The scavenger hunt had to be completed by the end of June. There were about 60 challenges, but roughly half of them were questions that could be answered or videos and photos that could be taken from home.

However, the other half required traveling to locations all over the state where historic taverns once stood, or in some cases, still stand. To complete these challenges required taking a selfie or a video, scanning a QR Code, or confirming you were there with GPS.

I didn’t really expect to get into this scavenger hunt, but once I started answering some of the questions at home, I was hooked. I guess it appealed to my need to continuously learn new things. And then the yearning for adventure kicked in when I read the locational challenges.

Being the planner that I am, I started planning out the days that I could work on the scavenger hunt and the routes that I would take. The first one was a Sunday trip with my husband to Easton, Sturbridge, Spencer, Worcester, Sudbury, Weymouth and Braintree. Breakfast and lunch were even worked into the schedule. I knew that would keep hubby interested. We stopped for breakfast at a cute little café in Easton. Lunch was at the historic Wayside Inn. How could we go there to take a video and not eat there?

One weekday when I had to run some errands, I tackled the closer to home stops in Sandwich, Barnstable and Wareham.

On another occasion, I had to go to the North Shore to meet with one of my web design clients, so I took that opportunity to complete the challenges in Peabody, Newburyport, Reading, and Wilmington.

As I completed challenges and moved up the leader board, I was inspired to continue my quest, now determined to accomplish every last one.

So, the second weekend day was planned with Roger. This time we left for Boston early in the morning to avoid possible traffic from the soccer tournament and watch parties. The first stop was in Hingham. Then there were three locations in Boston proper and one in Charlestown. From there, we headed to Arlington, Lexington (where there were two stops), Concord, and then back toward the south shore with stops in Weston and Canton. For this trip, we brought homemade zucchini muffins with us for breakfast, and had lunch in Canton after our mission was completed. We were done much earlier than we had anticipated, so we even had time to stop for ice cream at FarFar’s in Duxbury.

In Lexington, I had to take a selfie from the town green with the Buckman Tavern in the background. It’s now a museum, which happened to be open. One of the non-location related challenges was to take a selfie holding a pewter mug, which I had not been able to find. So, I went into the museum and asked if they had a pewter mug that I could borrow to take a selfie. They did, of course. I told them why I needed it. One of the women who was working there chimed in that her friend created the scavenger hunt! She texted her friend the photo that I took. What an incredible coincidence that was!

The scavenger hunt was monitored by an admin, who approved or rejected each completed challenge. Each one also had a “maximum” number of point that you could earn, meaning that points could be deducted for reasons unknown to me. But it did mean that the likelihood of the contest ending in a tie was low, even if more than one person completed every challenge.

Having said that, we returned home from this second trip, only to discover that one of my selfies in Boston had been rejected. A lot of these challenges required some additional research, and in this case, I had not looked far enough and had not located the exact spot of the marker that I was supposed to get a selfie with. Would I bother venturing into Boston again just for that? I wasn’t sure.

However, I still wanted to see if I could complete the scavenger hunt. So, trip #3 was planned, this time to the western part of the state. I set up a loop that started with Westfield, then to Stockbridge, Pittsfield, Williamstown, Greenfield, Deerfield, and Goshen. We stopped for lunch/dinner at the Whately Diner on our way to Greenfield.

In Deerfield, we had to find four spots tracked by GPS. This was worth twice as many points as most of the other challenges.

The first spot was the Memorial Hall Museum itself, where we had to find the original license for a tavern that was once located there. While there, I got to meet Lindsay, who turned out to be the admin for the scavenger hunt.

Finally, I had completed every challenge – except the one had been rejected. How could I go through all of this and not get that last one? I couldn’t. So back we went to Boston early on a Sunday morning to get the correct photo of the marker, where the Bunches of Grapes Tavern had once stood, with the old State House in the background. I bribed Roger to go by promising to take him to Kane’s Donuts in Saugus afterward.

The adventure was complete, and I was in second place, only one point behind the winner. It was so much fun. I gained some new perspective on how the colonists conducted business and formulated plans to separate from the King. It was well worth every minute. We plan to visit Deerfield again soon and hope to see the museum’s special exhibit, Brewing Massachusetts: How Beer Shaped the Bay State.

Watch the Brewing the Revolution Video

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Normally, I don’t really like to shop. So having a blast visiting 19 shops and restaurants was a bit unexpected!

