Self checkout was introduced in 1986 in limited locations, becoming more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers preferred not having to interact with a cashier. Self checkout can sometimes be faster than using a cashier lane, but in some instances, self checkout can be a frustrating experience.

For the most part, when available, I prefer to use the self-checkout option when shopping. However, sometimes there is a glitch, a malfunction that is extremely challenging. Calling the one employee in charge of the self-checkout section involves a wait time (usually while they assist another shopper) and sometimes a lecture on the correct use of the machines. My response to the employee who is reprimanding me about my mistake: “ I wasn’t trained on this particular computer.” The employees sometimes laugh but mostly they ignore me.

The past month has tested every ounce of my mental and physical strength. My husband has been an inpatient at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and life has revolved around hospital corridors, parking garages, and the daily uncertainty that comes with medical care. I’ve learned more than I ever wanted to about navigating those winding concrete ramps and even discovered the modern-day lifeline that is Grubhub, because the food is depressing when the cafeteria tray rolls in at mealtime.

Hospitals are different now. Staffing shortages mean nurses and aides are stretched thin, and much of the burden of basic care falls on patients and their loved ones. It’s not unusual for my husband and me to tidy his room, restock supplies, or keep an eye on his medication schedule. My husband has even become a quick study in medical equipment, confidently silencing the beeping IV pump and disconnecting himself when necessary. These are skills no one anticipates learning, yet here we are.

Through all of this, one truth stands out with absolute clarity: every patient needs an advocate. Someone to speak up, to ask the right questions, to notice when something is off, and to make sure nothing important slips through the cracks. In a place where the pace is frantic and the system is strained, advocacy isn’t just important, it’s vital.

And yet, in the middle of the stress, there have been unexpected blessings, moments of laughter between us, small kindnesses from strangers, and the quiet gratitude that comes with realizing how strong we can be when we have no other choice. This chapter is not an easy one, but we are moving through it together, step by step, with hope as our compass and love as our anchor.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling. 

Agent 86 reported to management recently that he had flown to Maine to escape the heat and humidity on the Eastern Shore (and perhaps as an escape from the high-pressure work environment at the Spy). 86 chose Rockland as his venue because he knew that Chris Brownawell, a former director of the Academy Art Museum, had gone there in 2010 as CEO of the Farnsworth Art Museum and remains there today, 15 years later.

86 thought that if Rockland had set well with Brownawell, perhaps he also would find the area appealing.  In any event, 86 wanted to view the extensive Wyeth collection at the Farnsworth.  86′ video surveillance follows. Prominent in the video is the Maine Lobster Festival. 86 made very clear that he wouldn’t return to Mid-Shore until the Festival had concluded.

The Carrot, the Egg, and the Coffee Bean is a metaphor that illustrates how people respond differently to adversity. When placed in boiling water, a symbol of life’s difficulties, the carrot becomes soft and weak, the egg becomes hard and unyielding, but the coffee bean does something remarkable: it transforms the water itself. The lesson is that while some are broken down by hardship and others become hardened, the most resilient individuals rise above the situation, using it to grow and create something better. Like the coffee bean, they change their environment rather than letting it change them.

Nothing about last week was easy. I won’t go into details but suffice it to say that our family had our share of challenges, three really big ones. After the third bit of bad news, I walked outside to take some healing breaths when suddenly a dragonfly swooped in and flew in circles around me. I knew from my studies that dragonflies undergo a significant transformation from aquatic nymphs to winged adults, making them a powerful symbol of change and new beginnings. Dragonflies are a sign of good luck, a reminder to embrace change and new beginnings. Once again, the universe is sending me messages.

We are private people. We carry our burdens quietly, wrapped in layers of strength and self-reliance. But something shifted this time. A quiet tug, an urge I couldn’t explain, told me to reach out.

So I did. Three names came to mind, clear, immediate, like a whisper I couldn’t ignore. I texted, unsure of what to say, just that we were walking through something heavy, and for once I didn’t want to walk it alone.

Each friend replied almost instantly, one was actually in the process of boarding a plane. Their responses weren’t shallow or polite, they were full of spirit, light, and grace. Support poured in, not just with words, but presence. They offered prayers, wisdom, and stillness. No fixing. Just being there.

To one of them, I said plainly, “I think we’re being tested.” He responded with a verse that fully addressed my question: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

That was the moment that I realized: the reaching out might be the path. The support was already waiting. The strength wasn’t only in what we could hold ourselves, but what we were finally willing to open up and receive.

This week felt like a tidal wave, but it’s now clear that the universe is clearing space, testing our alignment, nudging us toward a re-set. The signs may look and feel like chaos, but resilience is often born in the middle of that storm. We’ll continue with our positive outlook and be like the coffee bean, we’ll grow and create something better.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling. 

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.