“Stop, I have an idea about we can do on our walk,” said ten-year-old Addie. We are deep into the woods by then, the snow underfoot hard and stippled with the frozen footprints of deer, squirrels and the few two-legged creatures who’d walked the remote Tadpole trail since the last snowfall. Biden has not yet said, “I will allow no one to place a dagger at the heart of democracy.” It is mid-day Thursday, January 6, the one-year anniversary of the insurrection in Washington D.C. and it is a school day, but the kids aren’t in school; it is a workday, but Bridget isn’t working. It has been three days since the line on each of their test kits turned pink: the color of covid.
Thanks so much for posting this. I posted a very polite request on Bow Street's facebook page asking them to require their employees to wear masks. They deleted it immediately, no response to me (I bought our house from the Nappi's and have served with Sheila on a couple of boards). I haven't been back there in 2 weeks, and live a 10 minute walk away. I hadn't heard they started requiring masking. Thanks to you!
This is brilliant Kathleen! You are my hero. Miss seeing you in our neighborhood. Good health to all Sullivan Stevens gang and much peace and ease as you move into 2022.
Dear Kathleen - What a wonderful story! My favorite so far. It describes the woman behind the mask so well. I would have known it was you without the name or the mask 😊
It reminds me - that often with anger comes courage
- that doing the right thing can be scary, risky, and sad
- that measured male voices still preside
- that the love of young children is strong and decidedly loyal
Also, do Finn and Addie know the song "A Place in the Choir' by Bill Staines? (If not, we'd be happy to sing it for you or them someday, and will send you a link in any case.) Your voice is in there!
Hope you're all feeling better by now. If not, we'll be happy to pick up something at your favorite market......
I especially loved this episode of your life. I am also a person who speaks out when I see poor public health practices and other loathsome behaviors, trash throwing, social injustice, bullying and the list could go on these days. I felt your feelings as your write so well and I am very proud of this Irish senior citizen who has the spirit of love and caring and is a warrior if necessary. I use the word warrior not in the sense of using physical force but in spirit. I am a good friend of a relative of yours named Mimi, we taught school together. I have read many wonderful letters and articles penned by members of her family,
That "have a nice day" sarcasm - not very imaginative, is it? I've also encountered it--in a parallel sort of experience. There's a bike trail that goes through a historical farm, Wilder Ranch State Park. north of Santa Cruz. There are signs telling cyclists to walk their bikes through the historical farm. I was walking there with my husband, who is not steady on his feet, and a stream of four swooped through with nary a pause. I yelled: "You're supposed to walk your bikes here!" "Have a nice day," one called back, sailing on. "WALK YOUR F****** BIKES!" I yelled at their backs. "THERE'S SMALL CHILDREN WALKING HERE!" Again I got the sarcastic nice day again, maybe with the "really nice" variant. I was fizzing but ineffective. Talked to the people at the visitor center, who tutted sympathy and admitted their signage wasn't great and their enforcement non-existent, citing staffing issues etc. I haven't gone back to protest or even written a letter -- but now you're engendering some grit in me!
I liked your story. I'm pretty sure George would approve! - Yours - Jackie
Another great post! I also cringe when I see folks working in the public without masks. Don't they worry that one of the hundreds of people they encounter each day might be carrying COVID? Do they think their immune system is stronger than everyone else's? One day I saw two teenage girls in Bow Street without masks, while 99% of us were wearing them and I said, "You need to wear a mask. We are in the midst of a Pandemic." I know they looked at me like I was a crazy lady but I couldn't help it! Meanwhile, our school superintendent in Brunswick has announced the mask mandate will be lifted in 2 weeks, and already I have anxious kids asking me if it will be OK if they keep wearing them. We are still in uncertain times, even if some of us are less anxious than others about COVID.
I am so glad now to be a reader of your stories Kathleen. What a lovely story of courage, fierce determination and such a positive response of your neighborhood market. Congratulations for being who you are in this time of challenge for ourselves, our country and the world.
A nice story because it was well written, concise and poignant. While I applaud the courage and vigor, FUCK YOU is rarely the best way to achieve the intended goal (unless you seek a fist fight). Restraint and finesse both temper and improve results. However, it seems this event catalyzed Bow St. management to have employees wear masks. That was tough for them to do because it is REALLY HARD to get folks to work stocking shelves, working cash register or "similar" jobs. This ended with better hygiene at Bow St. but the gap between masked and unmasked, believers in science vs unbelievers did not progress at all. I look forward to that next chapter. That takes Ghandi, Christ or Michelle Obama :).