When I do shop, I really like to support local businesses as much as possible. So the Country Roads Tour in North Central Massachusetts was the perfect excuse to do some Christmas shopping and give some great local shops the attention they deserve.

We had one weekend to get it all done.  Our friends at Plain View Farm were kind enough to let us stay at their alpaca farm. Since they are one of the stops on the tour, it was the perfect starting point. We had just about every minute planned so that we could get from one stop to the next, film and shop at each location, and head back to the south shore before it got too late on Sunday afternoon.

Our schedule worked perfectly, except for some little hiccups when we couldn’t get GPS. Note to self, when traveling country roads, bring a good old fashioned map!

A big bonus for this trip was that Templeton Community Television sent three wonderful videographers to film for us the entire weekend, and then they edited the two-part show! See Part One Here!

The biggest surprise for us was that each stop was completely unique. From an “antique” store that was so much more, to an apple farm; a maple sugar shack to a handmade leather shop.  A dairy farm with their own cheeses to a country store with the biggest cinnamon rolls we had ever seen. There was something for everyone.

So here are some details of what we found on our tour.

Plain View Farm, 130 Gardner Road (Rt. 68), Hubbardston, 774-258-1194
A beautiful little shop filled with mittens, hats, slippers, sweaters, and other alpaca items, stuffed animals, etc. Pet the alpacas and llamas.  They are super sweet.

A Thyme and a Place, 52 Gardner Road, Hubbardston, 978-928-1300
Many unique gift items, tons of really fund signs, some with a little sarcastic sense of humor. Great Christmas decorations. Don’t miss the shed outside.

Giacomo’s Gourmet Foods, 32 Main St, Hubbardston, 978-820-1353
Catering and prepared foods, fresh bread and baked goods. Some gift items such as handmade gloves, spice blends, and other gourmet items. Specializing in amazing comfort food.

Dandelions, 34 Fruitland Road, Barre | 978-257-8064
This is a beautiful little shop with lots of handmade jewelry, personal items, hand painted glassware, pottery and other treasures.

Sheldon Farm Baskets, 587 Sheldon Road, Barre, 978-355-6832
Beautiful hand made baskets of all shapes and sizes, some hand made boxes, and hand made soaps and beeswax ornaments.

Hartman’s Herb Farm B & B, 1026 Old Dana Road, Barre, 978-355-2015
This is not a spot that you would run across unless you were given the address.  It’s truly on a small country road, but what a great spot.  They are an event venue as well, with a chapel and a hall for weddings and other events. Their shop includes all kinds of herbs and dried flowers, many grown on the grounds.  They specialize in beautiful wreaths for all occasions, not just Christmas.

Petersham Leathers, 202 Popple Camp Road, Petersham, 978-724-3541
Owner Sylvia Brown has been working with leather from a very young age.  Her purses, clothing and other items are just beautiful.

Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave, Phillipston, 978-249-6763
With a farm stand, orchard, outdoor barbecue pit, animals, and a brewery, this place has it all. Well-known for their cider donuts.

Valcourt Sugar Shack, 67 New Salem Road, Petersham, 508-479-6635
This is a small roadside shack next to their sugar house. With 1,000 trees being tapped each year, there’s plenty of great maple syrup.  They also make some beautiful Christmas wreaths.

Petersham Art Center, 8 North Street, Petersham, 978-724-3415
There are so many talented artists whose work is on display and for sale here, it’s impossible to list them all. You must stop by to see everything they have to offer, and don’t forget to check out the classes.

The Country Store, 2 North Main St., Petersham, 978-724-0000
Josie just bought the store a few short months ago and she looks right at home.  Maybe because she has worked there for years. Like most country stores, there’s a little of everything.  But she has a great coffee corner with excellent coffee and cinnamon rolls as big as  your head. The small kitchen turns out great breakfasts, sandwiches, soups and baked goods. There ‘s a cozy back room with a wood stove. It’s a quiet spot to have lunch or read a book with a great section of children’s toys.

Back in Thyme Antiques, 58 Rice Road, Templeton, 508-733-4600
Not your average antique shop, by any stretch.  Many hand made or hand painted items, restored furniture, decorations, from floor to ceiling!

Smith’s Country Cheese, 20 Otter River Road, Winchendon, 978-939-5738
The cheese produced at Smith’s Country Cheese is outstanding. The store is fun, with all kinds of items that go well with cheese, but also some other items, many from local artisans.

