President's Blog
Mike's Message for February
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.) Mike Kernan CAC President (Yes, me again) |
Mike’s Message for January
This is a very special January, because it brings a new year with the real hope of an end to this awful pandemic. I imagine that most of you want to rush 2020 out the door as fast as possible, with a not-so- fond farewell. I am looking forward togetting my vaccination as soon as they let me. In fact, I even marked an “X” on my arm so they don’t miss it when it’s time for my shot. The minute I get the OK to get the vaccine, I am going to drop everything and run out to get it. Even if I‘m in the shower, I'll just wrap a towel around myself and run out to get vaccinated. That‘s how much I can‘t wait. Hopefully, we’ll be back to normal activities sometime this spring or early summer. You may have noticed that the January activities are rather sparse. This is due to the recent viral surge, which limits our options. But rest assured that we will restore full activities as soon as we can. Please welcome your new Board members. Most of the Board has returned, but there are a few changes. Check the listing on this page to see who all the Board members are. I wish all of you a Happy and Blessed New Year, together with deliverance from this pandemic. Mike Kernan / CAC President |
Mike’s Message for December
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 |
Mike's Message for November
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. Mike Kernan / CAC President |
Mike’s Message for October
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. Mike Kernan / CAC President |
Mike’s Message for September
Well, it’s September and that puts another month closer to the end of this awful pandemic. When things get back to a semblance of normalcy, I will enjoy and appreciate CAC events all the more. The Board has done a heroic job keeping the calendar packed with events that can be done within the current restrictions, and that is no small task. The warm summer weather has helped. But when the weather turns cold and outdoor events are limited, our job will become a bit more difficult. Please bear with us. When the pandemic is finally over, I think we should throw a big party to celebrate. It makes me think of that old-time song, “Happy Days are Here Again”. I know we’ll be singing it eventually. When all these restrictions get you down, and you feel lonely and sad, just think about that big party when we’ll all sing that song, and keep on looking forward. In the meantime, come to one of our events. Even with a mask, we still have fun. Mike Kernan CAC President |
Mike's Message for August
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 |
Mike's Message for July
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 |
Mike’s Message for June
Well, I have managed to survive this pandemic so far. I am not surprised because I grew up with six sisters. I had to live in a house crawling with girl cooties. If I survived that, I can probably survive anything. As you may have noticed, the CAC Board has been diligently planning events in case we are ever released from this quarantine. Just like last month, the newsletter is populated with activities in case the stay-at-home order is lifted. All events are tentative depending on the Governor’s orders. In the meantime, please say a prayer (or two) for those people suffering most from this pandemic. We are all suffering a little, but especially those who have lost loved ones, or who have loved ones at risk. Please keep them all in your prayers as we approach our Lord for deliverance from this plague. In the meantime, keep the faith, stay optimistic, and if you get depressed or lonely, call one of your CAC friends to chat. They can lift your spirits. (They always lift mine). Mike Kernan CAC President |
Mike's Message for May
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. Mike Kernan / CAC President |