Congrats WBBall Class of 2015!

Day #59 is the last day of February (when it is not a Leap Year) and 2/28/15 sent February out in style as far as Penn Women's Basketball​ is concerned!  It was great to be at the Palestra and applaud the winningest (71) class of 2015!  I have watched them play a lot of basketball and, tonight, we were able to connect to them a little more as they had their families at the game, they had a pregame thank you video, and then they went out and dominated the game from the start.  My daughters have watched these ladies a lot in the past four years and I hope that they can also connect to the work ethic, sportsmanship, and great attitudes that these members of the Class of 2015 have!  CONGRATS to Renee, Kathleen, Katy, and Kara!

Community Connector

The 58th Day of 2015 (2/27/15) contained one of my favorite events of the year - the Oaklyn Public School Talent Show!  And, tonight, I noticed more than ever, the powerful connecting person who keeps it all going.  Claudia Super is a neighbor, a friend, an organizer, and just a wonderful ambassador for the PTA and the town of Oaklyn.  The way she can connect with all of the kids, from Kindergartners all the way through the High School Senior who was helping back stage is amazing. People appreciate Claudia so much that they come back and work backstage even when their kids are not in the show anymore.  I know I will, when my kids are in Collingswood High.  Connectors like Claudia make you want to help - and in this day and age, I wish more people could connect as she does.  THANK YOU CLAUDIA!

21st Century Connections

Day #57 of 2015 ended at home, with all of the family on some sort of technology.  And, on 2/26/15, I was amazed at the way connectivity has changed our lives.  Alexa and her friend were on the computer, working on a collaborative document project together (in person at least) and using the Internet for research.  Anna was on her tablet, working on another collaborative document with her friend, who was on her laptop in her own house across town.  But they were not working in the same place, but they could still see each other as they Facetimed on their iPads to get the assignment done. Sarah was connecting with the day's news on Facebook, and I was on Skype, conducting Penn Alumni Interviews of prospective students for the Class of 2019.  Oh how the world has changed in the 25 years since I was applying to Penn.......and oh how it will change in the future.  Exciting stuff.

Connections over Dinner

2/25/15 - and it was Day #56 of 2015 - can you believe the year is already 2/13th over???

Tonight my hat goes off to Sarah - we are a very busy family, and Wednesdays are some of the busiest evenings.  But she makes sure that we, as many times as possible, sit down together for a Family Dinner!  And the connections made and enhanced at the dinner table make our family that much stronger.  So thankful for that.

Warmer Connections are Coming

2/24/2015, and the 55th day has come to an end and the eighth week of 2015 is almost complete. And the first eight weeks of the year, weather wise, are often some of the hardest weather weeks of the year.  It is so cold and icy outside!  BUT, look on the News, there are reports from Phillies' Spring Training (it is warm there).  I see them and feel connected to the warm breezes in Citizen's Bank Park that I will soon be experiencing.  And its only 47 days to Little League Opening Day, and my Snack Stand (it will be warm in that stand!)  And the days are getting longer, it was bright when I left work this evening, and I connected to the longer days of the Spring and Summer, with sunset at 8:30PM.....we have some more cold and ice to endure, but Spring is coming, and with it, connections to warmer and sunnier times.

Connecting Through It All

Day #54 (2/23/2015) was a long day of meetings at work, for me.  And I left that day of meetings (until 6:45PM) to get to another meeting in my community.  And I was tired when I finally got home, but then I logged on to Facebook and saw some really moving posts from some of my FB friends who have been battling eating disorders.  This week is National Eating Disorders Week (http://nedawareness.org/).  I know I have been connected to many people who have experienced life with an eating disordered at one point or another in their lives, and I am so proud of those who have persevered and are willing and able to tell their stories online now.  More power to them and more power to anyone struggling now - if you need a friend, I am here.

Connected to the Memories of....

Day #53, 2/22/15, is ending with us watching the Oscars.  And, just as I did in the Grammy Awards Ceremony, I find myself tearing up during the In Memoriam section of the show.  As the faces and names come up on the screen (some I know and others I do not), I find myself connected to the works that they shared with us, music, movies, comedy, poetry, and I connect to the memories of when I experienced them for the first time.  I also appreciate those who can cross over and be mentioned in the Grammy and Oscar Ceremonies (this year I believe that was Robin Williams and Maya Angelou). I know many of these performers and contributors were compensated well for their works, but their genius left an indelible mark on our memories and, thus, our lives.  Connections that live on, even after they are gone (but not forgotten!)

