The New Normal

 

It is now well over two years of a global pandemic and despite things being much better, we are still coping with Covid-19. Surges have come and gone since December and risks remain. Yet the general population is so over it, even though we currently in a minor surge. Havana had half her class out a few weeks ago. Amara had several friends test positive.  There is no longer a mask required in planes and many folks have tossed them aside when going about their daily lives, even with this current surge.  In our family, we still wear them when inside a store or when traveling. We are being cautious because we don't want to get sick or to pass along the virus if we have been exposed. And still, we have not been immune.  In our personal lives, several good friends all got mildly sick and, in our household, Amara got exposed (after a sleep over at friends where they shared a bed and her friend woke up sick and tested positive). That meant she had to quarantine in her room for a week. She at least got exclusive use of the bathroom! It was kind of funny how she would slip dishes out of the room into the hall. It looked like room service at a hotel. She was quite bored during that week but her room got cleaned up and all her homework was done. She was just super bummed to have to do zoom school for another week. I would only let her out to go in the yard to sit for an hour in the sun in a tank top. Vitamin D, good rx for fighting Covid. Thankfully, she never tested positive.   I should note that all this happened while Don was in Ireland for two weeks!   He went to Ireland for a much welcomed trip with his brother Dick to play golf. He had a great time until he returned home and was not feeling well. (my sister-in-law and niece were there too but doing a yoga retreat. ) Yup. Don got Covid as well. Well technically not in our house. The Irish were mask free and going about their business, including at the airport. Don had the not so good fortune of having to stand behind a person at check in line for over an hour. A person who was mask less and hacking constantly. He returned home, did not feel well and so he was re-routed to the in-law unit. Thankfully there is a bed, desk and access to electricity.  He too got his own bathroom for the week. In through the garage, to use the downstairs bathroom and back out again. Poor guy had a huge project at work, so for one week he had to push himself while feeling pretty darn crappy. And I was back to room service food duty. Don drinks alot of coffee so I got used to making a good cup (I don't coffee so it was a good learning experience!)  We set up a small table at his door where he would get delivered his 3 squares and multiple cups of fuel. We had to communicate by phone or through the window. It was kind of sad. The girls and I did not see him for two weeks and then he had to be away from us another week.  Once he got out, I headed to New England for the wedding of a dear friend/family member.  After solo parenting for 3 weeks, I was more than grateful to head out for a joyous occasion. I put on two  masks while on BART to SFO and did not take them off until I was walking the streets of Boston. (I did keep masking indoors though.)  It was quite a relief to be able to be on my own without having to do double time at the house, which by the way, the girls had to run on their own for a couple of days on their own. Don stayed in the back for a few days post testing negative, just to be sure. 

Don, Dick and Liz in Dublin (yes, of course, I stole this photo!)

Prior to all this mishigas, we were moving along in a new sort of normal. Amara was keeping up with her high school life. She was challenged in her academics, which was a good thing. She was active with both school and  her social life including being invited to homecoming with her friend Aniyah.  That was a really big deal for her this Spring. Havana has been doing well in  her new school and gotten close to small group of gals. The past couple of months, she began to walk to the library and the Pinole Plaza after school several days a week. It felt like normal life, almost.  Because seeing folks in masks and getting emails about kids being positive, that is not normal, even though it is starting to feel that way. So now we keep moving forward into the unknown.

Getting ready for homecoming

This past Winter we did our Girl Scout cookie sales, again!  We were able to return to BART stations but we scaled it back.  We work masks, gloves and tried to do mostly cashless sales. We had a trip to Panama planned in February and did not want to push things. Still Amara made the 600+ cookie club for her like eighth year in a room, or something like that. Havana long ago tired of cookie sales so she does not have that same goal. (and yet they sold close to 1200 boxes!)

Always up for a road trip or any type of adventure really, we were able to head to Calistoga for two nights in January. Our good friend Holly gifted us with a hotel voucher. It was less than an hours drive but felt like another continent. Getting out of the Bay is always refreshing. Wine country is gorgeous in the winter months. Deep green valleys and mountains provide a sense of calm and peace

Girl Scout Cookies!

I was able to take a week by myself in March to housesit for a friend up the coast. I was working and caretaking property/guests but it was a most welcomed respite from the frenzy of the Bay Area. Redwood trees, the Pacific Coast and quiet, solo time was really good for my mental and spiritual health. I was deeply thankful for good friends who invited me to do this.

The North Coast

One last but not least notable event was that we fostered kittens. That's right, 5 adorable two week old kittens and their mama. She stayed with us a month and then got fixed and went back to where she lived a mostly feral life. We kept the kittens for a total of two months.  We named them Stormy, Selina, Rio, Kingston and Burma. Rio was the run at only 1/2 pound. I had to bottle feed him every 2-3 hours for weeks. Suffice to say, he got quite attached to me and the feeling was mutual. He would come crawling from the kitty pile at the sound of my voice. It was not long before I feel deeply in love. When it came time to adopt them out recently, the brothers went to their new home, the two sisters went to their new family and little Rio became the fourth male cat in our family. Oy vey! But we just love the heck out of him. He a little fur ball of affection and cuteness. But I still can't believe it. It's like cat central here most nights. Samson will go hide under the bed while Simba, Kia and Rio run circles chasing each other and playing. We love it!

Rio!!!

The Gatos

Kai is still our guy. Here he is with Havana's new dolly. 

Me at the Bentley fest!

Now, it's June and school is almost out for the girls.  I can't believe yet another school year has gone by. We are getting ready to celebrate the birthdays of our two small gems this month while also preparing to leave for a much needed and welcomed vacation. No driving to work, school, no household errands, no constant work calls and endless meetings (Don) and back to back schedules  and work and non-work meetings (Anjahni). I aware that most do not get to travel and take such adventures  so I am mindful to not boast or brag. I am just thankful that we will all have some much needed time off to rest and connect.  So that's the update in our pandemic life. I hope one day soon to use the work post before that word pandemic but only time will tell.