Connections over the Moon

The last day of July (7/31/2015) was day #212 of the year.  So, as with most of our palindromic days this year, it was awesome.  Great day of productive work, soccer camp with the Fire Company coming to hose all the kids off at the end, and then hanging out with the family while watching the Phillies win their 11th of the last 13!  And all through the day, I noticed my friends posting about the blue moon all day.  I like how a simple event can connect us all - and I loved the pictures that my dad takes and posts of the moon.  And my Uncle did it this time too, and that made me feel the connection they share, genetic photographers, I guess :-).

Treasurering Connections

At the end of a hot and humid 211th day of 2015, I found myself in a familiar place, but one where I had not been in a while.  On 7/30/15, I was asked to stop by the Church Office and answer some questions about church finances.  I was glad to be able to help, I was glad I missed the huge rainstorm, I was glad to connect with my pastor (second time this week) and my successor as Church Treasurer.  It was nice and I hope they ask me for help again.

Community Policing Connects Us

On the 210th day of 2015, I had to call my local Police Department.  And, although the (minor) event on 7/29/15 was not a pleasant one, when you come down to it, I always like interacting with the officers of the OPD.  These officers truly understand the art of community policing.  They connect with the community and the community connects to them!  And, it's nice, because many of them come from the very community itself - a connection in itself.  So appreciative for our men and women in blue!

Pastoral Connections

On this 209th day of 2015, 7/28/15, I was lucky to have scheduled a lunch with my pastor.  Now, I did not know that work would be overwhelming me and I would really relish the chance to slow down and have a really good conversation, but that is definitely what happened today.  And I connected with what he was saying to me today and enjoyed the conversation and it slowed me down and relaxed me for the rest of the day.  And, for that, I am really lucky and, dare I say, blessed.  I also connected with the notion that, in today's busy world, the pastor really has to serve MANY roles in a congregation.  And today, at lunch, we talked about many of them in this word cloud I found online. So, thankful for the connection I could personally make with my pastor today, at lunch, but also thankful for all the ways he connects to and with the varied facets of our church!

Soccer Camp Connections

The 208th day of 2015 (7/27/15) ended in a familiar spot.  Back on the Oaklyn Fields, at the Snack Stand, this time for Soccer Camp.  I am so thankful for the volunteers who give their time and energy for the kids of this town and I love to see the connections that they make with the kids, and the connections the kids make with each other.  Go Oaklyn Soccer!

Watching our kids grow up

I love Sundays.  And 7/26/15 (the 207th day of 2015) was no exception.  Started great at Church, and ended with a nice cookout with long time friends and some family as well.  And, as I looked at my nephew, who is going into his senior year of high school and then looked over to my own kids, growing and maturing each and every day (OK, maybe I am feeling it more because of Alexa's ears being pierced this weekend, a milestone indeed), and then looked over at the kids of our friends, no longer babies anymore - and getting so big.  There was a nice connection for me, tonight, of where our kids were, where they are now, and where they might be soon.  It was nice!

T-Shirt Collection = Connections

The 206th day of 2015 was Errand Day in the Sherr Family.  We got a lot of things done that have needed to be done for a while.  But the most poignant part of 7/25/15 (at least for me) was the organizing of my collection of t-shirts, which had grown too large for its container.  As we went through all of the shirts, it was like connecting back to my history.....there were shirts from Dining Services (including CHATS, NACUFS, and Wharton Sinkler Conference Center), there were shirts from CUPID (the Center for University of PA ID) and the PennCard Center, there were Nursing shirts, of course, and shirts from softball teams of yore.  There were Penn Band Pep Band shirts from past generations and shirts from Glee Club and Penn Dance (and Glee Club/Penn Dance shows). And many of them are now packed away in the closet, being stored for a memory quilt in the future (Mom?), and now there is room for shirts from Oaklyn Little League, OMAYSC, DARE, Oaklyn Public School, and umpiring as well as Penn shirts, of course.  It seems to me that taking a trip through your t-shirt collection is like taking a trip through the connections that were (and are) important to us at the time.

Spousal Connections

So, on the 205th day of 2015, 7/24/15, I spent the evening siting on the porch with my wife!  This connected me to Pastor Michael's sermon on Sunday, where he challenged us to do something for ourselves this week.  And so we did.  And it was nice!  I love the connection I have with Sarah.  Sure, we do not always agree on everything, but, usually, we are on the same page.  And tonight, we were surely!