The Kitchen Garden, 268 Baldwinville Rd., Templeton, 978-939-8558
Known for their Finnish Coffee Bread, they have many items from Finland and other Scandinavian countries, some local products, both food and gift items, and a wonderful bakery.

Country Bumpkin’ Antiques, 36 Baldwinville Rd., Templeton, 978-652-5429
We could have spent half a day here a probably not see everything.  Two huge floors of antiques, Christmas decorations, and even a plant room! They literally have everything but the kitchen sink!

KRO’s on the Common, 10 Baldwinville Rd., Templeton, 978-652-5780
This delightful breakfast and lunch spot has wonderful food and a great atmosphere. Marcia was very impressed with the Vegetable Eggs Benedict, as was I with the Ham and Cheese Stuffed French Toast. Yum!

Valley View Farm, 179 Barre Road, Templeton, 978-939-1066
This is a local butchery. They have the biggest ham steaks I’ve ever seen!  But they also make prepared foods in the their kitchen, such as pot pies, steak teriyaki, baked beans, chocolate peanut butter bacon, and more.  Also some items such as jams and jellies from local vendors.

Valley Florist, 1Valley Drive (Rt. 101) Templeton | 978-632-2950
Very cute floral shop with some wonderful Christmas decorations. They make wreaths and kissing balls! But a great place to visit during the spring and summer when the greenhouse is open.

The Good Earth, 633 West Broadway (Route 2A), Gardner, 978-632-0991
This is a garden and feed store with a twist.  They have some really unique hand made gift items.  There was an entire room devoted to Christmas with a popcorn maker, an oil tank dressed up as a train, and a place to sit for a photo op.

The Country Tour goes through December 10, 2023 but don’t let that stop you from visiting one of these great places any time!

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It started when Oliver Ames opened a blacksmith shop. He made tools, including many different types of shovels, and then created the Ames Shovel and Tool Company in 1803.  This resulted in Easton getting the nickname of “Shovel town”! There is now a collection of Ames’ shovels located in the archives at Stonehill College in Easton. We had a chance to see the collection on our tour of the town.

Oliver’s brother, Oakes Ames was a Congressman during the Lincoln administration. The two were heavily involved in the development of the transcontinental railroad.

There were other manufacturing companies in Easton, but the Ames family seem to have had the most lasting impact on the town.

What struck us was the number of beautiful brick buildings, many of which were built by members of the Ames family.  The Quessett House, the Ames Free Library, and the Ames Mansion were just a few of the gems left behind by the Ames family. The famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed many of the buildings.  Richardson worked with Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed the landscaping around some of them. Easton is lucky to have such a distinguished architectural history.

If you are able to visit Easton, be sure not to miss the following:

• Historical Society Museum & Railroad Station, 80 Mechanic Street
• Quessett House, 51 Main Street
• Ames Free Library, 53 Main Street
• The Ames Estate, 35 Oliver Street
• Stone Hill College, and the shovel museum, Rt. 123
• Ames Mansion in Borderland State Park, 257 Massapoag Avenue
• Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, 3 Barrows Street

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The River Rat Race started as a bet between several patrons at a bar in Athol. This year was the 58th annual race. Run by the Athol and Orange Lions Clubs, it’s an annual event that brings large crowds to the area, including professional paddlers. The course is said to be 5.2 miles in length down the Millers River.

The Challenge

For two grannies who haven’t paddled for years, needless to say, this was an intimidating task. But we were encouraged, advised and helped by many people. And we were up for the challenge! We started by practicing on the pond behind Beth’s house in her canoe a couple of times. It certainly didn’t duplicate the environment of the river, with its fast-moving current and 200 other canoers all trying to win the race, but at least we got to practice paddling and warm up those muscles.

Our strategy was to “hang back” and let the more competitive paddlers go ahead of us.  The goal was to NOT get dumped in the icy cold water. The sun was out that day but the air temperature was only about 54 degrees, and the water was much colder than that! We wanted to finish dry, not win the race!

A drawing was held the night before the race to determine each canoe’s starting place. There were 178 canoes entered this year. We were hoping for a high number, but knew we wanted to stay toward the back even if we got a low number. Luckily we ended up with #142, so that was a good start. At the drawing, we met a lot of very nice people who promised not to try to dump us over! It does happen accidentally when one canoe is trying to pass another one, so we wanted to avoid that. But when people discovered that we weren’t very experienced paddlers, the looks they gave made us feel that we might be in trouble! Then they would quickly try to assure us that we would be fine.  Oh, great!

