My Week that Was - August 5

JFK Pres. Library & Museum

The week started in Boston.  Our oldest son, Matt, and I flew out Thursday afternoon to watch a pair of Brewer games and see some of the sights.

The trip was centered around games Friday night and late Saturday afternoon, so our time for sightseeing was limited to Friday and Saturday morning.  You'll read about those visits in upcoming blogs.  

The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum was less than a mile from our hotel.  We had tickets allowing us in at 10:30 Saturday morning, as the library continued Covid-19 protocols designed to socially distance guests.

After the tour we ate lunch in the JFK Cafe.  It was quite good and the least expensive meal of the trip.  When we finished we had an hour before heading to the game.

As we walked along the Boston Harbor we talked about the low water level, wondering if it was low tide.  In my morning walks I saw seagulls picking crabs from the mud flats and dropping shellfish onto rocks to crack the shells so they could gobble up the clams.

When we left the museum more than two hours later, it was high tide.  It appeared 10 - 15 feet higher than earlier. A spot where I saw a woman picking shells in the morning fifty-feet offshore with water below her knees would have been underwater a few hours later.

We flew Jet Blue back to Minneapolis.

 Sunday morning we took the 6 am hotel shuttle to the airport.  It was busy with hundreds of people lined up to check their bags in the C Terminal of Logan airport.  

 We had carry-on luggage, so we made our way through security.  Twenty-five minutes later we cleared that with enough time for a bite to eat and then wait to board the Airbus 300 jet.

 It was the first time either of us had flown Jet Blue.  It was wonderful.  The seats were wider with more leg room than the Delta flight that brought us to Boston.  It also had live TV on seat back televisions.

As I finished reading Rocket Men by Robert Kurson I watched the Formula One race, finishing both before we pulled into the gate in Minneapolis.  By the way, the book is an interesting account of Apollo 8, I recommend it.

We drove back to Matt's home where I got in my car for the rest of the trip home.  Thankfully, I took Monday off to rest up and catch up on things around the house and edit the 300+ photos I took in Boston.

Tuesday, I went back to work.  While I had emails to clear and reply to, it wasn't a huge job, I managed to get up to date in less than 20 minutes.  Wednesday, the second donor newsletter was delivered by the printer, I organized the envelopes then delivered on Thursday.

Thursday morning included administrative updates, delivering the newsletters, and meeting a new employee donor.  In the afternoon it was time to give rides to residents in memory care who wanted to get outside.  Thankfully, it was significantly cooler and less humid than Wednesday.

If you are reading this August 6... it's my tenth anniversary with Oakwood Village (I like to call it a work-a-versary).  The only place I worked longer was Aid Association for Lutherans (A.A.L.)/Thrivent Financial for 11 years, three months.  

I enjoy what I do.  I like the people I work with and appreciate and value the relationships with residents and donors.  It has been a good fit and I'm blessed to call Oakwood Village my work home.

This is my 19th year in fundraising.  It was never on my radar until a planned giving counselor worked with one of my insurance clients and suggested I consider development.  I've thanked him before, but it's worth thanking Ron Smith one more time for the suggestion, advice, and encouragement.

Have a great week!