Summer Camp Connections

It is the 204th day of 2015, 7/23/15, and, this week, my kids have been attending more of the camps sponsored by the Friends of Oaklyn Parks.  These community camps are amazing.  For such a low cost, the community is able, through donations and volunteers, to provide amazing opportunities for our kids.  And, while doing so, the kids get to connect with the community volunteer as well as connect to activities and opportunities.  I am so thankful for these volunteers and those who donate their time and money - and thankful for the new connections my kids are making.

Patio Connections

A long (but, again productive) day at work turned into a very nice evening on the 203rd day of 2015. The evening of 7/22/15 found me dining on the patio with my wife.  I love the connections forged on the patio, with the birds flying by and the breezes blowing.  Tonight just chatting about my day with Sarah, but in other times hanging with family or friends.  Good Times, Good People. Good Connections, Good Memories.

Connecting: Meet and Greet

The 202nd Day of 2015 (7/21/15) was a palindromic day so it was destined to be good.  Productive day at work, friend posting on my FB page with her odometer of 123321 (fitting on day 202), evening spent with the family - great day.  And I thought it neat that, all through the day I kept running into new people (new connections!) who I knew from online groups (FB and otherwise) but had never met in person.  And it was fun to see they were as happy to make the connection with me as I was to make the connection with them!  Online is great, but nothing beats meeting someone in person, and sharing a smile!

Connected, Even When Far Away

7/20/15 was the 201st day of 2015.  And, although we lost our softball playoff game tonight, today was still a great day.  Why?, you ask.  Because I was surprised with a lunch invite from a friend who was in town for a few days.  And, even though he works far away, in the Middle East, and I have not seen him in person for about two years, when we got together for lunch, we were connected in conversation as if we'd only been apart for a few days.  I love connections with long-time friends and I am glad that the connections can stay in force, even when we are so far apart physically.

Connected By Singing

Today, 7/19/15, was the 200th day of the year!  And it started off, as most Sundays do, at Church. The important connection of the day occurred there as well.  We had a guest pianist who was not as familiar with our hymnal, so those of in the Choir (who has off for the Summer) who were in attendance sang loud and sang proud.  And the service was filled with the usual music and that made a meaningful connection for me (as music is one of the key facets of my worship experience).  I also felt a great connection with my fellow members of the Choir, spread out in the Congregation, as we took musical leadership, in our own way.  SING ON!

LBI Connections

On the 199th day of 2015, we spent most of the day on Long Beach Island.  On 7/18/15, we traveled to LBI to pick up Alexa from Surf City.  The weather report on this day informed us of impending storms, so we did not think we'd have a long stay on the beach.  But, the promised storms never arrived and we ended up having a nice stay.  And, as I sat there, relaxing and conversing with friends, I felt connected to when my family came to LBI in MY childhood.  And I also enjoyed watching Anna and Alexa playing together in the surf and in the sand.  Classic connections, both of these, and all on a wonderful beach day!

Connections and Partnerships

Sixteen is a great number.  2 ^ (2 ^ 2).  2 ^ 4.  Sweet 16.....it's just a great number.  On the 198th day (-1 + 9 = 8, so I like 198 as well!), I am reflecting on connections and partnerships.  7/17/15 is the 16th anniversary of my wedding to Sarah.  21 years of love, 16 years of marriage, 13 years of parenthood (that adds up to 50, which is also pretty cool) and through it all we have been in partnership.  Lots of decisions to be made, lots of fun to be had, a few tears here and there but often because we were laughing hard or crying at something on TV!  I am so blessed to be connected to and to be sharing lives with this wonderful woman.  I cannot express in words how deep my love is for the connection that has created so much that is near and dear to me.  Here's to many, many, more and looking forward to it all!  LOVE YOU SIDGE!

In/Out Law Connections

7/16/15, the 197th day of 2015, is the birthday of Jackie, my sister-in-law by marriage (i.e. my wife's brother's wife).  The three of us who all married into the family have a connection - we call each other the Outlaws.  Jackie is also connected to us by nature of being the Godmother to our children, a role she plays with amazing skill, always there when we need her and watching over our children almost as if they are her own.  So glad to be able to celebrate one more trip around the sun - and had a great evening connecting in conversation and laughter and a great cake made by Sarah!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jackie Walters!

