266 Adjusting!

Adjusting!

The past five months have taught us many lessons, the least of which is the capacity to adjust.

Adjusting to a new normal – staying home to stay safe.

Adjusting to not seeing family so all of us can be safe.

Adjusting to wear a mask for several hours for my safety and others.

Adjusting to not visiting friends and taking part in events so everyone is safe.

Adjusting to a new life style of not eating out, cooking more at home, or ordering take-out, again to stay safe,

There are many more but I don’t want to belabor the point. We are all seeking ways to adjust to a life that may never go back to what we perceive as normal.

Recently, several situations have come to mind on how others are adjusting.

Online schooling is about to begin for many students–this cannot be taken lightly and must be done so our children learn as well as they do in person. It will take some creative solutions, and teachers and families are working hard to make it work.

Retailers are taking great precautions to get us in and out of stores with hand sanitizer, wipes, masks, and staying far apart.

I recently got an email from the Philadelphia Flower Show – an event I love which is held each March for nine days inside in a huge convention hall. This year’s event was completed just as the shutdown began.

Flower Show in 2016

The organizers and managers have been busy at work to salvage the show that has been in existence since 1829.

For 2021, it will be held outdoors and in the summer. No dates have been set yet but it makes a great deal of sense. "… we are moving the Flower Show to a new location at a new time of year in 2021,” says Sam Lemheney, Pennsylvania Horticulture Society chief of shows and events.

Given the monumental challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, PHS’s staff and board made an early decision to change the 2021 Flower Show’s look and the locale to offer a safe, breathtaking experience for all, according to phsonline.org.

Thank you so much. This is true adjusting to keep people safe!

Also, recently I was watching a Food Network show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives,” which really adjusted the show during the pandemic. The host Guy Fieri usually visits places all over the USA and other countries to find amazing dishes.

The show’s name was changed to “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Takeout,” for a few weeks. “Each episode features four chefs that Fieri has met in the past, who send him their full ingredient list for a chosen recipe and guide him through each step of the cooking process remotely so that he can cook up his own version of their special dish from home,” according to thewrap.com.

“Triple D has always been about hitting the road and celebrating the hard-working folks of the restaurant business. And while the restaurants are partially closed and the Camaro is parked, DDD: Takeout is here to show you how your favorite chefs are still cookin’ it up to keep people fed, support their communities, their families, and their employees,” Fieri said in announcing the new episodes.

It was just as interesting and exciting as his regular shows that take you to the actual location. The chefs were enthusiastic and added good-natured comments about the preparation while they watched. (A little ribbing—pun intended—but all in good fun.)

That is an amazing way to adjust and keep the show going and everyone safe! Hopefully, we all can be on the road soon so remotely will not be necessary.

Please add any adjusting tips you have noticed or have taken yourself. I am sure there will be many, many more as we enter into the sixth month of the pandemic.

Keep adjusting and stay safe!!

Savvy Fran                                            

265 Rain on the roof

 

Rain on the Roof

This rainy weekend has reminded me how much I love the sound of rain on the roof. Our house has a metal roof--the sound is so soothing to sleep by.

Every time I hear that rumbling murmur, I think about the scene in the film, W.C. Fields and Me. W.C. Fields was dying in a sanitorium. His friend, former lover, and future biographer Carlotta Monti, knows he longs for the sound of rain on the roof. The shot shows him passing away peacefully in his room as he listens to the rain. Then the camera pans to the outside where Carlotta is using a garden hose to create the "rain."

There are so many sounds of nature to enjoy:

• Wind in the trees
• Crickets in the grass (not in the house!)
• Listening to bird songs while trying to spot the birds
• The who-who-who of an owl
• The rat-a-tat-tat of a woodpecker (except on the house!)
• The rush and gurgle of a brook, a stream, a river
• A waterfall
• Waves crashing on the beach

A scientific study in 2017 found that people relax when hearing the sounds of nature, but not when exposed to artificial sounds. In true Savvy-Broad mode, I googled "sounds of nature" to look for studies such as this one. I did not pursue it through too many screens because the search was filled with sounds of nature that could be downloaded. Are nature sounds artificial if recorded?

I must confess that we turn on a sound machine every night that mimics the sound of running water. We had never used one until we contemplated taking our six-month-old Jack Russell, Tootsie to a motel! We were sure that every sound in the hall would have her awake and barking all night long. The machine really worked and blocked out the stray sounds. It still does--we turn it on and she knows it is bedtime!

