Co-ops and cooperation and more! (fwd)

[Noelle <noelle>]

 > Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:05:55 +0000 (UTC)
 > From: "http://profiles.yahoo.com/carolyn.foley"; <http://profiles.yahoo.com/carolyn.foley>
 > 
 > Hi Noelle!
 > Thanks for your card. I also didn't send out Christmas cards again this 
 > year. I keep meaning to. I am pretty disorganized. 
 > For my birthday, I went to see my sisters in Sacramento. I took Amtrak which 
 > is great! I love it! So quick, efficient, beautiful landscape, no traffic, 
 > no depressing I-80, awful drivers, and no nasty passengers. Clean and 
 > friendly. I recommend!
 > I'm sorry about your dad. I think the beer co-op sounds like it is having 
 > the problems of all volunteer organizations: A handful of people do the lion'
 > s share of work. More on that later. Did you see that (speaking of co-ops) 
 > Ridge House got some bad press that led to the city looking into the poor 
 > living conditions? To which I say, toughen up Millennials! Suffer during 
 > college, and since you're members of the upper classes, for the most part, 
 > this is your chance to live like many people do. ...
 > I cry not for college students. For the most part.
 > The kids are involved with this and that. I find so many things require my 
 > time. So many kid activities are run by a handful. The other parents and 
 > kids expect things and don't want to volunteer their time, money and effort. 
 > You know what I am talking about, since you've been part of co-ops! It's 
 > kind of the same story. It is frustrating and universal. Isaac is in scouts, 
 > for example. Too many parents expect us leaders to do all the camping, all 
 > the work. And then complain. It's not as bad as it sounds, but I 
 > occasionally feel resentful. It's worth it for Isaac, since he needs some 
 > kind of social outlet and loves the outdoor aspects of scouting. 
 > Bridget is doing speech and debate. She also runs track. She is a unique and 
 > fun kid, and you would like her. Isaac's a bit of a problem at times. His 
 > behavior toward me can be rough. But he doesn't get in (as much) trouble at 
 > school, and he did tell me he loved me for my birthday. So there is that. 
 > Work at UCSF is going well. I no longer let co-workers and angry parents and 
 > bureaucracy get me down. I just do my job to the best of my ability and try 
 > to give my patients the care they deserve. It's a good job. And as you know, 
 > RETIREMENT BECKONS! I'm hoping in 9 years I can retire and just spend my 
 > time volunteering. I want to pick up trash on the freeway and in the forests 
 > and on the beaches. I'm going to pull up non-native plants and sleep in and 
 > watch movies and read books. I'm reading one I like so far, and I think you 
 > would too: "Birnam Wood" by somebody named Cattan or something like that. 
 > Hi to Robert! 
 > Love, Carolyn
 > 
 > Carolyn Foley