Never Give Up on Connections

Today, 7/15/15, is the 196th day of 2015.  And, driving in, listening to Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio, I realized it was the Espy Awards Night, and the coinciding Jimmy V Auction on ESPN. And, for the first time, amazingly, I heard the speech that Jim Valvano gave 22 years ago at the Espys. And I really connected to the three things that Jimmy V, stated we should do each day: Laugh, Think, and have your emotions moved to Cry (in happiness or sorrow).  Laugh, Think, Cry .... I connect with that in a really meaningful way.  And, today, as I do many days (and I need to make sure I do EVERY day) .

If you want to see the video of the speech (get the tissues, Mom) - you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E

All Star Connections

7/14/15 and, on the 195th day of 2015, I listened to the All Star game on the radio (after a nice post-work dinner) and then am watching also now on TV.  I love the baseball All Star games and the connections to some fantastic memories.  From watching Bo Jackson climb the fence (in think in KC) while sitting on the floor of Ivan Walrath's Chestnut Hall apartment to the numerous PRBL Trading Deadline BBQs that George and I had at our 23rd and Parrish place, a LOT of great memories and connections from this game.

Connections to Events In the Past

On the 194th Day of 1985, the World Experienced Live-Aid.  And, since I listen to 80s on 8 all the time, I was constantly reminded today, 7/13/15.  And I felt connected to all that was going on in my life, back then in the Summer of 1985, the summer between my Junior and Senior year of Highschool.  Those were some great years.  I love the music of that time and Live-Aid was so important to change the way that people thought about fundraising.  It may not seem so at this time, with the crowd-sourcing and online giving,...but, thirty years ago, this was revolutionary!  It was nice thinking about it all day.

All England Connections

7/12/15 was the 193rd Day of 2015 and was also the Gentlemen's Finals for 2015 Wimbledon.  And I watched the match (after I woke up, so I missed the first set!).  I do not watch a lot of tennis, but I always try to watch Wimbledon.  It connects me with my friends, Cathy and Chrissy Kobeski, who always invite us to their house for a traditional tennis BBQ.  And we usually go, just this year the Beach Blast was in the way :-(.  So many good memories of watching tennis (and then the Phillies) with the Kobeskis and their friends and all the Astea people like George and Curt and Debbie and more!  Glad that these connections are intact after all of these years.  Long-term friends and connections are very meaningful to me.  And today, watching the tennis, I felt their presence.

When Connections are not Present

Free Slurpee Day is, except for in Leap Years, the 192nd Day of the year.  On 7/11/15 I did not connect with 7-11 for a free cold beverage (I did get free DQ, but I do not think that counts), and I also focused on what one does when there is a lack of connection in a situation.  When a team is going bad, the coach makes adjustments (although (and yes, I am watching West Coast baseball AGAIN), nothing the Phillies do seems to work), and when I was faced with a lack of connection on plans, Sarah and I also made adjustments.  Rolling with the punches is important in sports and in life.

West Coast Connection

7/10/15, the 191st day, was a pretty unremarkable day for one that is palindromic!  We did have a really nice happy hour after work, and chilled with a family movie night, and now I am (as I have for this week) watching the Phillies on a West Coast swing...they are in SF tonight and, guess what?, so are my parents....I mean they are at the game.  So now we are connected, I watching here at home, they watching there in the stadium.  When the Phillies are on the WC, I always feel more connected to my dad, because I know he is watching too.  And, tonight, mom is in on it too!

Connected via an Ensemble

7/9/15 and the 190th day was another typical day in the life and work of the Sherrs.  Sorry this week has not been that exciting but, sometimes, a normal week is a nice week.  And this evening ended with me perusing Facebook and finding, for some reason, a whole lot of posts and comments from and/or about my former orchestra-mates at Masterman.  What a wonderful time that was for me, and I am so glad to still be connected to many of my classmates.  I made a comment that someday, we should get the Band (OK, Orchestra) back together and, man, how awesome would that be if it could happen.....we made beautiful music together, and I enjoy remaining connected, would love to reconnect as an ensemble sometime....

