Forwardthinkingdad

[forwardthinkingdad]

My son’s reaction …”Holy. crap ! It looks so real!”

[forwardthinkingdad]

Back to college or not?

So last week, a few colleges decided to stop floating the idea of living on campus this fall, and just committed to virtual classes. It makes perfect sense, but why did it take so long?

Academics serve us well in the classroom hidden away from the day to day ugliness outside of the ivory tower. Making decisions is difficult for most of us, but for academics, it’s brutal.

They pride themselves on…

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

Will colleges open in the fall?

After a year long process of standardized tests, college applications, visits,and arguments about which colleges to apply to; my son had narrowed his options down to about 4 schools. And then Covid19 hit.

Senior year and all the rituals leading to graduation were suddenly put on hold. Basketball playoffs over after 2 victories. Baseball tryouts over and so is the season. The big high school…

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

What seeps through… I hunkered down in a small waiting room chair in an older doctor's office. I gazed at another chair just like the one I was sitting in across the room.

[forwardthinkingdad]

Images that Inspire

While I never intended this blog to become an attic for my ideas, it has. As my sons became more engaged with the world and less within our little family of four, my interests shifted to other topics. Much to my surprise, I discovered I was inspired by images and by the culture I live in. So I wrote or reacted. But today, I extracted. I finally took the first steps to create 3 separate blogs.

For…

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

My mask? Where’s my mask!?

[forwardthinkingdad]

The penguin in real life

  http://pinterest.com/pin/A1PNdQAQwCYG7xJ5RmcAAAA/

Today my dad and I were in Home Depot and I asked for someone to help me find some things. This man looked about 65 and was wearing an orange apron like thing with cross straps on the back. As he walked to the bolts I needed to buy his legs did not bend. He was more waddling than walking and this reminded me of a penguin.

–4WRDTHNKNSON

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

Look into my eyes

[forwardthinkingdad]

Jump

[forwardthinkingdad]

Empathy may decide our next president

Getting tired of the quarantine. Can’t stand seeing trump and hearing his nonsense. In fact, it’s sad. People are dying from this virus in massive numbers, and he wants the focus to be on other numbers: the stock market and his ratings.

Think about that. All he has to do is demonstrate care for the suffering of others. Nothing more. Lead through empathy and compassion. But it’s clear, this is…

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

Litter Bugs Return During Corona Virus Seriously! You toss your nasty corona laced gloves in the parking lot of the grocery store? Who exactly do you think is going to pick it up?

[forwardthinkingdad]

Powerlessness? Ask most critics of AA or 12 step programs and they will object to the idea of any person being “powerless,” and then voice a problem with God.

[forwardthinkingdad]

Can’t create or initiate

I must check a screen every 5-10 minutes. Not that much changes. I can’t seem to create or initiate anything interesting. I probably spend more time wondering why I have no motivation than I spend doing anything. It’s not the virus. Maybe I’m just tapped out. Older. More settled. Afraid. Don’t see the purpose or joy that once came from creativity. It left me.

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

Please stop asking me to Zoom....

Please stop asking me to Zoom….

I don’t like virtual meetings. So stop asking me to join one or telling me how wonderful it is.

I don’t want to be dressed in a green St. Patrick’s day hat and sweater looking at extended family eating corn beef and cabbage up close. Should I tell Aunt Margaret, she has cabbage in her tooth? What about cousin Phil whose mouth is so close to the camera, I can smell his virtual bad breath. And…

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

If even one person is saved...

If even one person is saved…

How many times have we heard someone say if speaking up or doing something saves even one life, then it was worth it? But until today, I don’t think I really connected to these messages in a personal way.

This evening an epidemiologist told us that if we feel like we are doing nothing, lounging on the couch, watching screens, eating bad food, playing games, and wasting time; then we are…

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

Safe Six ?

Only a vowel separates safe six from safe sex. Think about it.

Going on our daily walk, I still find it weird to be playing “keep away” with the person walking towards us. It’s like I’m back in elementary school, trying to steer clear of the kid with cooties.

Today, there were three teenage boys clumped together like one big Covid-19. We had to decide whether to walk past them on the…

View On WordPress

[forwardthinkingdad]

Corona changes everything

Sweet photo of a couple of young kids with their arms around each other celebrating a swimming victory. A colleague wiping his nose during our online team meeting. Paying for groceries with my debit and then having to punch in the password. Suddenly I see all of these moments with a more discerning eye.

How can those swimmers stand so close? 6 feet- come on! Seriously don’t touch your nose, and…

View On WordPress