Best President Ever

When I had my two years as president of the Barcroft School and Civic League (BSCL), it seemed like a very easy gig.  Partly, this is because I was not looking for ways to make a positive difference if it meant some work for me, but mostly it was due to there not being any major disruptions or problems in the neighborhood.  After turning over the reins to my excellent VP, everything looked fine for a few months, and then Covid hit.  The new president decided this was not a job he had time to do, and the neighbor he cajoled into being his VP declined to do anything in either role.  We had no more Community House meetings, or meetings of any sort for the remainder of that term of office (through May 2020).  Randy, the BSCL's #2 volunteer (his wife Barbara is #1) and BSCL eminence grise, was more desperate than usual as he searched for someone willing to be the following year's president (with the understanding that they'd stand for a second one year term but no more).  Deborah may have been his first call.  She was hesitant, but I encouraged her, and sweetened the pot by saying I'd be recording secretary (another elected position), thus relieving her of any obligation to take notes or write up minutes.  (BSCL had been without a reliable recording secretary for several years; I usually wrote and distributed the meeting notes myself when president.)

Before our first meeting of her term (one year ago), she'd engineered the setting up of Zoom-based BSCL membership meetings so we could resume them (we hadn't had one for eight or nine months).  She's had to deal with some difficult personalities to get significant things done (details withheld to protect the innocent, as they said on Dragnet).  When you run an all-volunteer organization, you gratefully accept whatever people are willing to do, and we have great volunteers, though some of them have some quirks.  

 

The President at her Desk

Deborah has run the meetings well and is working hard to chart our course through this Covid hellscape.  The biggest issue is when (if ever) we can reopen the Community House (CH) for rentals.  People used to have parties, classes, even weddings in the picturesque old schoolhouse/church owned and maintained by the BSCL.  You can imagine how difficult this decision is, and it's complicated by the fact that the volunteers who take the lead in renting and maintaining the CH have health issues that make them more vulnerable to Covid.  (In general, the volunteers are a fairly geriatric bunch.)  But we're in good hands with Deborah, and if anyone can navigate this treacherous channel, it's she.

The Barcroft Community House

Spoiled on My Birthday

Once again, Deborah (and the rest of the family) has made more of my birthday than I merit, turning it into a weeklong festival.  Covid plays a role, since we're keeping gatherings short, and that apparently means multiple parties.  Nobody throws classier parties than Deborah.

The long periods between posts in this blog, needless to say, are attributable to my sloth.  Deborah has been continuously wonderful, and I have been duly appreciative, though not in ways that involve me doing much.

We'll be getting the Covid vaccine in two days, which is in time for us to drive to Emerald Isle for a short getaway by the end of March.  Deborah reserved a place hoping that we could have a family retreat after the long winter, and it looks to have been a very good plan.

A few pix from the last few months:

We Have Fun

 Deborah and I have some shared interests that we both get enjoyment from.  We've played bridge for decades, but only recently rejoined the ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) to play in duplicate games.  Not every couple can do this successfully.  Every player makes mistakes, sometimes repeatedly, and their partner may become annoyed.  But with a good attitude and a sincere effort to improve, we've both gotten better and regularly win master points (the measure of bridge success) when we compete.  Below is one of the hands we did best on yesterday.  Deborah leaped to a slam no other pair found, and I played the spots off the cards to make all 13 tricks.  The other pairs were only in four spades, and no one made more than six.

I actually prefer playing online.  The ACBL uses Bridge Base as its official platform, and it works beautifully.  An added feature of online play is that the hands are played simultaneously and results are posted as we play.  We can also see what the other pairs bid and how they played after the hands have been posted.  Pre-pandemic, we were in three monthly casual bridge groups; that's off for now.  But we play a club game most weeks.  We're currently on about 17 master points, which is not impressive.  Life Master is, I think, 300.  