Slippery When Connected

There was a lot of weather involved in Day #52 of 2015.  2/21/2015 has had snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain, and I am hoping some warmer rain comes, as forecasted, overnight so that it's not as slippery as it is now.  But surfaces are not the only things that can be slippery in our lives.  I had a few posts on my Facebook page today about some serious topics (preventing harm to women and emotional hygiene) and it made me think of the other slippery connections in our lives.  Sometimes, we fall, not just down the front steps (as I did this evening - do not worry, I am fine), but also in our personal connections and work connections, in our family connections and our communities.  But slips need not be fatal.  I was able to pick myself up, slide on over to the van, and get Alexa from her party and bring her home.  Similarly, when we find ourselves in slippery situations, we need to mitigate the damage, get into a better situation, and make things better. Hoping for all of you that this can be your experience as well.

Paternal Connection

We've gotten to the 51st Day of 2015 and, as with each year, the 2/20/15 is the birth-date of my father, David Sherr.  And, with each year's passing, the connection I feel to my dad grows stronger and stronger.  I mean, I keep seeing my dad in me more and more.  From my love of numbers and excitement for the upcoming Pi Day (3/14/15 this year!!!) to my love of palindromes and puns and funny sayings and fatherly intuition.  And, although he is on the West Coast and I am on the East Coast, we find ways of connection on a daily basis, Facebook (he will likely be the first person to "Like" this), FaceTime, the old fashioned phone sometimes too.  So appreciative of my dad and all that he did with and for me as I grew up.  And wishing him a great day and many happy returns!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

Connecting in Song

Day #50, the start of the 8th week of 2015, and 2/19/15 was a long day of meetings, but it ended very well, at Choir.  It was great to get back to Old First Choir, to sing with my fellow choir members, and connect in song with them.  And also connect to the message in the song, and, although the Lenten message is not always the happiest message, we all know what is coming on Easter, so we can anticipate even a better connection in the future!  SING ON!

Progressive Connections

2/18/15, Day #49 of 2015, and I watched some more Rec Basketball this evening.  What I like most about the Rec League is the rawness of the players.  These are kids often playing for the first time. And I really like to see the connections that the (volunteer) coaches make with these players, and the connections they make with each and the resulting improvement on the court.  Some of the early games, I admit, are hard to watch, but, late in the season, when you see the improvement in these players, you understand the whole process was worthwhile.

Connection Disrupted = Feelings Erupted

Ok, today is late to be posting for Day #48 (2/17/15), but everything was a little off on this day.  First, the kids had off of School.  OK, fine, I got permission to work from home.  While I was online, I chatted online with Comcast to find out why my home phone was not working.  They told me I needed a new modem...on my way to campus (yes, I had to go in for a meeting), I grabbed the new modem (it was quite easy, surprisingly) and, upon returning home, installed it and settled in for a long evening of task completion.  Well, long story short, got the phone to work, but the internet no. Once again, no connection for data and remote access, no Internet.  I was FURIOUS.  So mad that I went to bed, at 8PM, without eating dinner.  And the rest of the family was grumpy too, especially when the cable went on the fritz later.  And I realized a few things.  First, our connectivity is a big part of our lives (maybe too much!)  Losing it really threw off our routine.  And, maybe, not having that connection, even for one evening, was good for a reality check (i.e. my realizing that it may be TOO much of a part of our lives).  But, after work, another new modem, and here we are, back online.  Smiles all around, but a little wiser.

Cookie Conections

2/16/2015 and the 47th Day of 2015 was President's Day.  For the past 4-5 years, President's Day has meant Girl Scout Cookie selling in the Lobby on the Nursing School.  And, frankly, I love to see the connections that these girls have made with each other - they work together to keep track of the cookies, the money, each other :-).  And seeing them in the Auditorium, working the room to sell to the huge classes of kids, was fun as well.  As they age, I know these moments will be fewer and farther between, so today, I sat back and enjoyed.

