Art heals, and now you can tour countless world museums virtually during this time of social distancing. From The Lourve in Paris and the Pergamon in Berlin to the National Museum in New Delhi, you can take virtual tours and view some of the most amazing art. Here are just a few links:
If anyone should be an expert at self isolation, it’s astronauts. Spending weeks or months holed up in a confined space with others, physically disconnected from the natural world and everyone else they know and love, astronauts have to develop strategies to cope, stay healthy, and stay sane.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield spent 166 days in space and offered this advice:
Understand the actual risk – fear is not helpful; look to credible sources to find out the real level of risk
What’s your mission? – pick a mission and decide on what you hope to achieve (learn a language, complete a project, learn a skill)
Look at your constraints – beyond social distancing, consider other factors like financial resources
Take action -start acting, whether caring for others, learning something new: “It’s a chance to do something different”
“Take care of yourself. Take care of your family. Take care of your friends. Take care of your spaceship.”
Astronaut Leroy Chiao spent over 229 days in space. Here are his suggestions:
See the bigger picture – set realistic expectations, what resources do you have to help you prepare mentally
Make sure operations (surroundings) are in order – everything is working (within reason), tidy, organized, comfortable
Take stock of supplies – don’t panic buy, set expectations,
Keep channels of communication open – stay connected
Keep your spirits up – do things to help each other, use humor, share
One thing astronauts cannot do is go for a walk in the park and enjoy nature. Some relaxed by listening to recordings of birds or watching videos of nature. We can do that ourselves by going for a walk in the park (if you are allowed outside).
Also, although things have improved greatly, we generally have much more access to audio and video communications here on earth. Reach out and connect with friends, family, and acquaintances. You will both feel better if you do.
Stay safe, stay sane, and stay connected (at a safe minimum distance).
During these times of social distancing, isolation, and fear, musicians have little opportunity to play for others or with each other. So I am working on a big project to bring musicians together from around the world to perform a piece by Bach. Through this project I hope to spread music, joy, hope, and foster connection. I hope to complete it within a few days.
Today during my regular morning walk, I received a video call from friends in Europe. I got to see and talk with friends in Norway, Finland, and Germany.
We shared how we were all doing, and what the current state of affairs were in our respective communities and countries.
Just yesterday a friend I haven’t seen in person for over 30 years and I video chatted and caught up.
It still amazes me how easy it is to see and talk with someone, even with multiple people, for free halfway around the world on your phone. In this time of worldwide fear and isolation, I encourage people to remember to reach out and connect.
I am hopeful that through these trying times we will be reminded of our shared humanity.
Stay safe, stay sane, and stay connected (at a safe physical distance). And wash your hands and face regularly!
During this time of fear and isolation, I am trying to do several things every day to maintain my health and sanity. One of those things is exercise.
I go for a walk first thing every morning. It’s been chilly, some days just a few degrees above freezing. I bundle up and walk for 30-60 minutes. During that time I can breathe the fresh air, hear the birds, and see the plants budding and blooming.
Of course I maintain at least 6 feet (~1 meter) distance from anyone I might pass while out, but most of the time I see very few people out walking.
I know I am lucky that I can leave my house as more cities and countries are instituting stay-at-home orders. I expect that to happen here soon. Until then, I will enjoy my morning walks.
High school students at the Chino Valley Unified School District had their annual Choral Festival cancelled. But that didn’t stop them from sharing their beautiful singing. Here they are singing an a cappella version of “Over the Rainbow” from their separate homes. As of this writing, the video has had nearly 129,000 views since it was posted just two days ago.
During this unprecedented time of stress, fear, isolation, and a never-ending cavalcade of bad news, I want to use this blog to foster connection, and spread joy, hope, and kindness. Like President Austin, I want to “show love.”
I have some ideas and projects in the works I hope to share soon. In the meantime, I will share links and stories I hope will bring some a much-needed reprieve from the current worldwide pandemic.
I particularly want to bring attention to works by artists as that is a group most directly hit by cancellations of concerts, performances, and gigs and with no safety net (not that there is much for other groups).
I hope these will resonate with you. But if they do not, fuhgeddaboudit. No harm, no foul.
The first is a video shared by my dear friend, Anna, showing one dance performed by 42 contemporary choreographers. It is called “Exquisite Corps” and although created in 2016, it it feels very timely. If you like it, a sequel, “And So Say All of Us” was made in 2019.
February 19th is the Day of Remembrance, a date during which people, particularly those with Japanese-American heritage, remember Executive Order 9066. Signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, it authorized the building of incarceration camps into which 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were forced to live. The vast majority of them lost their farms, homes, everything.
Mom standing at the approximate location of her family’s barrack at Heart Mountain, Wyoming
My mother, who was a 4th to 6th grade girl at the time, was forced to live with her family for one year at Tule Lake, and two years at Heart Mountain – except for my uncles who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
I continue to update a blog entry on the subject with links to photos, videos, and other resources.
Next Monday, February 24th, I will be giving a free talk at the Kennedy School in Portland. I encourage everyone who can attend to please come!
I just learned that a friend of mine passed away. A beloved and joyous soul, and a remarkable cellist and teacher, I only crossed paths in real life with Sonja a handful of times. I don’t believe she had even turned 40.
My last direct interaction with her was a year ago when she hitched a ride with me to Newport to rehearse and perform with the Newport Symphony. We enjoyed spirited discussion during the drive about music, life, travel, and wonder.
Here we are joyously playing string quintets that weekend.
I am reminded how short, precious, and fragile life is. Again.
The world is a slightly quieter and more somber place without her, but her jubilant light will continue to burn brightly.
Waves crash against uplifted rocks near Shore Acres
In my last post, I shared a couple photos of the amazing waves to be seen on the Oregon coast during the winter. Oregon natives and travelers from afar are drawn to the coast to view this powerful display.
Breakers at Simpson Reef
Behind the spectacle, there is the power and the danger these waves pose.
To give you an idea just how massive a sneaker wave can be, watch this video. It was taken a few years ago at Bastendorff Beach, just a couple miles south of where I grew up.
Massive sneaker wave a the south jetty at Coos Head
Blatant Calm 