Part 5: Apr 13 – May 19, ’20

4/13/20 to 5/19/20

4/30/20 –Did you hear about the Swedish town that dumped manure in the park to discourage gatherings?  My offering in the daily struggle to find upbeat.  Eating oatmeal to Simon and Garfunkel. Arming myself for an energetic walk.  What can you offer sisters dear??
Dottie Smith Mann
 
5/1/20 —  My offering for today (tonight actually), Dottie:    Love opera or hate it, tonight is a special opportunity for everyone when the Metropolitan Opera Nightly streams for free the great Leontyne Price’s 1985 farewell performance in Aida.  It is available for a 24 hour period starting at 7:30 pm tonight (Friday, May 1st) which ends 6:30 pm tomorrow.  Here’s a link:
     Also, check out the article about her and her amazing career at the same place.  Judy K  Judy Marshall Kennedy
5/1/20  Thank you so much – we’ll try that, may find it challenges our technical skills  Myra Small
 
5/1/20 — Thanks Judy!   I will listen to it tomorrow morning!   Such fun to have that to look forward to!    We are missing our opera experiences!    We have a beautiful day today!  Hallelujah!  Our yesterday was cold and rainy also.   Going for a nice walk and tonight we can sit out on our deck looking out over our bay, and sip our glasses of wine.   This is after our Friday nightly banging on pans and yelling thanks to all the nurses and doctors and first responders who are helping us stay healthy!   We Michiganders (and we are the majority) are supporting our wonderful Governor Witmer and trying to ignore the gun toting nay sayers who stormed our capitol yesterday.   Interesting article in the NY Times today about how it has been mostly women who have led their countries through this pandemic with science and skill, and have had much fewer deaths.    People lives are at stake here, and we are willing to stop our normal lives for another few weeks or months to keep the people we care about safe.   We lost a lovely neighbor to the virus about a month ago…too close for comfort.    Best to all of  you   Betsy Karch Wilson
 
5/1/20 — Hi, everyone.  Betsy, we are all in awe of your amazing Governor Witmer.  We love her.  That she has to put up with all of those horribly selfish protesters is beyond my ken.  I don’t know how she keeps so cool — she is a real winner.  We know that your protesters are in the minority.  They are in the minority just about everywhere in the country because most people are truly concerned with the good of the state, the country, and the world.  Governor Witmer has earned my utmost respect.  
     And Judy, thanks for the heads-up on the Aida broadcast.  We’ll be watching it tomorrow. 
     So sad about the Holyoke VA facility (Covid-19 deaths and cases) that is in such a mess.  Massachusetts seems to be having a tough time.  Many of my great nephews and nieces and spouses and my grandson Tucker are in Boston.  That always makes one take a deep breath and try to relax.   Here’s what are blooming in my back yard.
 
5/1/20 — Next day response, Dottie!  Yesterday was a cold and rainy CT day.  Low energy level in this house.
     Today r.e. Your listening to Simon and Garfunkel: remember “Bridge Over Troubled Water?”   We all can be that bridge.  I spent part of yesterday phoning or writing to people in area nursing homes or assisted living facilities.  Per usual, I feel they helped me more than I helped them.  Peace,  Cindy Dennett Yee
 
5/2/20 — Oatmeal with Simon and Garfunkle? Oatmeal with Aida-this doesn’t happen every day! Aida was composed for the opening of the Suez canal and a couple of days ago (memorial day in Israel) we heard recordings from 1973 of soldiers in positions along the canal which were being overrun by Egyptian forces. A different kind of drama. And then I thought about two members of Daniel Barenboim’s Arab-Israeli orchestra who discovered that their fathers fought on opposite sides in that war but they could make music together. And then I thought about the discussion about a week ago when some members of this group felt their opinions were unwelcome. And that reminded me of how about six years ago some of our classmates  were more interested in expressing their own opinions than in letting me set the facts straight. Doesn’t a college education breed tolerance? Maybe I’ve been too long in isolation…..   Myra Small
 

