Catching up
It has been a long time since I last wrote here and sooo many things have happened!
Moderate travel returned for us before we were really ready, due to family issues. We had planned to visit Glenda's family in October. We had barely determined to suck it up and go (while being very careful) when we were told that her father was ill. At that point they had thought it was a sinus infection and cough that just wouldn't let go. Of course we were concerned it might be COVID, but he had a negative test and the doctors were quite sure that that was not the case. And we felt we definitely had to go.
It was clear that my father-in-law, Robert, was quite ill. A week or so after we came home we got a definitive diagnosis, sarcomatoid mesotheleoma (lung cancer). We went back to help with some things in early November and Glenda went again by herself around Thanksgiving. Several days after this third trip, in early December, Robert Adams passed away. From an active 80 year old who travelled the world and shepherded young boys through all manner of projects when volunteering to run the boys' club at church, to gone....in less than 3 months. We went back to St. George, separately and together, a number of times since then...for the funeral, to help with some clean-up projects, and just to visit Glenda's mother, Janice. And of course Glenda did the St. George Half Iron in May.
Winter was rough. Within a few week's of Robert's passing, my mother's last remaining sibling passed and my son's family lost a beloved pet (a puggle named Drucker) rather suddenly. Right before Christmas my daughter was diagnosed with COVID-19. She did reasonably well despite being one of those people who tested positive (with no symptoms) for months. Spring couldn't come soon enough for us!
Running continues...virtually and in person
We were what you might call "early adopters" of the return of in-person racing. Our first one was a trail race in late October. However, it was different from earlier races. Masking was required when near others and start times were broadly spread out to ensure maximum social distancing. Still it WAS a race with other people. What didn't change was our penchant for costumes!
Pleasure travel is back
Given the rate of our travel before the pandemic got in the way, we were beyond eager to do some traveling. A brief winter weekend visit to a cabin an hour from home helped, but by Spring we really wanted to get away a bit. Sooo, even before we were vaccinated we signed up for the Mackinac Island Fort to Fort 5 mile race and made plans to stay isolated and masked up (the race itself already had a good social distance plan).
Fortunately, by May 15, the day of the race, we were both fully vaccinated, making the trip even safer (though we definitely had qualms on and off). So off we went on a road trip, and some fun adventures. Highlights included a spur of the moment trip to Kitch-iti-springs (Big Springs) in the Upper Peninsula and, of course, the race. (Fort Mackinac played a role in the War of 1812 and our costumes were based on uniforms from that era).
Well for one thing, we've gone back to live racing...carefully. And we have further plans for that.
Glenda has retired at the grand old age of 54, and I will be retired (again, ha!) by the time I publish this. So there will be new and different adventures.
My daughter Melanie is "between places" in a respite nursing home setting, and what's next for her remains to be seen.
My son and his family built a house and got a new puppy during the height of the pandemic...and I'm sure there will be more stories and adventures from that quarter too.
Glenda's sister is going through some life changes, part of which involves her moving further from their mother. So I'm sure there will be plenty of issues, stories and adventures for us (and them!) too.
In other words, I am unlikely to run out of things to talk about. And so, until next time......