We both like the outdoors.  Deborah is keen on hiking, whereas I am more the leisurely walk in the woods type.  I'm the more avid kayaker, but Deborah has really taken to it.  We can't bike together anymore because my recumbent is just too slow for me to keep up with her.

We can usually find TV we can agree to watch together, though often we'll watch stuff the other has no interest in.  We used to see the occasional play before Covid.  There's always something we can look forward to doing together.  It's a good feeling.

More Civics

 

Nothing to do with the post, but isn't she cute?

Deborah was every inch the neighborhood leader presiding at her first Barcroft School and Civic League meeting.  She has them on Zoom, a wise decision, and it went very well, thanks largely to the vice president (Daniel Weir) who handled the technical aspects.  She's on the board of Tree Stewards and participated in that remotely as well.  She's also taking calls for six to nine hours a week from people all over Virginia to help them find out how to cast their ballot this election, and has delivered Democratic literature.  (I've watched some old movies, so are we even?)  Below is Deborah's desk, where the meeting and call magic happens.  She likes the view--she can keep tabs on her bird feeder.

Civics Lesson

I have to share Deborah with more than just friends and family.  She is engaged with our community in many meritorious ways, and has been for a long time.  She was active in the PTA at our local elementary school.  For many years, she's represented our community (Barcroft) in Arlington County's Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee, which proposes and prioritizes local projects.  She's shepherded at least two of these through the process, and Barcroft has improved access to the W&OD bike trail and park, and sidewalk and other improvements, because of her efforts.  For years, she has gotten up at 4:20 AM one day a week to prepare breakfast for the homeless at Miriam's Kitchen.  She's been active in politics, working for many progressive candidates.  She's active in Tree Stewards, which does physical work (pruning, removing invasive vines, measuring and recording, etc.) and advocacy to promote a healthier tree canopy in Arlington.  And she's just started her first term as President of the Barcroft School and Civic League.  I'm very proud of her and know there are hundreds of people whose lives are better because Deborah cares.

40

Today is our 40th wedding anniversary.  I'm filled with gratitude for having had the opportunity to share so much of my life with Deborah.  The undeserved happiness it's given me, which a religious person might say was akin to the workings of divine grace, needed some spectacularly good fortune and some very amply rewarded work.  First, we had to meet, and at the right time.  We had to be willing and able to put up with each other's idiosyncrasies.  We had to make compromises, and changes, and commitments.  On a foundation of mutual respect and admiration, we built a mansion of many rooms, all filled with treasured memories.  No hurricane or earthquake in the form of a health or other personal tragedy has interrupted this construction project, and no such disaster could truly destroy what we had together.  Our greatest joys are our daughters, who (hey, kids, back me up here) have seen what Deborah and I mean to each other.  And every day occasions new revelations of how wonderful my dear wife is, so we're still making additions to that mansion.  (Next year, a glass house?)  Thank you, darling.  May we have many more anniversaries, and may they all be as joyous as this one.

The Friends and Family Plan

They say that to have friends, you have to be a friend.  Deborah has lots of friends.  Good friends, great people.  Old friends, new friends.  There are parents of kids our kids went to school with.  People Deborah went to school with.  Ex-coworkers.  Ex-neighbors.  Current neighbors.  Book club pals.  Exercise class pals.  Now they're all friends Deborah keeps up with.  It's no effort for her because she loves these people.  From what I can tell, they love her too.

She didn't choose her family (though I suppose I was a choice) as she chose her friends, but I know she loves us too.  She takes after her mother in this.  I don't know anyone who is more selflessly devoted to her kids than Esther, or who makes more of an effort (successful) to stay close to them.  It's a different model than my family followed; we didn't speak for many weeks at a time even when my parents were alive, and now I see my sister who lives a few hours away maybe once or twice a year, and talk to her maybe once every six weeks.  But we have better communication (thanks to Deborah) with Esther, Janet, David, Julia, Audrey, and our new additions Tom, Ros, and Keith, and it's great.

These relationships enrich us all.  I'm kind of along for the ride, and what a ride.  Thanks!