David Kroenlein, August 2020
Originally published last August, David Kroenlein’s essay has been visited 85 times and is one of the most frequently read on the 1960 Reunion Website. This is the second of the Top 20 Stories of 2020, which will be republished here this month.
We all have faced failed expectations in the last few months. The earliest, really poignant statement for me came from a just-turned-teenage granddaughter in mid-March: “They have taken away my teenager years.” In mid-June I realized that she was right, but in my case: “They have taken away my grandparent years.”
Looking back I realize how lucky Dorothy and I have been in coping with a much-restricted lifestyle.
The Down Side
A friend, younger and much healthier than we are, died in early March, before we knew the true nature of the disease.
An early hot spot in New Rochelle, NY was 10 minutes away from our home, prompting us to relocate to Virginia, a spot on the James River, with only overnight bags for “a few weeks” that turned out to be months away from our home of 50 years.
We have been away from our three Connecticut granddaughters for six months, when we were accustomed to being on duty with them at least two days each week. I spent more time with the youngest than I did with any of our children at her age.
Our Easter trip to visit our daughter and her family in California, with a stop off to visit our son in Colorado, was “delayed” for who knows how long.
Our tickets to concerts in NYC in the spring and fall were canceled. Dorothy’s three singing groups suspended all rehearsals and performances. Museums and zoos closed.
Our church went from vibrant in-person services and mission outreach to less than satisfactory virtual services and very limited mission work.
Our nine grandchildren coped, but with varying degrees of success, with virtual learning.
And the final blow? A male bluebird paid numerous visits to our bluebird house, fixing it up, and then bringing a female. They visited several times, popping in and out, and then decided our birdhouse did not measure up. Rejected!
The Up Side (So Many Positives)
Today’s technology enabled me to continue my administrative and legal support for our church, including helping to create the church’s reopening protocol, and to support the Service to the Armed Forces program of the American Red Cross.
We have seen fabulous full moons, rainbows and sunsets over the James River, and occasional dramatic lightning shows.
Our Virginia son and his family kept us safe and our spirits high on even the darkest of days, with weekly distanced visits from our 8-year-old twin grandsons, who entertained us with stories, games and antics, while we picnicked in our yard.
A fawn was born in the tall grass at the edge of the riverbank, and we saw its first wobbly steps while the doe dealt with an injured hind leg. We watched a mallard successfully raise eight ducklings, avoiding snapping turtles and other dangers.
The dock that had been damaged by fall storms was repaired in time for an unexpected visit from our California daughter and her family, with almost daily swimming, fishing and crabbing.
A great blue heron visited the dock regularly, christening it with a large splot in the dead center of the rebuilt dock before we went on it.
The bald eagle population is up in this area, giving us many great viewing opportunities as they fished.
Our Connecticut daughter watched after our New York home and Dorothy’s plants with regular visits and packed up everything that we did not bring to supplement our overnight bags, which our Brooklyn daughter delivered to us.
We cheered our Virginia son and daughter-in-law, their twin boys, our California daughter and her 8-year-old daughter, and our Brooklyn daughter as they completed a 31.4 mile bicycle trip (one of the twins insists on specificity).
We followed the success of our Virginia son and daughter-in-law as they navigated through the pandemic safely, growing their veterinary clinic business while observing all safety protocols and shepherding their sons through virtual learning.
And above all: our family is healthy.
So where am I sixty years after graduating from East High? Really tired of having to deal with the inconvenience and emotional stress of these times, but also realizing that this is the plight of all of us as we observe the protocols we must follow to keep our neighbors safe. So, no complaints from this quarter. We are learning to adapt our lifestyle to the reality of life and to continue attempts to help others who are not so fortunate. We are six months older, perhaps wiser and more reflective, and ready to move forward with our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren.
David Kroenlein, August 2020
David,
I’ve been meaning to tell you how much I enjoyed your post on our website. It was a delight to read how your experiences in Virginia have brought pleasure to you and your family. I read it to Nancy. She commented how well written it was with an impressively natural tone. Thank you.
Lately every week or so, we’ve seen a young fawn and doe in our woods. Seeing a fawn, as you did, take its first wobbly steps right after birth, though, would be a terrific moment for one’s memory bank.
I also want to thank you for the post about David Divoky. He certainly had a remarkable career.
Be safe and well.
Calvin