturday. Her kids had to say goodbye to her through a zoom call. I haven't seen Mary Ann for 9 years but her death still hit me hard. I am filled with sadness and regret.