 5/2/20 — Thank you for sharing Myra!  Loved story about musicians, their fathers, and making music together.  Cindy Dennett Yee

5/1/20 — Hello you V8ers out there., Kim, Rocky, Liz, Sally, Babbie and all those I missed.  Here is something to cheer you up.  Keep well and safe. Regards,
Chris Hollister Hila
https://youtu.be/hT4hFR2bBGU

5/2/20 — Even though we never sang this song (we probably should have!)  the close harmony, blend and attention to detail certainly brought back many happy memories!  Best wishes to all. Kim
And others sent thanks:
* So beautiful and perfect in every way.  Thanks, Chris, for making us SMILE.  Hugs xxx Liz Webfoot
*  Indeed many thanks for all smiles are valuable these days. My best to all, Ding    
*  Oh my word! So wonderful! Thanks, Chris  Sue W Carr
*  Thank you Chris.  That was lovely. Liz T.

5/2/20 — Hello precious friends. I have been working very hard (in my privileged  protected bubble) the past two weeks trying to raise awareness  of the frightening problem of pandemic inside nursing homes . My effort has mostly been directed towards the appalling conditions for the workers. I have an insider who has been  describing the problems while fearful for her own job stability. Now she is home sick. Unable to get a Covid-19 test and told she must take a 7 day sick leave WITHOUT PAY. ( After working weeks on double shifts all but 1 day).
     The article below perfectly expresses my feelings as I see those jets fly over NYC or DC and I watch politicians  deliver yet another set of gourmet meals to our “heros”. 
     Since I began things have moved and some people are aware but maybe some of us could look around us and talk about this situation which is mostly hidden under the “private enterprise” screen.
Thank you all. Your companionship through this is precious.
Chris Hollister Hila

5/3/20 — Chris,  Petri expresses my feelings of frustration and outrage far better than I can myself.  And Chris, thank you so much for all you are doing.   Liz T

5/3/20 — Thank you.  Jennifer B-C Seaver

5/3/20 — Good sarcastic article!   Wouldn’t it be nice if someone paid attention to it?!?!  Kim Kimball Holmquist
 
5/3/20 — Thanks Chris. It reminds us of how inequitable our workplace is. We do have friends who own several nursing homes here and they have now given each of employees a substantial hourly pay raise as a tribute.  Nancy Desmond Cox

5/3/20 — We, too, get the Post and I loved the article.  And others from her, too.  Thanks, Chris.  Alexandra Petri is such a hoot!     Just in case you all need a new hobby during the pandemic, I’ve quite fallen in love with growing celery leaves.  Just cut off the bottom and put it in a dish of water.  Keep it wet.  Almost instant gratification.  I think it’s absolutely the cutest plant ever!

Next a carrot!  Stay tuned.
Ok, now this is really serious.  As good food is an important part of our lives, I’ve mentioned before that we have many choices to choose from for desserts, munchies, or tea time:  always chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cranberry bread, oatmeal raisin cookies, brownies, and fresh peach pie; and this week I added blueberry tea cake — any or all with ice cream of course.  Today we finished our last choc chip cookie, and I told Bryan that I thought it would be interesting to try Sue’s mayonnaise choc chip cookie recipe.  He replied sadly, “but you make the best chocolate chip cookies of all, so why would you want to try something different?  I love your chocolate chip cookies…   etc….  they’re the best …. etc…”  So this is the serious part:  Who has tested Sue’s cookies against the original Nestles Toll House cookies?  Please answer right away.  I was going to make cookies today but I can wait until tomorrow.  If they are better than Sue’s, then send me a private email so as not to hurt her feelings.  lizardhb@gmail.com
     Thanks to all of you for caring about the world and doing all you do to help out.  Cheers and hugs — Liz Webfoot
 
