Cheerful Thoughts From JO ANN - April 1, 2020

I want to apologize to my Facebook friends.  On March 16, 2020 some of my interactions on Facebook upset me, so I made a decision to not look at Facebook for two months.  It was just too much for me to read about so many uncertain things and I knew for my own mental well-being, I had to step back.

Now that it is April, I realize that I miss many of my friends (the ones I only know on social media and the friends that I interacted with face to face).   My commitment to share happiness and joy with everyone I meet can't happen if I don't interact on social media or reach out.

So...I am writing a blog post for now that I will post on Facebook and also share with my friends that don't use social media so that I can share what is happening in my life and my family's life.  Hopefully I can bring joy into your life.

This way, I don't have to get sucked into Facebook at this time, but can at least give my friends some reasons to smile during this difficult and uncertain time.

I miss traveling, but my family is social distancing at the Schneider family's vacation home in the Colorado mountains which has been nice.  My husband Dan commutes into Colorado Springs every day to do his job at the Veterans Affairs office, but the rest of us pretty much stay put.

We are enjoying being in the mountains quite a bit.  Every day, after I get dressed and eat something, I get out on a scooter or a bike and go out for miles enjoying God's creation.  There is so much beauty here that I never stop enjoying it.

I think about what it must be like to be in the city right now.  I know the places I like to go to in California are not open like the beach bike path or trails, so I am very grateful that my family is isolating in a place where we can go outside every day and see the sky and trees and clouds.

Turkeys In Our Neighborhood!

Deer In Our Neighborhood!

More neighbors that never are out, seem to have appeared.  We keep our distance and wave, but I can tell that the people that live near us are also thankful that there is so much outdoor space here to enjoy.

My dog is having a blast running along side of me as I bike or scooter by the way!

We did have a good snow a couple weeks ago, so we got some great cross country skiing in too right in the neighborhood.

Meals together have been fun, but to make it easier on everyone, sometimes each person in my family just goes to the fridge or cupboard and fixes his or her own food.

My dad celebrated his 91st birthday on March 24, 2020.  He is in good health.  He has enjoyed having us around all the time and watches Turner Classic Movies daily!  As I look at some of the movies he watches, I wish sometimes we could all sing and dance along with Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire.

My family is affiliated with four different Jewish communities: Temple Israel in Long Beach, Temple Shalom and Temple Beit Torah in Colorado Springs, and the Wood River Jewish Community in Idaho, so there have been times we've been able to tune into learning opportunities via Zoom or YouTube or via live stream, so we have been connected a bit to the Jewish community.  Nothing replaces in person interactions, but these forms of electronic communication have been nice to have.  My study partner from Partners In Torah calls me weekly and I have to remember to contact my study partner from Torah Mates, but we will talk soon I know.

I believe in God very much, but, at this time, I can't understand why God would allow so many people to be sick or to cause our world to be in such an uncertain state.  Never in my life has there been such a time.  I don't get it.  I play the Jewish healing prayer, Misheberach by Debbie Friedman, on the piano every day and think of those who are sick as I play it.

Although I am not interacting all the time on social media, I have talked to some of my friends via text and calls and email.  We also have a Portal which has made it possible to make very fun video calls and to listen to music.

So...if you need something...don't hesitate to reach out to me via the private message feature on Facebook, or text, email, or call me.  I would be glad to hear from you and have time to give you quality time or attention.

Sending virtual hugs and smiles to all!

JO ANN Schneider Farris
April 1, 2020

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Added note:  My daughter Annabelle is not with us in the mountains, but at our house in Colorado Springs.  She safely left New York City Saturday evening, March 14, 2020, rented a car, and drove to Colorado.

• Coronavirus - How It Has Changed the Schneider-Farris Family's Life As of 3-23-2020

What Happens Now? Thoughts About Kobe Bryant and the Others Who Lost Their Lives in the Helicopter Crash

I have never followed basketball, so I am ashamed to say I never heard of Kobe Bryant until Sunday 1-26-2020 when he and his daughter and seven others were killed in a tragic helicopter crash.

I could not help but think of similar tragedies:

Evangelical singer Keith Green and his two young children and the Smalley family died in a plane crash in the early 1980s, John Denver in the late 1990s, and the husband and son of Trish Porter in 2012. Her son's best friend was also killed in that plane crash.

Also, Former Broadmoor Elementary Principal Nancy Saltaman's husband and two sons died in a small plane crash in 1995. Their photo is permanently in the World Arena Ice Hall to remember them.