I need to listen more when outside and, when not; there are always memories:

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

Last stanza: 

"The Lake Isle of Innisfree." William Butler Yeats

                                                                         Trish

264 At the White's House

This Week at the White's House

Hello, my friends. Nothing much of import happened at our house this week, but thought the title maybe catch your attention. [Just being my usual smart-aleck self!] 

Anyway, our week’s highlights: we do have a new motor on the attic exhaust fan, new tie rods on the truck, and some part for the Jeep that mixes fuel and air so that it runs smoothly--something to do with a throttle which I thought was only on antique cars.

So, we spent money, continue to isolate ourselves, and try to be patient with one another. One of the best ways for me not to bother dear husband is to play on the computer with my friend Google. Dear husband retreats to his “man cave” TV for old westerns and sports. 

I asked friend Google what the top queries were for the week. You all know that I love “top 10” type lists. Here is what I found out. [Excuse me for digressing for a moment – but Google can do all kinds of things with their lists: make recommendations for greater usage, tell you how many hits for individual searches v. major sites, etc., etc., etc. I wish I understood their algorithms. The internet world is just fascinating!] 

THE TOP TEN from Google
1.  Facebook. 151,500,000--(and “they” say it’s only for the middle age and older--I check mine about twice a week and rarely post anything) 

2.  youtube. 142,200,000--(I admit to listening to songs or checking for funny short clips)

3.  Amazon.  84,700,000--(yes, they have me hooked – from books to toilet paper to little gifts for the granddaughter)

4.  Gmail. 71,240,000--(yep, we have Gmail accounts!)

5.  Google.  63,840,000--(that’s a lot of questions and some of them are mine)

6.  Weather channels (as a group). 43,400,000 (looking at the temperature, humidity and following Isaias)

7.  Ebay.  41,010,000--(even if you’re not buying, it’s a great place to check values/prices)

8.  Yahoo.  39,170,000--(I didn’t realize Yahoo was still so popular)

9.  Walmart.  31,970,000--(if you didn’t find it on Amazon, I guess you try Walmart, plus they have the grocery shopping)

10. Yahoo mail.  31,880,000--(again, I am surprised--I looked and I have only one yahoo mail in my address book)
As I scrolled down among the following 40 searches of the top 50, I found some surprises – or, at least to me – surprises.

18.  news - (thought it would be higher)

20.  calculator

25.  maps

36.  twitter – (would have guessed it would have been higher)

46.  Donald Trump

48.  Roblox – (well, I didn’t even know what it was!) According to their website it is a game platform for amateur gamers to put their games on the internet. It is recommended for children 13 and up but apparently Roblox has had to add many parental controls because age 7 has become the popular starting age for kids to look for a new free game. I fear this is a little scary!

50.  Traductor – (since I don’t speak Spanish, I didn’t know this was the word for translate.) I looked at the site and it’s a really easy way to see the English equivalent of a word or phrase. There are many translation sites, but this one looks solid. It is sponsored by Merriam-Webster (now owned by Encyclopedia Britannica) and it also has pronunciations and little quizzes and a word of the day. AND, it is easy to use.

So, there you have it and I learned a couple of new things: Roblox and Traductor. Hmm--time well spent?? My pal Google and I are signing off to play a little online duplicate bridge.

Stay safe, my friends! 

Savvy, Glenne

263 Keep the mail coming!

Keep the mail coming!! 

Not the postal service, not the postal service!

This was my most recent reaction when attacks started blasting the U.S. Postal Service. Granted most of us don’t mail as many items as we used to since other services have taken some of the business.

BUT come on--don’t we all still send cards (sympathy, birthday, holiday), packages, and even a few bills. Sometimes, it is difficult to express emotions, such as sympathy in a text, tweet, or email.

In addition, the postal service is a large part of our history and means a great deal to many of us, growing up in the U.S., especially in rural areas.

Actually, the birthday of the system was celebrated this past month. The postal system was established on July 26,1775 by the Second Continental Congress with Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster, according to history.com. In 1789, there were about 75 post offices in the country and now that number is over 40,000. It doesn’t get any more real than that.

Nothing was more exciting as a youngster when a card came for a birthday (often with a few dollars in it) or a package with a magical unexpected present possibly from an order through the holiday catalog.