5/4/20 — I tried Sue’s cookies – very good, just very different from the recipe you all seem to know – took me forever to find dark brown sugar in our markets here, added pecans to have of my batter, worked well – amy  5/14/20 — (Barb Douglas offered to the college that we split our upcoming reunion with the Class of 1960 since their 60th reunion was cancelled due to the coronavirus school closure. In return, she received this note.)  Barb Douglas, What a nice offer you suggested for your friends a year ahead of you! 
     The college has been working hard to come up with a variety of options for those who are missing out on reunion this year.  Ideas have been floated to the Reunion Committees, but nothing can be decided until the College decides how/when they will be able to have students back on campus.  Once they figure that out, some of these other events will be added to the calendar.  I will mention your kind offer, to be considered at some point down the road.
     Isn’t it an amazing turn of events!?  I hope you and your family and friends continue to enjoy good health! 
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness!  Joan Vater from the college

5/17/20 — Hello all. Is the hidden message in this one from college that possibly our reunion could also be a maybe? When  will we have a conference to lay out possible plans and budget? Hope you are all doing well. We are, here in coastal Maine, and thrilled that our beach has just reopened, for walking and surfing only.
Elsa Anderson van Bergen

5/17/20 — I was wondering the same thing!  I hope that we can still have our reunion, but until they have an effective vaccine, I believe all travel will be questionable.  Hopefully that will occur by the beginning of the year, but no one really knows (except Trump the Almighty who says September!)   How do others feel?  I do not have any ideas though about how that affects our planning!
     Hope you are all bearing up well during these sequestered times.  I’m doing okay and feel like one of the lucky ones because I know I can still pay my bills and I have a lovely view from my front window where I sit too much of the time playing solitaire!  My family stops by for short distanced visits a couple of times a week (they brought be an In and Out Burger last night!) and 4 different friends come for porch cocktails  (not at the same time) as I have 2 chairs 8 feet apart on my porch!  They have been bringing their own, but we may get daring, and I’ll serve them!   I am most suffering from what I read the Dutch call Huidhonger – the craving for real hugs!  Cheers,  Kim

5/17/20 — Hi All — I’ve pretty much given up on the idea of global travel, certainly for the foreseeable future and pretty likely for the long term too.  In Dan and my case, it’s a pity, because we are  just now getting around to wanting to do more and having the time for it.
     However, the other night we happened to watch the old 1978 movie of Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile” starring Peter Ustinov along with Bette Davis, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansberry, etc., as it had popped to the top of our Netflix list.   Turned out we both loved it, especially the many scenes of Egypt and its many treasures along the Nile.  I read later that the movie was filmed almost entirely “on location,”   While I know that many things must have changed there in the last 50 years, I have to believe that the movie still reflects the culture, the art/architecture, the people, and the general ambience of this unique area — and since I’ve always wanted to make that same boat trip, it turned out to be a very nice temporary substitute for actually booking a trip and going.
     That got me to wondering what other movies, old or new,  would give you that same “sense of place,” as well as offer an entertaining story and some fun and memorable characters to chew on for a bit during these Stay at Home times.  I couldn’t think of many that “checked all the boxes” but here are some that did — for me at least.  So, my question to all of you, especially those of you who have travelled the world over, what other movies fit this same mold that are still available for the small screen:  
     Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (2011 — the first time that Woody filmed entireley on location)
     “Out of Africa” with Meryl Streep and a young Robert Redford  (1985 — depicting Kenya primarily)
     “The Talented Mr. Ripley”  with Matt Damon, Jude Law, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Petros (1999 — filmed entirely on locations in Italy, i.e. Positano, Rome, Venice, etc)
     “The Martian” also with Matt Damon (2015 — filmed in Jordan but surely, this is exactly what Mars must look like!!)
     Also just finished reading Lisa See’s latest book, “The Isle of the Sea Women,” for my book club, which was fascinating, not just the plot line but also for its history of Korea after WWII and into the Korean and Vietnam wars, something I knew little about.  It’s a very unusual story and one I can’t stop thinking about.  Look forward to hearing your thoughts on movies and books.  Judy K
Judy Marshall Kennedy


5/16/20 — Thank you Judy, I am walking up and down a schoolyard hill every day pretending it is a beautiful Italian staircase! I would like to add one film, The English Patient, which was filmed in Tunisia and Italy. At the time I had fun chasing down the exact locations especially in Tunisia which later became some of my favorite spots. Chris Hollister Hila
PS. Of course the words in Noor’s song speak to your feeling about travel. “I’ll see the world for you”


