Last week my phone rang showing a number I did not recognize. I answered it anyway because you know, sometimes you just do. The conversation went something like this:

When we walked in, I could hardly believe it - In attendance was the entire Chanukah gang – Sharon/David/Hannah/and Leo.  I sat quietly and waited.
 
The meeting was called to order by the Chairwoman, Sharon.
 
She said a quick hello and reminded everyone this was to be a short meeting, so no refreshments. Then, she asked each board member to introduce themselves. She started:

​Sharon opened the meeting by reviewing the last year’s discussion regarding the proper spelling of the word ‘Chanukah’- whether with a C or an H and if there are double k’s. She announced it was decided that it makes no difference how you spell the name of the holiday as long as it brings people together to celebrate! 
 
​Then she continued: “Today’s topic, presented by The Mensch on a Bench,” is  

​And so, Moshe began:

​Even though the group looked at him suspiciously, he continued:

​Then he sat down.

Loretta​
*Mensch: (Yiddish) a person of integrity and dignity, with a sense of what is right and responsible.

Can we talk? I think it’s time we discussed the proliferation of video conferencing tools – read that as Zoom and FaceTime. I’ve been using FaceTime for quite a while to catch up with friends and call my grandkids in other states. 
​
But, I have to admit something. Lately, I’ve become a little more self-conscious. One time after dialing in on FaceTime and waiting for an answer, my husband caught me studying the screen, trying to rearrange my wrinkles and tilt my head so my neck looked smoother.

“Whoa! Why are you making faces at the screen?” he asked. I shrugged innocently and stared back at the phone, hoping someone would answer before he would figure it out. 

Too late.
​
“You know,” he laughed, “I think FaceTime was invented by plastic surgeons! ‘Let’s see... we could tighten here and tuck there… Should work fine!’” He shook his head and walked away smiling. Of course. I couldn’t help it. It’s just that until someone answers the phone, all I see is a closeup of… ME!  ​

And now... in the midst of the social-distancing edict with the Coronavirus, I suddenly find myself Zooming and Face-Timing more than ever! (I’ve even made them into verbs). We have to connect – whether for work or family and friends, and so I often find myself saying, “Who is that person in the picture with the dark roots and the sagging jowls?”
​
​(Actually, I’m beginning to favor that multi-participant Zoom meeting when the picture is so small you can hardly recognize who it is, much less notice the roots and count the wrinkles.) 

​Oh, wait! I’ve just found the command on Zoom that if you click on the down arrow next to the little video camera icon, there is a box called ‘touch up my appearance’

Needless to say, I just tried it. Huh? Was there a difference? I’m waiting to see Angelina Jolie, and to me I look exactly like I did before I pressed the button! Hold on… I know, I’ll ‘unclick’ and go back and try it again (You know these quirky computers).
​
Nope – me, again. Oh well, I’ve decided to like me.  

​After all, at least once my grandkids answer, I’m reminded that they don’t see wrinkles;  they just see their loving Grammie, and I get to see a window into their lives in that moment. It often looks something like this:

There was quite a buzz a couple of years ago at The Nashville Antique and Garden Show. It had to do with creative thinking!

I share it with you because these are the kinds of things you should be asking your kids.

Then hand it to your child for his turn and pass it around to all who are there. (Yes, adults can have fun with this, too.) There are no real wrong answers – just some that are more creative.

Someone may simply say, “It’s a stick!”  You can accept it but encourage broader thinking next time as you play. Soon everyone gets into it.

You take it and say, “A cane!”  and pretend you walk slowly and need the help of a walking stick.

Next time, your child might say, “A sword,” and swing it around like Darth Vader!
Continue back and forth for a few minutes and watch the creative ideas flow. It’s exciting! It’s fun! And it will give you a little insight into your child’s spatial imagination.
Try to always be aware of the things around you. Talk about them with your kids. And then, put them to a different use!

What usually happens with me now is that out of nowhere my grand kids will look at me with a twinkle and a smile as they pick up something and say, ​“What is it?”

​~Loretta~