This February, no one is extremely concerned about what the Groundhog has to say. Unless Punxsutawney Phil has a shipment of vaccine, we’re not interested. But we are interested in keeping in touch with friends and family. So, I encourage you all to take advantage of your CAC friends. When you are bored and lonely (which is generally all the time nowadays), just give one of your CAC friends a call and ask how they are doing. That is what I do. What they don’t know is that I am really just looking for an excuse to talk to somebody, anybody. But I don’t tell them that. I say that I am calling to make sure they are OK. That makes them feel good, and I get points for caring. It’s a win-win. You spend a few minutes chatting and you beat the doldrums. Don’t feel guilty. Chances are, they are bored to tears too, and welcome a chance to interact with a human being (or a reasonable facsimile). So, take my advice and call a few people. You’ll be glad you did. (But don’t tell them about my selfish motives. That will be our little secret.) Also take advantage of our online activities, like Zoom Games Nights and Happy Hour. It’s fun! (You don’t get points for that. Join us and have some fun! It’s still a win. Not just a win-win.) 

We face this Christmas still burdened by social
restrictions due to the coronavirus. I do hope we
all manage to enjoy a safe and blessed Christmas
nonetheless. Remember, the vaccine is almost
ready. With God’s grace we will see the end to this
pandemic soon. When that happens, we can
enjoy a resurgence of normal social interaction.
Hopefully, this experience will teach us to
appreciate our friends and family all the more. I can’t
wait to see you all again in a vibrant, crowded social
event where we can breathe in the joy of friendship that
we all crave. Until then, have a safe and blessed
Christmas, and keep hopeful for the New Year.

Mike Kernan / CAC President

During November, we typically give thanks for all our blessings. Even in this year of a prolonged pandemic, we still have much to be thankful for. Included among those things are our good friends. Friends significantly increase our happiness, and in times like this, they help us to endure stress. CAC is a reservoir of good friends, and as such, is a major blessing. My CAC friends have been instrumental in helping me through this difficult time. For that, I am very thankful. I am thankful to God for giving me good friends, and to those friends for sharing their good times with me, and for keeping me from getting depressed. When the long-awaited vaccine arrives, and we get back to normal life, I look forward to a big party with all my CAC friends. And you will all have to come. 

October 2020 brings us to another month of limitations due to the pandemic. Sadly, we already know that we will not be holding our annual Christmas Dinner Dance this year. The Board has been managing a Herculean task of booking safe events. But as the weather gets colder, this will become more difficult, as outdoor events will be less practical.  Still, we will keep going. And if you see a Board member at any of our events, thank them for the great work they are doing. I urge all of you to get a flu shot this year as soon as possible. This is one year when you certainly don’t want to get so much as a cold, since there will be no way to tell whether or not you have COVID, forcing you into a lengthy quarantine. So please protect yourself now from that difficult situation by getting a flu shot as early as you can.   

We are gradually plodding through this pandemic while still offering some good, safe activities for our members. We have outdoor hikes, mini golf, biking, canoeing, and outdoor mass, to name a few. The CAC Board is actively working to provide you with ways to enjoy life despite the current restrictions. I think they deserve medals. (Preferably solid gold ones with platinum trim. You can each arrange to have one made and turn them over to me for ultimate distribution to the Board members. I will be more than happy to do that…Much more than happy.) If you have any ideas for safe activities, please contact a board member by email or phone to discuss it. We are always looking for ideas.

Please keep in your prayers those members and former members who have lost loved ones recently.

 

Mike Kernan / CAC President

If you are like me, you are experiencing some degree of depression in the face of this lock down. For single people like us, it is harder since we live alone and have fewer opportunities for interaction. That is why we have CAC. Take advantage of the opportunities we present for you. You will be glad you did. I am certainly glad. I used to hide under the bed when I got worried. Then I joined CAC , and I hardly ever hide under the bed now....well, unless I am being chased by Godzilla, the Boogie Man, or Frankenstein. In those cases, the best place to be is under the bed. But, for all other times, CAC is the place to be. (Hey, that rhymes!)

 

Please note that the CAC Board has been working diligently to provide events during this pandemic. Sadly, a lot of them could not be held, but we keep trying. Fortunately, we did manage a few outdoor events last month and everyone seemed to enjoy them immensely. The simplest event can be a big deal during a lock down. For July, we have various events scheduled. We are much more hopeful that most will take place, as the lock down is supposed to ease as time goes on. So, check your newsletter for some great social options. Of course, all events must abide by social distancing guidelines, and we should continue wearing masks, at least for indoor events. (It just occurred to me that Godzilla, the Boogie Man, and Frankenstein never wear a mask. I should probably report them. Maybe that will get them off my back.)

 

Mike Kernan

CAC President

The past two months have been a difficult for all of us. Our events were cancelled and our entire lives came to a standstill. As of this writing, it is not apparent when this will end. CAC has planned events for May, with the hope that life can resume by then. Of course, everything is tentative, and is contingent upon the lifting of the stayat-home order. Some major events, like the Square Dance, are being postponed for logistical reasons. We will publicize the new scheduling when ready. A lot of people are concerned about the Fall Weekend trip to Niagara Falls. That trip is still on, as we expect that things will be well back to normal by then. However, if the travel agency would cancel the trip, they would refund our money. Unrelated to the current emergency, we have also faced the loss of old friends among the CAC alumni. In the past few months, we lost both Steve Ruggiero and Rick Faccenda, who were very active and much liked club members in the 80’s and 90’s. Also, various members and alumni have reported the recent deaths of their parents. Sadly, all this is to be expected as we age, but it is nonetheless difficult and disheartening to say “Goodbye” to loved ones. And it is made all the more difficult now because we cannot come together to share our grief or to celebrate our shared lives. We couldn’t even celebrate Easter in church! But with hopeful hearts, we will continue to plan for a lively CAC, and I encourage you to keep in touch with your family and your CAC friends during this difficult time. This will help us all to endure until our lives return to normal again. May God bless and keep you all.