River Rat Race Day

Race day started with a pancake breakfast at the Masonic Lodge, a 5k, and a parade.  Like we said, this race is a big deal. We decided to drive the granny-mobile in the parade, which was organized by the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce. Many people along the parade route seemed to have either seen our Facebook posts or the article in the Athol Times and wished us luck in the race as we drove by. That was fun!

After the parade, we went over to Athol-Orange Community TV.  They had offered to let us change there. Marcia had brought a wet suit to wear for the race.  She wasn’t taking any chances! We then drove to the finish line at Billy Goat Boats, where our photographer, Jasmine Nelson and her boyfriend picked us up and drove us to the Alan E. Rich Environmental Park, where the race begins. Billy Goat Boats loaned us one of their canoes, which we were so grateful to have! Pam Browning Balla, a paddler from Athol, brought the canoe to the park for us.

There were staging areas along the river where the paddlers put in, depending on the starting number they had drawn the night before. But for those who didn’t care to get into the fray, it was ok to stay on dry land until the canon went off.  That’s what we chose to do.

Finally the canon sounded, and the frenzy began! Almost 200 canoes frantically paddling down the river, with hundreds of bystanders watching from the shores as well as the bridge just passed the starting line. Once most of them had gone by, we carefully pushed the canoe into the water and jumped in. There was a canoe right next to us, which unfortunately tipped over before they even got started. They almost took us with them when their canoe popped up and hit ours, but we held on!

Are We Still Going the Right Way?

It was a beautiful day. The sun was bright. The water seemed pretty calm at first, and not much of a breeze.  That changed as we continued down the river. Some spots were a bit choppy and the wind tried to turn us around on several occasions, but we prevailed! We weren’t the last canoe at the beginning, but pretty close.  One canoe in particular seemed a bit out of control and we kept trying to avoid it because it would get pretty close to us and then turn around. But eventually it went ahead of us, bobbing and weaving its way down the river.

We thought we were really doing well, until we realized that we could no longer see anyone ahead of us, and no one behind us! And that’s the way we finished – dead last! The good news is that we did the entire race in 1 hour and 35 minutes, which even the race officials said was really good time.  They told us of times when they had to wait 3-4 hours for the last racers to come in.  That made us feel much better.

It’s About Having Fun!

In the end, we had loads of fun, seeing and hearing all the people along the way cheering the paddlers on, and just enjoying a day of paddling on a beautiful river. Reaching the finish line felt like a great accomplishment.

It may sound trite, but if we can do it, anyone can!

We are so thankful for the many people who helped us participate in the race, and also for the many people who made the race happen.  It really takes a village.

Stay tuned for the Rat Race show!

Two Grannies in the River Rat Race make the news

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When I first started Two Grannies on the Road, the idea was to travel across the U.S. That is still a goal. But circumstances were such that it hasn’t happened yet, at least to the degree that I would have liked. But after much thought, I realized that even going to nearby towns to explore their history, culture, landscape and food fulfilled my desire for learning new things, meeting new people, and trying new things. So what if I only traveled two hours, or even thirty minutes, away?

What’s funny is that we discover things that people who live in the town that we’re exploring didn’t even know about! That’s really fun.

Making the decision to visit every city and town right here in Massachusetts was not at all a compromise of my original goal. Instead, it’s a way of taking steps toward that goal while fitting it into the rest of my life. And I really  believe that the cross-country travel will happen in time!

Luckily, Marcia felt the same way, and we’re having a blast! And that’s really what it’s all about.

Don’t be afraid to pursue your goals, whatever they are.  It’s never too late. Think outside the box and make it happen!

Beth

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There is so much history here in Massachusetts. So many interesting things I have seen in each town we have visited. We are very fortunate to have different climates just a few hours apart. The sun could be out in Plymouth, while it’s snowing heavily in Orange.

I have had a lot of laughs, and a lot of ice cream. (And guess what, I have not gained a pound! It may look like we’re constantly eating, but in actual fact it’s only a couple days of the month!) It has been one of the most positive adventures I have ever experienced in my life. I can hardly wait for the next trip.

Marcia Rothwell

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Even though I am the younger granny, and this isn’t exactly a milestone birthday, I still feel the need to pause and take stock of my life at an “advanced” age!

Having a January birthday means that this is the time of year that I also think about what I’ve accomplished over the past year, and what I look forward to accomplishing over the coming year.  So it works out well.