Debbie Weinstein Minter's pair partner and his father died on their way to the Midwestern Championships in the late 1970s.

Of course, the entire US Figure Skating Team died in a plane crash in 1961.

Something that was supposed to be fun turned in tragedy for all of these people.

I can't but help but think about how everyone associated with Kobe's Bryant's helicopter tragedy will be forever affected.

So many questions are in my head: What will life be like for Bryant's family now? What will life be like for the children who lost their parents on Sunday?

Trish has sent me holiday cards every year, so I know she and her daughter Shannon are okay and doing great, but I thought of her a lot the past few days. I have read Melody Green's books, so I know she went on and is okay.  Debbie went on to have a full life.

Everyone will be okay, but still I am so, so sad. I just had to write this somewhere. I am crying.

Oseh Shalom From Debbie Friedman Live at the Del

I just love this version below of Oseh Shalom by the late Debbie Friedman. Her album Live At the Del is not available online, so I put this song online for everyone to enjoy.

The Jewish prayer for peace is called Oseh Shalom. The lyrics mean: May the one who makes peace in the heavens, make peace for us and all the people Israel.

Note:  I had trouble making this video, so the screen goes black, but the music comes through loud and clear.

 

A Short Review of Netflix's Messiah

A friend posted on Facebook that he had watched the entire Netflix series Messiah and that intrigued me, so I decided just a few days ago to watch it.  I ended up watching one episode the first night and six episodes the next day (binge watching)!!!

The series, in my opinion, is very good.  It's just a story and a television show, but it shows what it might be like today if a messiah, or person with messiah-like qualities, came to earth.  I got a kick out of the cell phones taking photos of this messiah walking on water in front of the Lincoln Memorial!  I also thought it was quite amusing to watch a caravan of cars following this messiah across the USA from a small town in Texas to Washington D.C. 

The character is very "Jesus-like" looking.  He has long hair and a neatly cut beard and talks in a very sweet tone.  Most of the time he's wearing jeans and a hoodie.  I own a Miguel hoodie from the Disney movie Coco.  I wonder if now I should get a "Messiah Hoodie?"

I still have three episodes to watch and have joined a Netflix Messiah group on Facebook.  Everyone in the group thinks it is the best show ever.  I know my evangelical friends will say the opposite, but I don't care.  It's a fun show and I highly recommend watching it.

Now and Forever!

I have been thinking, I am connected to a certain group of people "now and forever" like the lyrics in the song "Now and Forever" sung by Carole King in the movie A League of Their Own.   (I just LOVE anything Carole King since her songs tell real life stories!) Those of us involved in this group experienced something together that can't be explained to most people who were not involved in that religious group.  

As the years have passed, I've realized that the group I was involved in, at least at the time, was very much like a religious cult in how it functioned.  

Later, when I led cause to fight the wrong things this group had done to me and others, again I was linked to those involved.  (By the way...I did not win the cause, but did leave a "mark" and was even mentioned by my full name as trying unsuccessfully to fight in a well-known religious magazine when the cult-like founder of the group passed away!)

There is nothing wrong with caring about those I knew from the cult-like group and there is nothing wrong in being still linked to certain people who I consider almost like family who fought with me or who were there for me NOW AND FOREVER!

Further Reading:

• The Saga Continues
• The Organization Is Doing Major Lay-Offs!

The Saga Continues....

There is a rip in the Empire

Ever since Jabba died Darth Vader has been in control

The powerful Queen has tried to keep order, but Darth Vader have decided to wipe out his senior officers nevertheless 

The Rebels want to fight, but some are scared

However, Princess Leia could care less.....

The Saga Continues!!!!

Further Reading:

• The Organization Is Doing Major Lay-Offs

The Organization Is Doing Major Lay-Offs!

Rumors are circulating and I tried to get the facts right from the management (See below):

The Jews for Jesus is organization has multiple people “retiring” or “moving on” as of January 1, 2020.  I have heard that those affected were given only about two weeks notice.

I shouldn’t be upset about this, but I am.  Hearing about lay-offs always bothers me, but some of the people who are all of a sudden “retiring” have worked for the organization for over 30 or 40 years!  

I wrote the organization’s director and asked for the facts, but I was just told to not pay attention to rumors.

I do know that employers make changes and just wish that I had been told the reasons these changes are being made.  All the people that have been laid off I hear are over 50 years old.  Maybe the beginning of 2020 is a good time to retire?

(Added Note:  I do not believe there is one way to G-d, but I once worked for that organization and was told in 1989 that it was time for me to “move on.”  That was a good thing, but at the time it was devastating.)