Hello.
It’s a cold couple of weeks coming up, hovering in the low 20’s and high teens. I’m not complaining… it could have been like this for a long time and hasn’t, and it could be sub-zero and it isn't, so all in all, I’m pretty pleased.
The situation still calls into question my sanity… standing on the sidewalk in 14 degrees to get some pictures of The Daxton, our new hotel, opening later this month. They are still cleaning up and installing art and furniture. Liquor can’t be very far behind.
The first floor has high ceilings under which a playground jungle gym appeared. I thought it looked like a McDonald’s Playspace and imagined kids climbing all over it. Now I see it is a contemporary canopy for the bar, where expensive beverages will be served to high tone clientele.
I am going to check out the place when it opens later this month, see if it could be a suitable reunion site and, gulp, ask what it would cost.
I was told the Class of 71 has their reunion scheduled for this fall. Wait. Isn’t that a little too optimistic?
You know, it’s not just that we all have to get vaccinated (which will not prevent us from getting sick…. just a little less dangerously sick), the restrictions on gathering have to be lifted, the wearing of masks has to end... we have to adjust and be comfortable with our safety.
I checked out the story and it seems the Class of 71 are looking at Summer of ’22. That’s more like it, barring more variants or the new bug Bill Gates says is on its’ way.
Class of 70 ZOOMs
Grandparenting 2.0 in January was fun. When we opened the floor to discuss 'grandparents' greatest worries’, a concern was shared for the acceptance of a grandchild with Down syndrome. We’ve all seen reports of how the young people today are very accepting of disabilities, race, sexual orientation - and that’s wonderful.
Except on the internet, where bullying is rampant and the resultant teen suicide rate is sky high. This, and the internet’s role in polarizing our electorate are subjects I wanted to cover in a February ZOOM but I haven’t found someone to host. Chris Nolan gave me a lot of interesting information though, and I share that with you below this letter, under 'Articles on the Internet’.
Ann Harvey Woodman has offered to lead another ZOOM: Grandparenting 3.0: How to Bite Your Tongue. Ha! Should be mandatory.
Upcoming ZOOMS:
Class of 70 photoZOOM: Band, Orchestra & Majorettes
Tuesday, February 23 2021, 7pm EST
We’ve tried to reach all the members of band, orchestra and majorettes.
In case we missed you, here’s the link to join ZOOM meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83036206176
Class of 70 photoZOOM: The Maple Chorale
Thursday, March 11 2021, 7pm EST
Spring Equinox ZOOM Open House
Saturday, March 20 2020, 7pm EST
Classmate Search Party
Karen, Ed, Martha and Vicki, of the Classmate Search Party, have had great results this past month, trying out a few new search avenues. Newly “Found” classmates: John Bratton / Mary Forster Vrooman / Kitty Mitchell Cummins / Patti Pickell Sherman /Guy Pronovich / Jim Root / Chris Settle / Mark Sutterlin / Jerry Yates / Paul Zlotek
Search Status to Date:
386 Updated Emails + 64 Deceased = 450 “Found”, 241 “Missing"
Pretty impressive amount of success. Thank you all!
Class Notes
Jean Goudie Moore has posted her BIO to THE 2020 PIPER on our website.
Sadly, Mary Sestok has passed. I didn’t know her in high school but met her in planning these reunions. She grew up on Greenwood, right next to Holy Name. I moved onto Greenwood 29 years ago, and it has been fun bumping into her in the neighborhood and about town. I could always rely on her for opinions about reunion matters. Mary survived cancer many years ago, but had been struggling with chronic pain ever since.I took this picture of the SHS70 Memorial Tree this morning, for Mary, who helped raise funds to purchase and plant the tree in 1990.
Another year every month. This month: 1959
Castro’s Revolution, Alaska & Hawaii, Playboy Magazine, The Real McCoys, Gypsy, Sound of Music, Second Grade 1959-1960.
https://www.babyboomers.com/article/1959-events-facts/58343c87e4b002cef0ecd007
Post your pictures from 1959 on our facebook group page.
Listen to Top Pop Songs of 1959 here:
https://youtu.be/Bdp-odncnVE
https://youtu.be/6v7CzfPUphY
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sunday is Valentine’s Day. I remember exchanging valentines with many of you. We decorated shoe boxes with construction paper, cut a big slot in the top, and placed it on our desks as we circulated through the classroom dropping a card in each box. We exchanged a card with everyone. We didn’t hoard our cards for our favorites, or withhold our cards from those with whom we might not have been comfortable. It wasn’t a contest. We shared our cards with all. Shouldn’t it still be that way?
To get through this pandemic, it seems we should take advantage of any opportunity for good cheer, even if it’s more work to make it cheery.
I don’t know what I am going to do for my valentine. I won’t go shopping because of the flu, I’ve got too much work to allow time to make something. I’m feeling a little desperate… like... I might have to cook!
So make for yourself a happy day. Send a smile to anyone who needs one.
Whether you’re with family, someone special, or you are alone, take a moment to send yourself a note with this message from the Buddha:
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the universe, deserve your love and affection.”
And give yourself a treat.
Wood
Please join THE 2020 PIPER biographies and email directory:
Website: seaholmclassof1970.com
Case-sensitive password: SHS70@50
Please post your 1959 photos, BFFs, Postcards, Pastcards and chat:
Facebook: Seaholm Class of 1970
Ask to join.
Please reunite with your best friends from Birmingham:
Class of 70 ZOOMS: slepchuk@comcast.net
Articles on the Internet
From Chris Nolan:
Social Media, Loneliness, and Anxiety in Young People: Is there a role for social media in perpetuating anxiety and loneliness?
But our use of social media to chase connectedness may merely make us feel more disconnected and lonelier.
Social Media And Loneliness: More Research Is Finding A Connection, But Big Questions Remain
These findings suggest, first, that negative experiences on social media carry much more psychological weight than positive ones.
The FOMO Is Real: How Social Media Increases Depression and Loneliness: New research reveals how social media platforms like Facebook can greatly affect your mental health.
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/social-media-use-increases-depression-and-loneliness
These findings suggest, first, that negative experiences on social media carry much more psychological weight than positive ones.
Instagram and Snapchat were ranked the worst apps for children's mental health
https://www.businessinsider.com/instagram-and-snapchat-ranked-worsrt-childrens-mental-health-2017-5
Negative mental health impacts that can be induced by social media platforms include anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The platforms can also cause children to become body conscious, while FoMo (fear of missing out) and bullying are other issues.
Social media use increases depression and loneliness, study finds
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181108164316.htm
Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram may not be great for personal well-being. The first experimental study examining use of multiple platforms shows a causal link between time spent on these social media and increased depression and loneliness.
"When you're not busy getting sucked into clickbait social media, you're actually spending more time on things that are more likely to make you feel better about your life."
Social Media’s Transition from Novelty to Malignancy
https://www.amgreatness.com/2019/07/31/social-medias-transition-from-novelty-to-malignancy/
What made sense as a communications vehicle for a diverse but circumscribed group of people sharing many life experiences on campus and later as a helpful tool for the larger world, has transformed benign to malignant as fast as rapidly improving technology could take it there.
The most recent and troubling development in social media is the mob mentality.
Loneliness (video)