Snow Days No More

When I was a kid I walked to school backwards, uphill, through a blinding snow. Okay, so it may not have been like that each and every day, but winters in my hometown were long, cold, and came with copious amounts of snow. I have faint memories of putting empty Wonder Bread bags on my feet under my boots during recess like all of the other kids so that our feet would stay warm and dry while we were out on the playground. Suddenly, this is starting to sound like a page out of Angela’s Ashes but I assure you, it was just a way of getting through the winter. If there was a blizzard or an ice storm, we would sit by the television or radio and wait to hear if school would be closed. If I heard my school called out, I waited to hear it again before I would believe it was true: A SNOW DAY! I’ve lived in Baltimore for years now and I still get a thrill when I get a text alert or see a news crawl that announces closings. While I’ve driven through many a blizzard and once even trudged through a snowstorm on my way to a college semi-formal in a dress and L.L. Bean duck boots, I am not as intrepid as I used to be. Knowing that an inch or two of snow creates a panic that sends everyone to the store for milk, bread, and toilet paper, I thought to myself, “I’ve found my people!” But that seems like so long ago, in the days before Zoom. Snow days represented a much needed break from the routine—a chance to reset while making snow angels and having hot cocoa in the process. But now, snow days are just days with snow and not as special as they used to be. You still get to work AND you get to shovel.

Stay safe and healthy,

Tracy Jacobs

Spring 2021 Semester
March 1–April 29

Join us for classes online via Zoom. Click on the links to:

• View the Spring 2021 Catalog
• Watch the Preview of Spring Classes
• And Register for Classes.

Together: Baltimore Faith Leaders Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges

Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg & Rev. Dr. Terris King
Wednesday, February 10, 10:00 a.m. via Zoom

Reverend Dr. Terris King and Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg state, “Only God could have brought together an African-American Baptist pastor from the Liberty Grace Church in Baltimore's Ashburton neighborhood, and a white Orthodox Jewish rabbi from Pikesville in Baltimore County.” How did these two faith leaders join forces and why is it significant? Join these two charismatic leaders as they discuss their unexpected relationship, the initiatives being taken by their congregations, and the positive outcomes that have come from the building of relationships and addressing of violence and racism in and around their communities.

American Perspectives: Can You Hear Me Now?

Jon Aaron
Tuesday, February 23, 10:00 a.m. via Zoom

Neither Verizon, T-Mobile, nor Sprint can resolve the glitches in our national dialogue. Americans are desperate to speak; after all, a record number of us raised our voices via the ballot box November 3. But how desperate are we to understand? And what informs our understanding? Our national symbols and our art are historical mirrors in which we can see ourselves and our nation. Join me to ponder multiple meanings in the following: the American flag; the language of Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass, inaugural poets, Neil Armstrong, and Carl Sagan; the image of The Statue of Liberty. How can poetic voices join pragmatic voices to inform and brighten the coarse, dark dialogue that plagues our nation?

We remember Osher members that have passed away recently. While we work hard to provide accurate updates, please let us know if you are aware of an Osher friend’s passing by contacting osher@towson.edu.

• Arlene Caplan
• James Keenan