Of course, there are budget issues, but some services are so important we should be very careful to protect them. I don’t mind my tax money going for not only the post office but education and transportation (trains). Don’t tell me we can’t afford these basic services when there is always money for everything else but that’s another blog topic!!

Reflecting on growing up and how the post office affected our lives, I have to say it was a lifeblood for me. Actually, it was somewhat a rite of passage. The mail came twice a day back then, and we had to make the trip to the post office to check our box for any missives. In the upper elementary grades, I convinced my mom I was old enough to make the trek – a mile or less—twice a day to check the box.

This not only gave me a little freedom but also taught me some responsibility. I could take a younger sibling on occasion which added to my credibility. Plus, I got to see our mail first – not that it meant much to me, but I had to be so careful to get it home unscathed.

At one point, my grandfather owned the building where the post office was housed. I really took that personally and felt real ownership in the maintaining of the service.

Later, I really appreciated the lifeline the postal service provided as I took off for college. The letters were regular and often contained a few extra bucks to make it through the week. Those letters were really revered.

Then as many of my generation moved far away from home, letters again sustained us as long-distance calls were expensive. Packages again were a real treat whether expected or not and usually made my day on many occasions.

So please don’t dismiss the postal service--sure electronic methods help us to communicate quicker but there is still a purpose for the post. Yearly, 212 billion pieces of mail are delivered, according to history.com.

I still can’t wait each day for the mail to arrive especially during these days when we are confined to our homes, helping to stem the tide of the coronavirus. Often times, it may contain advertisements but a letter or card will often sneak in. I can also leave letters to be mailed which usually saves me time and is so convenient.

And don’t forget the packages brought to our door!! My ordering has increased tenfold since shopping became nonexistent during the shutdown so deliveries are now part of our daily routine. Even though there are delivery services not part of the post office, many of them use the post for the last leg of the package’s journey. 

I recently apologized to our postal carrier for the number of packages I had added recently that he had to deliver. He explained that was not a problem and that many of his customers have several packages delivered each day!

The most amazing delivery I had during this time was a dehumidifier at my front door within 24 hours. I still look forward to in-person shopping but for now, I rely on the postal service and other delivery services.

I did cut back on Christmas cards in the past few years, mainly because I had just grown tired of addressing them and felt guilty if I didn’t include a personal note with each one. I thought I would not receive them any more since I had not sent them, but guess what, we still get just as many. Some people still make the effort to send good wishes and take advantage of the post.

So please, hands off the postal service. For some people, it may be the only person they see on a regular basis, particularly during a pandemic.

I know my mom who lived by herself for 15 years after my dad died (definitely her choice), really enjoyed her mail person, who happened to be her nephew, in the last years of her life. She loved the daily delivery of mail with a great big smile and happy greeting.

Even though we complain how the prices for a stamp have increased, we must admit it is still a bargain. Remember the postal motto – “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” And they definitely live up to that saying.

Frances                    

262 Sentimental journey

A Sentimental Journey

I recently pulled out an old T-shirt to wear around the house and it took me on a sentimental journey.

More than 20 years ago, I took a trip with my Dad to investigate his (and my) family history. We flew to Wichita, Kansas, and then rented a car to take us to Sedan (see pronunciation below), which is located in south-central Kansas.

Our ultimate destination was Peru, Kansas (also has pronunciation below). 

The folks at the Chautauqua County Historical Society informed us that there were no motels or other lodgings available in Peru and that the motels in Sedan were not recommended either.  They referred us to a local family who had an apartment attached to their house that they rented by the week. I knew then that this was going to be an experience!

It turned out that the apartment was nice and the people in Sedan were even nicer! Sedan is the county seat but its population as of the last census was at 1,124.  The town's claim to fame is the Emmett Kelly Museum, located in the historic Sedan Opera House. Kelly grew up in Sedan. 

Sedan also has yellow brick road sidewalks. Dorothy, of course, was from Kansas, and Sedan isn't the only Kansas town to have a yellow brick road. The bricks are not a vibrant yellow anymore, but you can still buy a brick to have it placed on the 11,786 brick "road." The surrounding natural areas also draw tourists to Sedan that has some wonderful old storefronts with cute shops within.