5/16/20 — We, too, have been having fun watching old films.  Thanks, Judy, for the suggestions.   We just watched “The Miracle Worker” and loved it all over again — I have never stopped loving Patty Duke and Ann Bancroft. But I think the one that remains on top for both of us that we saw recently is “On The Waterfront”. What an absolutely brilliant film.   We’ve loved all the ones you suggested, but neither of us has seen “Death on the Nile.”  L
ook forward to it. And Chris, we were just talking about finding and watching again “The English Patient” — loved that film.  Never connected you and Tunisia with it.  How fun for you.
     My personal all-time favorites will always be: “Big Country”, “The Graduate”, and “Shawshank Redemption”.  But then, as I list them I realize there are just so many really good films.  Aren’t we lucky to be able to sit and enjoy them again.  Now I just wish I could find the time to do all that you do, Judy.  Lordy, lordy, you are one busy women!  Chris and Kim, what did you think of the V-8 jam?  Any other V-8’s watch it?  Cheers and hugs,  Liz Webfoot

5/16/20 —  How about “Lawrence of Arabia” with Peter O’Toole?  “The Quiet Man” with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara?  Not traveling far, but “On Golden Pond” with Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn?
Frannie Blair

5/16/20 — Roman Holiday, not just for Rome but for the movie.

5/16/20 — Be careful what you ask for.  Here is my list – it may not fit the bill exactly, but the movies are GREAT!  (in no particular order or place, but I’ll identify if I can remember
1) Gorillas in the Mist (Uganda)
2) Tea with Mussolini (Italy)
3) The Year of Living Dangerously (Indonesia)
4) Monsoon Wedding (India)
5) Slumdog Millionaire (India)
6) Passage to India (duh…)
7) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Jordon – Petra)
8) The Eagle Huntress (Mongolia)
9) Murder on the Orient Express
10) Impromptu (France)
11) Children of the Revolution (Russia)
12) Lion (Australia; India)
13) The Gods Must be Crazy (Australia)
14) The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (India)
15) Gandhi
16) Khartoum (Egypt)

Liz T.

5/16/20 —  Oh my gosh, LizT, your list is a dream come true!!  By the time we watch all of the ones we’ve never seen and rewatched the ones we have (and loved too), the pandemic will be over!!!  Thank you so much for taking the time to think about this.  How in the world did you come up with so many so fast!!!  You must be a movie buff.  Do you keep an ongoing list of what you watch, as I do for what I read?               And thanks too to Liz our WebWizard and to Frannie for their offerings to my conundrum as well.  I would never have thought of checking out “On the Waterfront” again for example, but I do remember loving it, or at least loving Brando for a long time.  Any more suggestions from the rest of you for “great movies” to watch that also offer a unique  “sense of place” to quell our wish to travel in times when we can’t????  Judy K  Judy Marshall Kennedy

5/16/20  — That is indeed a great list, Liz!  I have seen most of those but wouldn’t mind revisiting and will seek out a couple of the ones I missed.  Thanks!  Kim

5/16/20 –Hi Judy, Yes, we are film buffs.  Until early March we went to see films at least once a week.  Although we do have many DVDs of movies (and laser disks as well – before there were DVDs), I did not consult those.  I do keep lists, but not of the movies I’ve seen.  I just remembered them.  I’m looking forward to getting some suggestions from others for movies I haven’t seen, or have, and want to see again.  Here’s another addition:  The Great Budapest Hotel.  Liz T.

