Time Flies During a Pandemic

Wow!  Have I ever been delinquent in posting.  With all this "free time" during this stay at home period, you would think I would have more time than ever to post and to write.  I will have to go back and do some back posting to accurately track quarantine for the official record.  I really do enjoy the extra time with the family.  Sure, they are likely sick of me and of each other.  It's hard not seeing the rest of the family and our friends.  I do get to write here and there.  I might have too many writing projects going on.  Maybe.
     I have the leather bound journal with the imprint of the tree of life on it, which Caz gave me as a gift.  I try to write in that for my sons and their future children.  I have this blog, which a handful of viewers seem to come across occasionally.  And I have the book.  The book has gotten more attention this year.  I made it a New Years goal for 2020, to make real progress with the book.  It is coming along in drips and in drabs.  This blog has taken a hit.
     Tonight, is a great night for writing.  I am on the deck.  It is 9:30 pm.  It is dark.  There are no bugs around me.  Unfortunately, there are no stars.  But I have the string lights overhead, crocheted in the metal trellis.  It is cool, but not cold.  I have the zero gravity chair to myself.  Life is good.  And so...I write.

Star Wars Day 2020

May the 4th be with you!
     I found is amusing that starwars.com was marketing staying at home and celebrating the day at home.  Most other years they are pushing the book, movie and video game merchandising.  So what else is really different?
     I will say that I wouldn't mind watching The Rise of Skywalker with the family tonight.

Last Class 2020

I can't believe today was the last class of 2020 for the boys.  Coco just finished the freshman year regular season.  Caz is wrapping up junior year.  I am about to have a rising sophomore and a rising senior.  In college!  How did that happen?!  Where did the time go?  It didn't end in a usual fashion.  It ended on Zoom.   Life goes on.  The world goes on.  College goes on.  Time stops for no one. 

Draft 2020

The first ever virtual NFL Draft!  It was certainly different.  The NFL had a captive audience.  This was the first live sporting event in months.  Something to get excited about.  Finally.  I joked about watching every single pick for the first time ever.
     Watching the first round was something I hoped would be a family event.  The boys had a vested interest with players from their colleges.  At least one from each was projected going in the first round.  I knew better to wait for the Patriots pick and for them to make it.  I was confident that Bill would trade out of the first round.  Sure enough, he did.  Coco was eager to watch.  Demi was a good sport.  She hung out with us, while Coco and I discussed and watched each pick.  Unfortunately Caz was not looking to engage.  According to Coco, Caz was playing a video game with friends.  Virtually, of course.  The virus hasn't changed that.  The kids have played online with friends for years. 
     Coco bowed out of night two.  So I watched rounds 2 and 3 on an iPad, silently.  Demi and I watched the new Chris Hemsworth movie on Netflix.  That was a win win. Thor for Demi to watch.  Action movie and draft for me to watch.

Pat's Run 2020

This year, Pat's Run was a lot different than in years past.  It was the first all virtual run.  One of the highlights of running this race in Tempe, AZ, is finishing in Sun Devil stadium on the 42 yard line.  A global pandemic calls for different measures.  Pat's Run has always had remote runners.  Shadow races take place in cities all over the country.  Military serving all over the world, run at bases where they are stationed.  I usually run as a remote runner.  However, not seeing video clips on social media covering the race in Tempe this year was strange.  It was cool seeing people post their shadow runs.  This was my first run in the snow.  I waited until the traditional start time in Tempe, so that it would warm up a bit.  I still had to bundle up with hat, gloves and a face shield.  The date caught me off I guard.  It happened early this year.  And with everything going on, I completely forgot and screwed up my training.  I had to do all my training in one week.  I manged to run the whole 4.2 miles though.  I am pretty proud of my self.  The last 2 tenths were excruciating.  But I finished. 

21 Post Script

The Skype birthday toast for Caz was every bit as chaotic as Long Island Christmas.  20-25 people all trying to talk at once.  Then factor in all the technology newbies.  "Can you hear me?"  "Can you see me?"  "I can't see [Fill in the Blank]!"  "Is [Fill in the Blank] on?"  It took 20 mins just to announce and to organize the signing of Happy Birthday.  But Caz was surprised.  And he knew the whole family was thinking of him.

21

Happy 21st Birthday Caz!  Enjoy your first drink, if you so choose :)
     This birthday is a tough one.  Not because I am now a father of a 21 year old.  But because you are so far away.  Yes, you have had birthdays at college before.  But of course, the pandemic is the X factor.  It's hard.  We were supposed to be visiting you this week.  We should be going to a bar together for the first time.  The time will come.  I am just impatient.  And I miss you.