So much for my chamber-of-commerce description of Sedan. We enjoyed it but ran out of restaurants and shops to try long before our week was over.

Peru in 1905 during the boom days

Peru is smaller (139 people in the 2010 census) although it was once a booming oil town. When we visited, it had not achieved its claim to fame: Madelyn Dunham, 1922-2008, the maternal grandmother of Barack Obama was born in Peru. She died shortly before he was elected.

My father being held his great-

grandfather, Samuel Druley.

The main thing we saw in Peru was the Peru Cemetery, where my father's mother, Esther Blanche Moore--the picture at the top--is buried. She died in 1928 when Dad was six years old. Also in the cemetery are his maternal grandparents and his paternal great-grandparents. Samuel Druley, his great-grandfather,  fought for Indiana in the Civil War. We had no one to ask to locate the graves but wanders around and eventually discovered the family area.

We visited the Peru church that my dad's grandparents had attended, and then we drove around town to see if we could locate his grandparents' house, but nothing seemed familiar to him. Funny thing, ten years later he and I drove around the Charlestown neighborhood where we had lived in the 1960s and could not locate the house!

Here is a picture of my dad, Fred
Moore, and me from a much earlier time!

We did find much good information back in Sedan in the county courthouse records and at the historical society offices--they had microfilm but no microfilm printers (that was tedious). It was a step back in time in more ways than one and I am so glad my Dad and I could share it!   Trish

                                                      

261 Becoming my mother!

A Touch of Humor--Or I ThinkI Am Becoming My Mother!!

Hi, dear readers--thought maybe we all use a little humor this week! Here’s a bit of background. Dear husband and I were binge-watching old TV shows one evening last week. 

We were both a little punchy and should have gone to bed an hour or two earlier. Inertia had set in--I think we were too tired to head upstairs. We started just laughing and making silly, inane remarks back to the tv. 

Then, daring man that he sometimes is, the dear man looked at me and said, “YOU SOUND JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER!” You can tell from this remark we have been married for at least “forever” or 43 years--whichever comes first--and Mom passed away at age 92 ten years ago. This should help you get the evening in perspective.

My mother was a fun person in many ways, but she was also of the “old school” that she got in the last word--NO MATTER WHAT! I fear that sometimes I do the same thing. I don’t even realize what I said 'til I hear myself say it. Then, I must admit, I do sound like my mother. So, apologies to all of you who think--but are too polite to say--just stop talking now! (or as is no longer polite or politically correct--“just shut up!”) 

Here, then, is my list of “momisms” that have somehow attached themselves to my “savvy” (yes, eye roll here) neurons!

• Don’t use that tone with me!
• I would NEVER have talked to my mother like that!
• Because I said so.
• Don’t sit that close to the tv--it will hurt your eyes.
• If you can stay out late on Saturday night, you can be ready for church on time on Sunday!
• Who told you that life was fair?
• Pretty is as pretty does.
• If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!
• Bless her heart!
• Jane, Mary, Lucy…which ever one you are?
• Nothing to do? I’ll find you something to do.
• Manners! Always use your manners.
• You’re barking up the wrong tree.
• Eat your breakfast--it’s the most important meal of the day!
• Clean your plate! Think of all the starving children in China.
• You’d lose your head if it weren’t attached.
• Who are their people? Who will be there?
• “I don’t know” is not an answer.
• Put your sweater on--I’m chilly.
• Get off the phone--now!
• I don’t care whether you like it or not--eat it.
• Rules are rules. They are not made for you to break them.
• Go to your room.
• Get your ducks in a row!
• Keep it up and you’ll be grounded till you’re 21.
• No, curfew is curfew--not a suggestion.

• Always wear clean underwear – you might get into an accident. [parenthetically, I got in trouble for this one upon retorting that if I am in an accident there is no way my underwear will be clean. Mom did NOT find this funny!]
• Turn it down! I said, “Turn it down.”
• I don’t care if Jane’s mother is going to let her do it. If Jane’s mother let her jump off the Empire State Building, should I let you do that, too?
• If you’re running away, I can help you pack.
• Running away, hum? Will you be back for dinner?
• Running away--don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
• Keep making that face and it will freeze like that!
• As long as you live under this roof, you will do as I say.
• Look at me when I’m talking to you!

Okay--I know--enough is enough. Once I got started making this list, I just kept hearing my mother’s voice in my head. Maybe it’s wine time!