There’s no doubt that each year brings with it a little less ability to move swiftly and smoothly, and that’s a concern. I’ve been health-conscious for most of my adult life.  I eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible, and only grass-fed, hormone-free and antibiotic-free meats. I’ve cut way back on the amount of dairy and gluten in my diet. And I believe that it has paid off. Now, if I could just kick my addiction to sugar!

But even more importantly, I realize that I need to move more. Having a profession where I sit in front of a computer most of the day is a problem.  So for Christmas, I asked my husband to get me a standing desk, which he did. I think that will be very helpful. I also bought a subscription to Essentrics, which is an exercise system that uses very gentle motions and stretches to help keep you flexible and improve your balance.  I’m really enjoying it, and my goal this year is to do some every day.  I might add that Marcia has been doing this for years, and she’s more flexible than I am, even though she’s a few years older! (Yes, I do keep rubbing it in, hehe.)

I know that just about everyone sets health goals for the coming year, so this is nothing special.  However, I do feel that it’s more and more important the older we get. So this coming year, we will be talking more about staying healthy in advanced years.  It’s hard to convince people that they should pursue their dreams at any age if they feel very limited in what they can do because of their health. And I’ll just say this.  I think we all need to be our own advocates for our health.  I don’t know about you, but I’m not about to accept “you’re getting older, things happen”. If I have a health issue, I want to fix it, in the least invasive way possible.  And I believe in fixing the problem, not just covering up the symptoms.  OK, best if I get off my soap box now.

Marcia and I have also been putting a lot more thought into planning our Two Grannies activities for the coming year.  We want to travel more. In order to do that, we need to think about ways to raise money.  Like it or not, gasoline, auto repairs, accommodations and food have a cost to them. We’re also putting a lot of time into producing and editing the shows, and frankly, I think we deserve to get a little something in return.  Don’t get me wrong, we do it because we love it, and we love the fact that people enjoy the show and want to visit the places where we’ve been.  We really do love sharing those hidden gems. We’re thrilled if the businesses that we visit get new customers because of the exposure that they get from our show and social media posts.  But, if we can raise some money, we can travel more and share more.  Everybody wins! So we’ve come up with some sponsorship opportunities for businesses, as well as membership opportunities for individuals on Patreon.  It’s not completely set up yet, but will be soon. We will be sharing content with members that no one else will get to see! Stay tuned!

No one knows how long their life will be, but I plan on being around for at least another 20 years, and I plan on those being happy, healthy years, full of travel, adventures, fun, and meeting lots of new people. You’re never too old to pursue your dreams!

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At the time, people who were against the war blamed the soldiers.  They would call them names, and worse.

Fast forward 44 years.  I met my husband Roger, a Vietnam veteran, Army Special Forces. The stories he told me about the things that he saw, that he had to do and endure, broke my heart. He was called a baby killer at the airport. Not to mention that he was badly injured when his unit got hit with a bomb.  He was in hospitals for over a year.  His jaw had to be reconstructed and he lost almost all of his teeth. He got blood poisoning from the metal in his body and almost died. Blood clots formed in his legs. His injuries affect his health to this day. It’s amazing that, so far, he hasn’t had any effects from Agent Orange, which he was exposed to. He also lost many friends.

After all that, he is still very proud of his service to our country. Many people have thanked him for his service, a pleasant change from the name-calling of the 1970’s.

So, when the United States celebrates Veteran’s Day, it has special meaning in our house, as I know it does for all military families.  These men and women sacrifice a lot so that the rest of us can sleep at night, knowing that we live in a free country. It seems only fair that one day should be set aside specifically to thank them.

To all of the members of the armed forces, thank you for your service.

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Our first stop was the Black Baer Bakery.  Owner and baker Brittany Vincent showed us how she makes her famous blueberry hand pies.  And boy, were they scrumptious! She works out of her home and sells her baked good from a stand outside on Saturday mornings.  Cars line up down the street to make sure they get her delightful treats!

Spencer has a rich history, and was an important stop along the Old Boston Post Road for early travelers. Several Franklin markers have been preserved along the route. Mary Baker Wood gave us an overview of the town’s history. We also visited several historic monuments while exploring Spencer, including the Bemis Memorial Park.

We stopped for lunch at Kostas along with Meghan Parsons, who was interviewing us for Spectrum One News. Kostas is a favorite breakfast and lunch spot for locals. We enjoyed a huge chicken salad, while Meghan indulged in a dessert-like crepe plate!

