April 29, 2020

Made this outfit.  Son is 6 mos. in photo.

Our Son was head of HR for a firm named Retail Me Not.  That has changed.  Cause little corporations become absorbed into larger corporations.  Then executives of the absorbed company are merged, rearranged, somehow or other put together.  Some are released to find new opportunities.  Son has different responsibilities now as HR has been moved to the corporate level.

5 year old Son.  Made the 3 piece suit.

Note the cut of bangs.  Yep he self cut 1 day
 before picture day.  This is the photo he requested.

Anyway, during the shut down Son has been working from home.  In order to keep his team inspired each week there is a challenge.  A couple of weeks ago he requested I send his first grade photo or any from when he was just a 'kid'.  I sent one that was not the first grade photo.  He said that would work which is Son talk for not really what I want but will make it work.

I was able to dig through the many folders of scanned photos and find several photos.  I cleaned up a few in Photoshop and forwarded them to him. Yes, one was the photo from first grade.  With his self cut bangs.  Everyone needs one of these type of photos. 

Back to the spirit challenges.  This past week's challenge was to reenact a photo from childhood.  Son chose one of the photos I had sent.  It was one of my Mom's photos she had taken during a visit.  Please, note, he has overalls over his footed pajamas.  Ha. 

This is the reenactment of the above photo.  Only overalls available were Granddaughter's Senior Overalls.  Good thing they were stretchy and Son has kept himself in fit shape.  Some boss, right?

Yesterday was #2 sister's 80th birthday.  We four sisters usually attempt to do something very special for decade or 5 year birthdays.  Covid-19 put a halt to our plans before we could get them together.  So Sis #4 suggested to surprise her with a video.  Sis #1 recounted so many memories from their years together.  Sis #4 wrote a poem and performed it to the tune of Suzy-Q by Buddy Holly.  Suzy-Q was Mom's nick name for Sis #2.  Me?  I dug through the thousands of digital photos and came up with 80 photos for 80 years.  Using Photoshop I put together a slide show.  Each of us recorded a toast using apple juice and two of us used pickle juice.  Sis #2 loves pickle juice.  Yes, we are those kind of weird folks.  Sis #2's daughter, Niece #2, put all the videos together.

Tuesday morning after weeks of no makeup, no bra and lockdown, #1, #4 and I, #3, dressed up for a birthday Zoom call at 11 AM.  Niece #2 was at Sis #2's home and had played the video for Sis.  Niece #2 said Sis #2 laughed and cried as she watched the video.  Once us senior citizens were able to connect two phones, one I-pad and one computer we had about a 30 minute visit with Sis #2 online.  Later in the day the florist delivered a bouquet from us three sisters.  A no touch delivery. 

Sis #2 reported this morning to us that she could hardly get to sleep thinking of all that had happened yesterday.  Nieces and nephews had sent Polos on the Marco Polo app.  Each shared special memories.  Two great grandchildren had Facetime with their Grammy.  She had a constant stream of calls and had received many cards to help celebrate.  To top it all off her son and daughter took her out for dinner using proper social distancing.  Face masks were worn while ordering.  Sister #2 will have plenty of memories of her 80th in spite of a pandemic almost spoiled it.

Life in this day and time is so very different than even 20 years ago.  Video conferencing required all sorts of special equipment.  Now a 65, 73, 83 and an 80 year old with the help on her daughter video conferenced in real time.  I was even able to use a digital photo for my background.  And this photo was taken at the graveside of my great grandfather in December 2018.  That was the quality of photos 102 years ago.  Timed exposure, special developing and waiting for days or weeks to receive the photo.  Just wonder what the next 20 to 100 years will bring. 

In the mean time hope everyone hangs in there with jobs.  Doing something that challenges yourself to keep up your spirits and those of others.  I'll continue donning my mask, grabbing the camera and heading out looking for a photo opportunity.  Hope these three shots will bring a bit of sunshine into your life.

Peace and love,
Janice