Hope you recognized some of these sayings and enjoyed recalling your momisms! And--now--how many of them do you admit to using?

Stay safe, Savvy Glenne             

260 Surviving pandemic times

Surviving in a time of a pandemic 

It’s July and we are still held hostage by a pandemic. It came on fast but doesn’t want to leave quickly. Experts say it will be here for quite some time. Although some restrictions have lifted, the comfort level has been compromised.

So we can’t ignore it but must learn to live with it in the best way possible. Each day we come up with more survival techniques. The following are some tips we have learned to help us cope.

• Go to stores such as variety stores, drug stores, and dollar stores as soon as they open – 8 a.m. or sooner. It is less crowded and easier to navigate. You don’t have to put up with as many people who don’t wear masks and want to talk. My husband prefers going a little before closing time.

• Suit up--in mask and gloves and carry a shopping bag. Put items in your own bag while moving through the aisles. Then empty items on the counter and then repack your bag after items are scanned. I don’t know why I do this with a shopping bag but somehow it seems safer. Really whatever works for you.

• When you get home, leave purchases in front hall or similar area out of the way for at least 24 hours and wipe down after that and put them away. Don’t put them away until some time has passed.

• Grocery stores are trickier. We do mask and glove up but use a shopping cart that has been wiped down – again we don’t use store bags. We take items out to our vehicle and put them in boxes or bags we brought.

• We are also finding out we can buy basics at small stores and convenience stops so grocery trips are less frequent.

• Enjoying the outdoors is vital to survival. My daisies and daylilies are especially gorgeous this year as well as hydrangeas (I don’t have any but enjoy them in other yards.)

• Whatever outside space is available, make the most of it. Soak in the fresh air and enjoy the trees forming a natural shade.

• Solar lights add a nice dimension in the yard—really inexpensive but lots of enjoyment in the evening hours. 

• Ordering has taken on a new mission and has become critical. We even ordered a dehumidifier for the basement. Arrived promptly at the front door and works great.

• Also when toilet paper is available – buy it. Not sure why it is in short supply. Also buy paper towels, tissues, wipes, sanitizer whenever you see them. Be prepared!

My last blog was a poem and some of you encouraged me to write some more. So here it is--you asked for it and you got it. You may be sorry.

Pandemic

What a time
this has been.
Like no other
we have lived.

No visits, no trips--
Everything screeched to a halt
Everything paused.

Imagine Wolf Trap with no concerts,
The Kennedy Center
without “The Nutcracker,”
Broadway theaters
with no shows.

Ballfields
with no games.
Bleachers empty
of spectators.

U.S. citizens have even been
banned from traveling
to EU countries for now.

Warm weather was thought
to maybe slow or stop the spread
but it hasn’t.

Sometimes I forget
what was the norm.
Sometimes I am
shocked by where we are.

Some restrictions have been lifted
but we don’t always feel safe
going back.

Where will it end
no one knows
so be careful, stay safe,
and love your family and friends. 

                             Frances

259 Manipulated by color

I am fascinated by advertising and marketing--you may have noticed a few other blogs on the topic! In this time of home hibernation, I find myself watching a lot of television.

I have started watching the color in ads. One commercial that grabbed my attention used the colors in the products logo on many different items in the commercial--even the model's hair matched. Not sure that the ad was effective because I couldn't remember the name of the product but thought it was for psoriasis. 

You realize that for this blog topic, I am now going to see ads for psoriasis products all over FaceBook and everything else for who knows how long. Anyway is was for 

Notice the colors in the ad. I especially see this kind of repetition in drug ads. Are the colors there to help you remember the product. Although about 90+ percent of people buy products based upon their appearance, individuals are not pulling these prescription-only items off the shelf. They must ask their doctor to prescribe. So these colors must be an attempt to evoke positive emotions--enough to drive you to your physician?

There are lots of handy-dandy do-it-yourself guides to color marketing as well as a lot of scholarly research. Some graphics seem to repeat frequently. One site that has most and much useful information is https://coschedule.com/blog/color-psychology-marketing/

It seems that blue is the favorite color of both men and women. It suggests trust and reliability. This ad uses lighter blues because dark blues can signify stodginess. The yellow/orange hues suggest vibrancy and fun. Perhaps you get rid of psoriasis and have a fun and vibrant life! This particular commercial certainly suggests that.