5/17/20 —  You guys are amazing.  I’m loving my new film list!  It’s so weird that you, Liz T (or “Liz #2”, or “Liz less-important”, or “Liz the smart one”), have sent this amazing list.  The reason I’m amazed is that I, of course, have already started thinking about reunion in 2021.  I thought it would be cool to include a list of everyone’s top films, up to twenty films, on a spreadsheet — tallying which films have rated at the top after these 60 years.  If there’s anyone out there who is fine working with spreadsheets, please step forward and email me.  I am reluctant to volunteer even though I really want to do it.  This pandemic isn’t going anywhere for a long time, so I’m afraid I have to remain attached to the web site.  Please step forward if you are interested in contributing to our entertainment:  “Our Favorite Films“.  You’ll have to canvass the class and input the results in tabular form.  Then we’d have something to watch for the next 50 years.  How marvelous!  You only have a year to get it done.  Cheers and hugs to you all — Liz Webfoot (or “Liz 1”, or Liz “most-important”, or Liz “not so smart but oh so personable”.)

5/18/20 — Thanks to Judy’s wonderful suggestion I have just finished an amazing nostalgia trip. We watched The English Patient tonight. My God, I really knew all of the spots. I had learned to love many of them after I had seen the film the first time and only realized where they were tonight. The Tunisian desert with some little known corners. Then Italy, the Tuscan countryside where I was this past October and the frescoes in Arezzo that I visited last August on a solo trip.  I was the only one in the church. I did not have a rope swing.
     I hope many of you can find your favorite world spots or even vicariously visit your bucket list places. No popcorn, just float away into the background and forget all the intense lovemaking in the foreground. Enjoy it all.  
Chris Hollister Hila

5/17/20 — You guys are amazing.  I’m loving my new film list!  It’s so weird that you, Liz T (or “Liz #2”, or “Liz less-important”, or “Liz the smart one”), have sent this amazing list.  The reason I’m amazed is that I, of course, have already started thinking about reunion in 2021.  I thought it would be cool to include a list of everyone’s top films, up to twenty films, on a spreadsheet — tallying which films have rated at the top after these 60 years.  If there’s anyone out there who is fine working with spreadsheets, please step forward and email me  I am reluctant to volunteer even though I really want to do it.  This pandemic isn’t going anywhere for a long time, so I’m afraid I have to remain attached to the web site.  Please step forward if you are interested in contributing to our entertainment:  “Our Favorite Films“.  You’ll have to canvass the class and input the results in tabular form.  Then we’d have something to watch for the next 50 years.  How marvelous!  You only have a year to get it done.  
Cheers and hugs to you all — Liz Webfoot (or “Liz 1”, or Liz “most-important”, or Liz “not so smart but oh so personable”.)

5/19/20 — Great idea for Reunion! This is timely and fun to have “Our Favorite Films”.  I know I’m always looking for good recommendations, both books and movies. 
Barbara Freeman Douglass

5/19/20 — Judy, Liz and others – thank you so much for the movie suggestions, duly forward to Rob –  and now to get competent with Netflix of which we been members for about a year and got to work about once! Leaving Florida for Ct. this week, should be quite a change as we’ve been feeling relatively safe as well as a little bit open here.  We’re expecting our live-in daughter in Ct. will, if she has her way, be keeping us under complete lockdown.  Her rules include, no having a glass of wine with neighbors on the circle outside our house even though very easy to keep at least 12 feet away – only she will do the shopping: no cookies for Rob, no out of season vegetables for me – etc.  Am submitting my 21st Tiny Love Story to the New York Times – no response (other than automatic for a letter) but plan on Tiny Book for my family – Amy

5/19/20 — Here’s two of my favorites:
Antonia’s Line – described by Netflix – Winner of the 1995 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this heartwarming drama is the remarkable story of a strong-willed woman who builds a new life with her teenage daughter in a quiet Dutch village after World War II.  As she challenges the local customs, she begins to win her neighbors’ affections.  Earthy, sexy and romantic, the film is a joyous, multi-generational celebration of simple pleasures, lust for life and enduring passions.
Chinatown – 1974 classic starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway
Carol Sweeney Benson

5/19/20– Two great additions Carol.  Thanks.  I’d forgotten about those.  Liz T

5/19/20 — Dear Amy, And just whose house is it? Owners do have some rights…  Diana

5/19/20 — Long story here but do appreciate the reply – admit you over sharing – amy

END OF PART 5