ABL Alumni & Friends

I write  this from my home in Mumbai, a day after our Zoom call. My school is closed too, and I don't know when it will reopen. So I'm working from home. I'm also enjoying the slow pace of my life and literally taking the time to smell the roses. There is a beautiful park right next to my home and I go there every day. I sit there with Rusty, my dog who is old and has trouble walking. We sit together in silence, at peace with the world and with each other. I spend time with my husband GK. We hope that our son and his wife will be able to come and stay with us soon. Today, a neighbour of mine died. And I realised, just how much the world has changed. Something we took for granted, something as simple as offering comfort and support to the family  that had suffered the loss of a father and husband was no longer possible. There were no handshakes, or hugs, or neighbours crowding in. People spoke softly, offered support and help, but wore masks and stood at a distance fr...

Greetings to all ABL Alumni and Friends. This is Rich Gorham of Andover Bread Loaf. I write this on March 18, 2020, at the start of what seems like a new chapter in all of our lives, as we deal with the crisis of the Coronavirus. This has impacted all of our lives in extraordinary ways. Through this blog, we hope to share our stories, to remain connected with one another, to continue to support each other. I ask the first question: What are you doing to take care of yourself and your loved ones during this crisis? Personally, I am at my home in North Andover, Massachusetts, USA. Last Friday, March 13, I was teaching my Period 7 class at Lawrence High School at about 2pm when we got the word that the Lawrence Public Schools were closing for two weeks. I came home after that and I have pretty much stayed at home since. I am connecting with friends and colleagues through electronic media, and working with other ABL folks to think about how we can support ourselves, each other, and ou...