Here is a color association chart from the above site:

Red is associated with action and excitement. All the experts suggested Action Buttons on webpages should have some red. Here how some famous logos use color emotions (from the same site):

As I was contemplating this blog, I noticed eharmony's logo. I also went to their page (more FaceBook ads for me!) and pulled some other graphics. How would you interpret their color message?

Hey, I'm just an amateur (this like interpreting dreams!), but I think their multi-color heart-shaped logo implies inclusiveness but also relies on warm colors, which most people prefer. And there is another blue background for trust and reliability. [An aside, did you know that Mark Zuckerman is red-green colorblind--perhaps why FaceBook has a blue background.] So not only is blue the color most preferred by men and women but is also friendly for the color-blind.

Another interesting fact about blue. Although men prefer it in higher numbers than women, they don't do much differentiation between shades of blue--think royal, cobalt, and all the other crayon box hues. My husband has three names for blue: Carolina blue (N.C. Tar Hills), Duke blue, and navy. No matter what blue it is--he labels it one of those three!

Green implies natural and organic, which may help a website seem less alien and therefore better? 

The action buttons go from red to yellow--Excitement to Fun! The buttons are on different sections of the page, and one has the blue background, which may be reassuring to one contemplating a free trial.  

So if you are in the TV doldrums, here is a great new game to play with commercials!

Color-Savvy Trish            

258 Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II – My Favorite Reality TV Star

A belated happy 94th birthday to the Queen! 

For the few weeks, I have been trying to figure out what it is about this woman that fascinates me. 

I am a fan of hers but as an American of a somewhat liberal ideology, I had to do some real soul-searching to come up with why I find her appealing. Maybe you’ll agree with my reasoning or maybe you’ll think that’s not “savvy broad” thinking!

First, we “baby boomers” grew up with fairy tales. Oh, Walt Disney – you ruined the lives of so many little girls who believed that a prince would come and all she had to do was be beautiful and survive a wicked stepmother. 

Earlier fairy tales than Disney show the stories as cautionary tales rather than love fantasies. Maybe we should go back to those: don’t hang out with wolves in the forest; don’t stick your head in the oven, and don’t creep in someone’s house--eat their food and sleep in their bed! But--wait! Two commoners just married British princes in the past few years. Is that living the fantasy?

Elizabeth was crowned in June of 1953. She arrived at the Westminster Abbey in the gold state coach pulled by eight grey horses (Cinderella?) And here’s where the reality TV comes in: The Coronation of 1953 was ground-breaking in its own right--the first ever to be televised--it was watched by 27 million people in the UK alone and millions more audiences around the world. [Royal.uk/coronation] (An aside--I still have my Coronation coloring book!) 

Second, Americans love their pop culture. Royals are celebrities. We love our sports greats, our scandals (think Kardashians), our singers and actors and comedians and talk show hosts. These are the people--who in large part--form our opinions.

Third, the Royal family is removed from the daily politics of Britain compared with American politics. It’s okay to compare Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, but that’s not really relevant to do so when the mission work and goodwill tours of the Royal family are factored in. If we must address politics--Great Britain is still America’s greatest ally. (my opinion) Don’t you wish you knew what they were saying?

Fourth, we watched the Queen and Prince Phillip and their family grow up. Elizabeth has been Queen for 60 years. If my math is correct--we can have eight presidents in that period of time. Princess Diana was 20 years old when she married Prince Charles and the world has watched their two boys grow up. 

Don’t you wish you knew 

what they were saying?

Now we are watching William and Harry’s children grow up. Even Camilla has not turned out to be so bad--I think she really loves Charles. And is there enough press about Kate and Meghan? I am not sure we can escape without some knowledge of what’s going on. Sadly, we know much more about their lives than that of the women Joe Biden may consider for a running mate.

Fifth, and finally--I find Queen Elizabeth to lead by example. She works long and hard to fulfill her commitment to her position. Part of the Coronation oath is a yes answer to this question: “Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?” (Royal.uk/coronation) She shows dignity and respect to all in her public life and she has learned to embrace change--Harry/Meghan decisions and her April Covid-19 speech are examples. 

Besides that--she has marvelous hats and she loves dogs! I would say she is a VERY SAVVY BROAD!

Stay safe--don’t give up the masks and gloves yet. 

Savvy? Broad! Glenne