Thanks so much for posting this. I posted a very polite request on Bow Street's facebook page asking them to require their employees to wear masks. They deleted it immediately, no response to me (I bought our house from the Nappi's and have served with Sheila on a couple of boards). I haven't been back there in 2 weeks, and live a 10 minute walk away. I hadn't heard they started requiring masking. Thanks to you!
This is brilliant Kathleen! You are my hero. Miss seeing you in our neighborhood. Good health to all Sullivan Stevens gang and much peace and ease as you move into 2022.
Here's that song link https://youtu.be/l4CDPLHHY9s
Dear Kathleen - What a wonderful story! My favorite so far. It describes the woman behind the mask so well. I would have known it was you without the name or the mask 😊
It reminds me - that often with anger comes courage
- that doing the right thing can be scary, risky, and sad
- that measured male voices still preside
- that the love of young children is strong and decidedly loyal
Also, do Finn and Addie know the song "A Place in the Choir' by Bill Staines? (If not, we'd be happy to sing it for you or them someday, and will send you a link in any case.) Your voice is in there!
Hope you're all feeling better by now. If not, we'll be happy to pick up something at your favorite market......
I especially loved this episode of your life. I am also a person who speaks out when I see poor public health practices and other loathsome behaviors, trash throwing, social injustice, bullying and the list could go on these days. I felt your feelings as your write so well and I am very proud of this Irish senior citizen who has the spirit of love and caring and is a warrior if necessary. I use the word warrior not in the sense of using physical force but in spirit. I am a good friend of a relative of yours named Mimi, we taught school together. I have read many wonderful letters and articles penned by members of her family,
Wonderful!! Way better written than the book I’m reading now—Anxious People
That "have a nice day" sarcasm - not very imaginative, is it? I've also encountered it--in a parallel sort of experience. There's a bike trail that goes through a historical farm, Wilder Ranch State Park. north of Santa Cruz. There are signs telling cyclists to walk their bikes through the historical farm. I was walking there with my husband, who is not steady on his feet, and a stream of four swooped through with nary a pause. I yelled: "You're supposed to walk your bikes here!" "Have a nice day," one called back, sailing on. "WALK YOUR F****** BIKES!" I yelled at their backs. "THERE'S SMALL CHILDREN WALKING HERE!" Again I got the sarcastic nice day again, maybe with the "really nice" variant. I was fizzing but ineffective. Talked to the people at the visitor center, who tutted sympathy and admitted their signage wasn't great and their enforcement non-existent, citing staffing issues etc. I haven't gone back to protest or even written a letter -- but now you're engendering some grit in me!
I liked your story. I'm pretty sure George would approve! - Yours - Jackie
Another great post! I also cringe when I see folks working in the public without masks. Don't they worry that one of the hundreds of people they encounter each day might be carrying COVID? Do they think their immune system is stronger than everyone else's? One day I saw two teenage girls in Bow Street without masks, while 99% of us were wearing them and I said, "You need to wear a mask. We are in the midst of a Pandemic." I know they looked at me like I was a crazy lady but I couldn't help it! Meanwhile, our school superintendent in Brunswick has announced the mask mandate will be lifted in 2 weeks, and already I have anxious kids asking me if it will be OK if they keep wearing them. We are still in uncertain times, even if some of us are less anxious than others about COVID.
It is my pleasure to read your thoughtful commentary on our challenging era.
I am so glad now to be a reader of your stories Kathleen. What a lovely story of courage, fierce determination and such a positive response of your neighborhood market. Congratulations for being who you are in this time of challenge for ourselves, our country and the world.
A nice story because it was well written, concise and poignant. While I applaud the courage and vigor, FUCK YOU is rarely the best way to achieve the intended goal (unless you seek a fist fight). Restraint and finesse both temper and improve results. However, it seems this event catalyzed Bow St. management to have employees wear masks. That was tough for them to do because it is REALLY HARD to get folks to work stocking shelves, working cash register or "similar" jobs. This ended with better hygiene at Bow St. but the gap between masked and unmasked, believers in science vs unbelievers did not progress at all. I look forward to that next chapter. That takes Ghandi, Christ or Michelle Obama :).