Connections Denied, Connections Delayed

Oh the irony. What do we do when we lose our connections? Day #46 and this status for 2/15/15 is delayed because I am having connectivity issues. I think my cable modem is on the fritz..... Oh the joys I have to look forward to in dealing with Comcast Customer Service... wink emoticon. But look, when we lose our connection one way, we need to be resourceful and find other ways to connect. So the cell phone is working and so here we are. Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow..... ‪#‎SNL40‬

Love Connection

Well, it's not hard to figure our what connection I have been thinking about on this 45th day of 2015 (Valentine's Day - 2/14/15).  Sarah and I spent our 21st Valentine's Day together today, and we spent it with basketball, family, home cooking, and being together.  I love that we love similar things and, thus, can spend our time together, doing the things we love.  The connections we make as a couple, with our kids, and as a family are everlasting and so meaningful to me.  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Connected to Cheeseman

I arrived home late on the 44th day of 2015 because, on 2/13/15 (yes, three days after the actual day), the Band helped celebrate the 60th birthday of R. Greer Cheeseman with his family.  I have been connected to Greer since I started in the Penn Band as a Freshman in the Fall of 1986.  And, serving as one of the Asst. Directors of the Band since 1995, this connection has grown in the past twenty (wow) years, especially!  Greer is the magic man and nobody has a love for Penn and the Penn Band like he does - so grateful for Greer!

The Root of All Connections

2/12/2015, Day #43 of the year is the birthday of my foster grandmother, Nettie Soskin, aka Babba (sp?  I never really knew how to spell it).  The poem my friend wrote for her mom's funeral has had me thinking a lot this week.  A lot about roots of family trees.  And, Nettie and Sol Soskin were the transplanted root of our family tree for my father and his two siblings.  And the connections that they fostered (pun not intended), grew into amazing people, amazing families, and they are sowing connections this day and age that are amazingly strong and quite important to me.  So today, on her birthday, I give thanks for Nettie Soskin (and her husband. Sol, my Zayda), from whom great connections have been fostered and nurtured (OK, this last time, the pun was intended). <3

Co-Worker Connections

The 42nd Day (2/11/2015) was a busy day at work, filled with meetings, but it was a good day as well.  And it ended with a Project Team Meeting where we celebrated the accomplishments of the past six months.  It was quite refreshing to take time to breathe deep and enjoy the review of accomplishments.  I know the pressures of tasks and deadlines will return, maybe even tomorrow, but, for today, we celebrated and connected with each other on the team to honor and enjoy each other's successes.

Connecting While Grieving

2/10/2015 was the 41st Day of 2015 and I found myself connecting in a different way today.  I was at the funeral for the mother of a dear friend and former colleague.  The obvious connections to observe were the connections between family and the person who has passed, and the connections of my former colleagues who all came out to support our friend, as well as the feelings I personally had as I connected back to those in my family who are no longer with us and connected with my feelings of missing them.  But those were not the most profound connections I realized today.  In the order of service there were some poems, and the following lines struck me:

"My root had a garden with many seedlings not her own
She tended to them with her unique form of care, love, and sensitivity
Each one was special and dear to her
As we day goodbye to our root's earthly body we welcome her as our angel in her spiritual essence
She has earned her Pretty Wings and will continue to nurture us all from her heavenly home
She tended her garden well"

Everyone called her "Momma" or "Mom"  She cared for those in need, whether they were her blood family, or just her extended family.  She tended her garden well.  I connected to all of that and hope to emulate it in my own life.  This is the way I want to honor and celebrate a life well lived.

Connection by Committee

The evening of the 40th day of 2015 (2/9/2015) was spent at SHIAC, the Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee.  And as I poured through loss ratios, and trend figures, and cost increase estimates, and as we debated all of these in the committee, I thought to myself all of the connections I have made on this committee in the past 15 years.  I have met staff, faculty, students (some of whom who are now faculty), we have debated many issues, we have had great discussion and, I think, have worked to form a pretty robust plan for the students at Penn and done our best to make it affordable as possible.  It's insurance, so you cannot please everyone, but, I thoroughly enjoy this committee work and the connections I have made and continue to make on it.  Here's to another successful "tweaking" season!

Mathematical Connection

The 39th day of 2015 (2/8/2015) was a Sunday, and, this Winter, Sunday means Study Group and today's subject was MATH!  Now, remember (or learn if this is the first you've heard of it), coming out of High School, I wanted to be a math teacher.  So I LOVED being there with the group tonight as they were practicing for a quiz tomorrow (angles!) and then some review of basic algebra.  Man, I had fun with the kids and it connected me back to when _I_ was in 7th grade.  I connected, as well, back to my mathlete (yes, that exists) career in High School and, well, have to admit that I felt redeemed when I got all the questions correct (after scoring 77.1% on the 5th grade PARCC text exam online last week).....math is so awesome!

