Karen and Grace (Two one-offs)

I've got two things to mention that don't fall into the travelogue flow. 

First, Fred and I will never forget Pat Lynch's voice — not just the singing voice, but the talking voice, too. Having been an educator his whole life, as I mentioned, he had a way of asking questions and eliciting responses from us to be sure we're following (and learning). For instance, "Do you remember what those are called, KARen?" referring to the white caps/white horses — hard emphasize on the first syllable of my name. "Are you glad you chose to follow Fred, KARen?" When we would repeat the Irish word for something, with the guteral intonation of the language, he'd say, "You've GOT it!"  making us feel very proud. Anyway, Fred's been calling me KARen the way Pat said my name all week and it's the first time in a while I've liked the sound of my name. (So thanks for that, Pat. And no thanks to the Karen movement!) 

According to Newsweek, the name Karen has become a new, popular insult for a very specific type of person online. Karens are often described as annoyingly entitled, suburban women who would not hesitate to ask to speak to a manager if the sales person at Anne Taylor refuses to take their return three months after the return date expired.

Second, the other night Fred and I were at a pub where there was this adorable little girl named Grace. The bartender teasingly introduced her as his girlfriend. And then, another adorable baby girl also named Grace. This was my girl name (for my own baby if I ever had a daughter). Thirty years ago this would have (and did) send me to therapy—to be surrounded by little Graces — but it was just 100% sweet to me on this night. Some kind of message maybe. There will always be grace. I was telling my friends Suzanne and Michelle this in a text and the next day Michelle realized that the word of the day on her calendar for that day was Grace ❤️  May there always be Grace.