Too Many Things Happen in June: a recap

Huh. Okay. Where were we?

When I started this, I wrote every day because there was NOTHING ELSE TO DO. It's funny that as life starts back up again that changes. I actually had to start keeping a calendar in May because enough was happening that I couldn't keep it in my head. That...hadn't happened in awhile. 

So since I wrote last I received both my vaccines and joined the ranks of the fully vaccinated on June 7. Which means I can hug my friends which is nice. We've eaten at a few indoor restaurants and I signed the kids up for swimming lessons starting June 28 but it hasn't changed our life that much. I still wear my mask to the grocery store even though I'm not required to anymore. I still wear it most places. We still haven't been anywhere with a giant crowd. My dad wants to go to a baseball game. I like the idea of it, but it's also kind of terrifying.

My family and close friends are all vaccinated now except my kids who still aren't eligible. Currently vaccines are available to kids 12+. A vaccine for younger kids should come later this year. 

The state fully reopens next week. Full capacity at sports arenas, the whole bit. The only thing still closed is the Canadian border but probably not for too much longer. The school is saying five day fully in person in the fall. It's all...coming to an end. We think. Kinda.

It doesn't feel like it to me yet. 

I don't know when my moment will be. When my kid can go to school without a mask? When I'm back as a hospital volunteer? I'm not sure. But I'm not there yet.

What else has been going on...well, a lot. We went away the first weekend in June for a lovely weekend at Fort Wordon. It felt different this time...we went to town and sat in a restaurant and didn't feel like we'd run away to a small town to hide. 

On Friday, James finished his school year. His actual last day of in person school was Tuesday, on Wednesday he had a Zoom meeting with the entire first grade (so a reunion of sorts, saw kids he hadn't seen since they went to the hybrid schedule in April,) and then the last real school day was Friday, June 18 at home. He even went to the last PE zoom of the year in the afternoon. And then we cleaned out his school corner and threw so much away.

I can't feel anything but relief about school ending. He was completely out of school for a full year. His last in person day of kindergarten was March 4 and his first day of hybrid first grade was April 5 so he was completely remote that whole time. Since April 5 it has been two days a week in school and three days from home. I can't even put into words what the upheaval and chaos of school life has been like. It is such a huge relief to have it over. It has been a traumatic experience for our kiddos going through this. I don't think any of us are going to be able to process this for a long time. I'm starting to see children's books coming out about the pandemic and quarantines. There will be more. So far I have given them mixed reviews. There is one that is incredibly popular and sold out everywhere (like, the distributor is out, no more can be had right now) that by LeYuen Phang that I'll have to check out once I can get my hands on it. It seems to be speaking to people. 

Then this weekend was Father's Day. Got to see my dad for the first time in three weeks. He's stable and okay but his health and mobility continues to decline. It's been a tough year for him, too. I enjoy every bit of time we get with him. He is 81 now and we almost lost him four years ago. I still think about that a lot. Time is a gift.

Today was the first official day of summer and my best friend's birthday. It was hotter than blazes. I hate that it is getting hotter and the threat of climate change looms. Like I need more things to worry about. We sprayed the kids with hoses and drank root beer floats. I was mostly tired and cranky if I'm honest. It's been a long week. I think I need last week of school recovery time.

So there we are. I don't know quite what to do with this blog now. It feels like maybe it should end since the pandemic is ending and it's not 2020 anymore. I don't know. I've enjoyed having it. Maybe it's on to better things. I don't know if I can decide that right now. I don't know.

Media consumption...hmmm. My love of TV reruns continues. I've been watching some Reba but I got sick of it fast. It isn't funny after the first few. I've been getting Growing Pains DVDs from the library still. That feels like a time capsule. It's been interesting. I finally watched the Friends reunion. I didn't care for it. It felt sad.

I've been reading a lot. Today I finished Revolution by Deborah Wiles. It's the second in a trilogy and I liked it soooo much more than the first. It's about the Freedom Summer in Mississippi 1964. It feels important to read now as we are once again fighting about voting rights. I've been reading other stuff, too, especially for Pride. I just finished Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. It was gorgeous.

Today I'm grateful for sprinklers, root beer, my husband pizza, air conditioning (I know! I'm not usually a fan!) books, singing to Max, comfy skirts, and sleep. 

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