Connecting the Basketball Dots

The 38th day of 2015 was a Saturday, and, in February, Saturdays mean basketball (yes, this has been a recurrent theme for many of my daily posts this year).  And today we watched a lot of basketball, from Rec in the AM, to Travel in the afternoon, to Penn Women in the Evening.  And, at the Penn Women's game, we not only got to see Penn dispatch Columbia by 21 points, but we also got to see the Colls Kids 3rd grade girls play at halftime, and Alexa and her friend compete in the foul shot challenge, and a high school team scrimmage after the game.  So much basketball today, from all ages, 3rd grade to middle school to high school to College.  And, as the Penn Women were playing, I realized that they, most likely, started out as a 3rd grader playing on the  <Insert their hometown here> Kids team in their Rec League and then on Middle School and Travel teams and then in High School and now in College.  The connection of players through the years made me smile and, when Sydney Stipanovich got the ball at the top of the key and a grin came over her face (I am not sure why) I thought of the smile of the 5th grader this morning, as she made a shot in the Rec League.  Joy connects us throughout time.

Clocking Connections

2/6/15 found me, as I am many of the afternoons in February, in the Middle School Gym at Collingswood Middle School.  I love watching Alexa and her team play basketball.  I really like her teammates and I think that the parents of the team have some good connections.  I connect to them through text message updates, and I feel connected to the game in the gym by assisting with the game clock and scoreboard operation.  The season is almost over, there is only one more home game left and I realized, on this 37th day of 2015, I may miss some of these connections next year when the 8th graders move on.....and then they will be renewed when they are all on the HS team together :-).

Homework Connections

The evening of 2/5/2015 has run long......because a lot of Homework must be completed for tomorrow.  But the best part of the 36th day of 2015 (can you believe we are almost 10% through this year already?!?!?) is when we all banded together to help with the 7th grade Geography food assignment, we were connected as a family.  And I even Facetimed my mom on the West Coast so we had a bicoastal connection with this receipe's preparation.  And now I sit in my good smelling house and remember when MY parents helped me with homework late into the evening, and I am connected to my past as well as the present.  Who thought the 7th grade could be fun for the whole family???  (and, yes, Alexa did most of the work, but I helped finely chop the onions and Anna helped mix it all up and Sarah supervised the cooking on the stove).  TEAM SHERR!

Connecting to Calm

On the 35th Day of 2015, the advice above was key.  On 2/4/2015, I had a day filled with meeting after meeting.  I was a bit anxious that I would be bogged down and not get much done.  But words from a colleague early in the day calmed me.  And, guess what, the meetings happened AND work got done.  Then I got home and my 7th grader was overwhelmed with the amount of homework she has amidst a week with four basketball games, music lessons, and Blue and Gold prep.  But this time it was MY turn to provide the calm words, and she buckled down and got it done (and did well).  So the connection to the AM words, from my colleague, that calmed me, were the inspiration for my words, later on, to help my kid.  Thankful for those connecting words.

Formal Connections

2/3/15 was the 34th day of 2015 and, today, I lent a neighbor's child a bowtie so he could meet the dress code for an Honors Band Concert in which he was performing.  And, you know what?  I had NOTHING to do with his talents on the trumpet at all, but, looking at the pics on FB of him and his OPS classmates who were in the concert, I was filled with pride.  I felt connected to them and their musical success.  Maybe it is because we have shared the stage at OPS for many concerts in Elementary and Junior High Band, or maybe it's because part of my wardrobe was there, but, in any case, I love to be connected to such wonderful kids who are wonderful musicians.  Congrats to all!

Everlasting Connections

Day #33, 2/2/2015, a day in which the groundhog (of course) saw his shadow and indicated we will have six more weeks of winter (not surprising).  A day after the connections from my first job at Penn were in force as I hung out with people I have not worked with for years.  And, then, today, in a time of need, another former co-worker and I reconnected and I tried to help as best I could.  And, worried about the weather reports she was seeing, my mom reached out to me (I assured her we did not have it as bad as the news reports and weather forecasts made it out to be).  In all these cases, as the picture states above, it does not matter where these people are, the connected we have made and fostered throughout time remain strong evermore.  So glad for these everlasting connections.

Super Connections

On the 32nd day of 2015 and the 1st day of February (2/1/2015), Superbowl XLIX (49 for Roman Numeral Impaired) was played.  And, as we have done in the past six, seven, eight (I have no idea) years, we got together with the MacDonalds and the Timms for our traditional viewing gathering. This event allows us to remain connected even though we no longer work together or see each other regularly.  But I like that these connections are maintained, at the Superbowl, on Facebook, and recently with Words with Friends and now Trivia Crack!  Good friends, connected by tradition and technology, makes me happy!