Royal Crest Farm invited us over to check out their livestock and country store, which has a wide variety of products, many of which are made locally, along with their own meats and freeze-dried fruits – and Skittles!  Who knew!

After all of the great reviews we saw on Facebook, we couldn’t leave Spencer without stopping at Dippin Donuts and getting a donut to take home. In our travels, we stopped at Howe State Park and enjoyed the scenery.

Amy, owner of the Spencer Country Inn, invited us over to give us a tour of this historic building. The Inn is a beautiful spot for weddings and other functions, but also brimming with artifacts and pictures of historic people and places.

John Stevens is the owner and chief blacksmith at Dancing Hammer Forge and Studio. He showed us how he forges beautiful leaves from small chunks of metal, then attaches them to a gate that he is making for a customer.  We can’t wait to see the finished product!

The next stop was with Jim Devereaux at the Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn. What a feast for the eyes!  There were ornaments everywhere we turned, even on the ceiling! Many of them were “enhanced” by Jim, and they were truly unique.

We made our way over to Thibault’s Country Store to meet with owner Jim Ingalls. Another truly unique shop with many hand made crafts from local artisans and many hints of history.

Our day ended with dinner at the Black and White Grille and Pizzeria.  We were told not to miss the God Father Pizza, and it didn’t disappoint!

We hated to see out time in Spencer come to an end, but we sure did have fun!

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As individuals, we have very little control over the course that the virus will take. Yes, we can wash our hands, obey the “social distancing” parameters, stay home if we feel sick, and get tested if we have reason to believe that we have the virus.  Other than that, I’m reminded of the Serenity Prayer here.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

Attitude Adjustment

We may not be able to control the path of the virus, but what we can control is our attitude toward it. Without getting “woo woo” about it, there have been plenty of studies showing that stress, fear, worry, and other negative feelings can adversely affect our body’s immune system. In addition to following the often-mentioned precautions, we can do everything possible to boost our own immunity to this and other illnesses.  So having a positive attitude can only help us.  That, and taking lots of immune-boosting, good quality, natural vitamins. Vitamin C, zinc, and elderberry are three.  There are many others.  Eating more citrus fruit can help as well. Get plenty of sleep.

We can reduce the stress of the situation in other ways, like practicing meditation, yoga, and deep breathing. Expressing gratitude for what we have helps us focus on the positive, and therefore have a calming affect.  There are many resources available online.  Some of us may have some extra time on our hands now to do some research.

Remaining calm will help the people around us stay calm as well. It’s contagious.  Maybe that’s a bad word to use…

Find the Opportunities in the Disappointments

Parents are scrambling to figure out what to do with young children who will now be home from school. Community and business activities are being cancelled. I work at home anyway, but most of my upcoming meetings have been cancelled, giving me more time to do other things. Am I thinking about how my business might be affected?  Yes, but I’m choosing to keep busy and move forward as much as possible.

In my mind, the universe is telling me to clean my house, finish my taxes, sort through boxes of pictures, edit another Two Grannies on the Road show, and complete a number of other projects that I haven’t had time to address.  There’s an opportunity for busy parents to spend more time with their children. Whatever the circumstance, the point is, focus on what door has opened, instead of what windows have closed. If we focus on that, there is less time for fear and worry.

Use Technology to Stay Connected, for both Business and Pleasure

I’m a baby boomer. We didn’t grow up with smart phones and computers. I consider myself lucky, because I have been forced by my career to stay current with technology. However, many baby boomers have not, and many don’t want to. In fact, I know a number of Gen X’ers and Gen Y’ers who don’t like technology! However, as the world advances, those of us who don’t keep up can get left behind.

I see the current health crisis as a way of forcing people to use technology to carry on a somewhat normal life. Cancelled in-person meetings can be conducted by phone or computer, using such services as freeconferencecall, Webex, Zoom, Skype, and others. If we are going to keep the economy from collapsing, we are going to need to do everything possible to continue with business. These same tools can also be used to keep in touch with family and friends.

There are also many studies out there confirming that our happiness depends on the friends and family that we have surrounding us. If we begin to self-quarantine, we are in danger of cutting ourselves off from the support system that is vital to our well-being. So let’s get brave and explore all that technology has to offer, to keep life as normal as possible until we get through this.

Let’s replace fear and worry with positive actions, positive thoughts, and look for the opportunities to make things better.

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