Elevated Connections

7/8/15 was the 189th day of 2015 and was a usual day filled with work, Little League (yes, again, in Harrison Township this time, watching Alexa's team in the Sectional Tournament), and family time....but a few times today, I found myself in the elevator, talking to people. Too many times, people just get into elevators and pretend that they are the only one in there.  I like holding the doors for people and making conversation.  It's another way to connect - yes, sometimes people think it is too much and turn away or refuse to make eye contact (I give up on those connections), but I think, usually, you get an unexpected smile and sometimes you meet new people!

Monopolizing Connections

7/7/15, Day #188!  A very usual day filled with work, Little League, and a little family time.  But what I thought about a lot today is the fact that, Since Sunday, our kitchen table has been monopolized (wait for it) by a running Monopoly game between my daughters and our neighbor's daughter (from two houses down).  I love the connections this brings back for me, to marathon games with my friends and family and I love that they are using my old game, from my childhood.  Summer relaxation, with an old-fashioned board game - memories!

Umpiring Connections

In the evening of the 187th day, I found myself umpiring a Little League game.  On 7/6/15, I was invited to join three other Oaklyn umpires on a four "man" (one was a female) crew for an 11-12 district tournament game.  I love the connections I have forged with my fellow umpires in Oaklyn.  I love our inside jokes, and our witty repartee.....so glad I was encouraged to do this and looking forward to umping two more games this week!

Patriotic Connections

The Holiday weekend was capped off, on 7/5/15, by another fabulous day!  The 186th day was filled with family time again and was capped off by us gathering around to watch the US Women's Soccer Team's victory in the Women's World Cup.  And it was great to see people, in person, in the stands on TV, online, etc. gather together to support this team and connect with each other in its victory.  It was a great day for women's soccer, a great day for the country, and I am glad to have been able to experience with my daughters and watch them connect to how their positions on their team correspond to the players in this game.  It is connecting to tangible role models on TV that can help them connect to how they could also succeed in the same manner (yes, on a smaller stage but....).  GO USA!

July 4th Connections

Independence Day, 7/4/15, was, as usual, an excellent day.  As we almost always do, we started off the 185th day of 2015 with the Oaklyn July 4th Parade.  It is an amazing small-town affair and the parade is one of the many things I love about this town.  And we capped it off by watching the Collingswood Fireworks, from our front lawn, with family and friends.  This is what July 4th brings to my mind.  Connecting with the town in the AM parade, and connecting with family and friends at a BBQ and watching the fireworks.  All along appreciating those who fought and still serve to protect us at home and overseas, and those who serve and protect here at home.  A great day filled with community, friends, and neighbors - going to bed happy and content tonight!

Cousin Connections

The 184th day of 2015 was a relaxing one because, on 7/3/15, we had the day off and we had very little scheduled.  It was nice: we slept in, we hung out together, we got some errands done, it was nice.  But the neatest part of the day is when Alexa and Anna got to FaceTime with their CA cousins. Niels turned 13 yesterday, but with yesterday's schedule, we scheduled our FaceTime for tonight.  I, myself, loved my cousin connections (in fact I STILL love my cousin connections) and cousins are important to Sarah as well.  So, to see our kids connecting (isn't technology amazing?) with their cousins, 3,000 miles away was fun.  We see them (in the flesh) in less that a month, so these connections will only grow and develop more soon!  Can't wait!

Phireworks Connections

7/2/15 was the 1/2 way point in 2015.  At Noon on the 183rd day (so 182.5 days completed) we were halfway to 365.  And, after a day of work, snack stand setup, umping a Little League game, and waiting for Alexa's scrimmage to be over, we FINALLY made it to Phillies Fireworks.  We look forward to this show every year (it really is the best in Philly) and we love the connections it provides.  To Cathy who always sells tickets with me.  To Koob (and now Kristy as well) who almost always comes.  To Linda and Andrew, who are stalwart attendees.  And this year, Alexa's softball teammates came with us and we had a really great time.  Connecting to traditions, starting new ones, maybe, and a great fireworks show as well - life is good!

Dashboard Connections

HAPPY FISCAL NEW YEAR - 7/1/15 is Day #182 of 2015.  And, after the workday, I got home, relaxed a bit, and then had to go get Alexa from her piano lesson.  Looking down on the console of the van and what do I see?  An odometer in a palindromic state - and a song with my wife's (almost) name!  OK, so it's missing the 'H' at the end - but it was near in my mind.  All connecting together the things I love, numbers, my wife, music, and going to pick up my kid - sometimes it's the little things that make me smile!