Sunrise

During this stay at home period, I have been trying to get out every morning for a walk, a jog or a run.  I am trying to keep to a work week routine.  I get up at 5:45 am, M-F, to start my outing.  It is still dark.  The first hint of dawn is apparent as I walk out of the basement door.
     I walk out of the basement door to reduce the noise on the main floor, for the rest of the house who still sleeps.  I walk softly and slowly on the rocks, until I get to the wooden walkway.  I do my best to open and close the gate with little clanging of metal on metal.  I hit the driveway and look to the sky.  I choose my route by the light in the sky, the clouds or lack of clouds, the wind and the rain.  If I see a hint of red and orange on the horizon, I will head towards Sunrise Beach.  The morning sunrise is something I have really enjoyed during this period.  The colors in the sky are amazing.  Maybe is the newly cultivate meditation/mindfulness practice.  Maybe it is the new house in the new location.  But I find I appreciate a sunrise a lot more.  I watched the whole sunrise yesterday, from the time the sun first broke the surface of the water on the horizon, until the bottom of the sun cleared the darkness.  Time well spent for sure.  It does wonders for my spirit.  For that brief time, all is right.

April Fool's Day

What a different April first this year.  No office pranks are possible whatsoever.  Sure, you could prank a co-worker virtually. It's not really the same.  It's not the cup of pennies falling from the overhead.  It's not the tape of the microphone of telephone.  I should have taken more initiative to do something.  I just didn't have it in me this year.

Happy Birthday Gizmo!

Our "little puppy" is 12 today.  Really incredible.  She still looks like a young puppy.  She still has great youthful spirit.  She brings us so much joy.  Gizmo - we love you!

Happy Anniversary Demi

22 years and counting.  This new era is very exciting.  I am lucky to share it all with you.  Looking forward to seeing what is in store. 
     This one will be a memorable one for sure.  The social distancing anniversary.  I hope you like the 6 foot pole. 

Closing Time

It's official today.  The Deerpath house is sold.  We were sweating it.  The courthouse in Plymouth county had been shut down last week.  We really didn't know if the paperwork would be filed.  The deed needed to be recorded.  It took most of the day but the deal was closed.  We only own one house again.  Back to one mortgage.  One set of utilities.  And hopefully, we are close to no mortgages for a while. 

Happy 13th Leap Year Baby

Enjoy the teen years dear.  They can be very challenging.  I hope you have wonderful day, especially on an actual birthday.  Love you always.

Happy 19th Birthday Coco

Our eldest enters the last of the teen years.  That is a bit mind boggling.  Enjoy the final run of this age set Coco!  Your mom and I love you and are proud of you.

House for Sale Part Duex

The house is now back on the market.  I will say that it is easier to keep clean and to maintain as an empty nest.  Less potential suspects to clutter it up.  Less of “it wasn’t me, it was him.”  Now the downsizing can continue.
     We are hoping for a better experience this time.  The story is that the spring season is starting early and that house buyers are out there now.  It would be nice to be able to move ahead.  We would like to get to NC, some time this spring.  A test run is definitely in order.

An Offering

Well, after rumors of offers on the house from the open house and broker tour, we did finally get an official offer today.  It’s a good sign.  It’s a good offer too.  It really would be nice for this to work out.  But we still have a long way to go.
     We did tell the boys that the offer was presented and that we accepted.  They were good about it.  Caz was actually very positive. They may not be ready for the life change. But they understand it.

Back to USC

Now its Coco’s turn to go back to college.  Took him to the airport to fly back to Charlotte.  The nest is empty again.
     Coco was ready to go back.  He missed his crew.  A totally normal reaction to the first extended break in a freshman campaign.  Can’t blame either of them for wanting to return to school.
     I think they do miss Mom and Dad though.  They would never offer that up directly, on their own. They miss home too.  I think Coco misses it a tad more.  Although he got to see over fall break that home is not totally the same as how he left it.  His DHS buddies have their college friends and environments.  Most didn’t come home at the same time.  They had other commitments.  And quite a few got to see each other quite a bit, since they all left for their respective schools.  There is no ill intent.  It is all a part of the circle of life.

Back to Auburn 2020

The family break up started.  Well, not break up.  But the boys are starting to return to college.  Winter break is over.  The conglomeration of the nuclear family is disbanding.  It was a nice run.  The boys got to recharge their batteries.  We didn't ask a lot from them.  They did help a bit with a couple of big jobs at the new house.  That was very helpful.  They did it with no fanfare or bellyaching.  Demi and I got to have quality time with our sons, together, all in one place. 
     Caz is the first one due back to school.  Auburn starts about 5 days earlier than USC.  It doesn't seem fair, to Demi and me, since Caz was last one home.  We get it.  Caz wanted to spend some time with his girlfriend before coming home.  I remember being that age, and forming relationships.  The boys might not think I remember.  But I certainly do.
     Caz was great this morning.  He got up early.  About 7 hours earlier than he had been waking up during break.  We drove the the T parking lot and got there without traffic.  The Red Line actually ran as it should for a change.  I walked Caz over to the Silver Line at South Station.  A very nice young woman kindly pointed out the correct SL line for Caz to get on for Logan Airport.  It all worked very smoothly.  Caz took it all in stride.  He is really becoming quite a pro at traveling.  Our young man is becoming very worldly.

New Years 2020

This new decade got off to an auspicious start.  Demi and I celebrated at our friends' house, as tradition demands.  The boys stayed in.  They hung out together, which was a nice thing.  They also agreed to pick us up from said friends' house.  Uber Sons worked great.  Demi and I got to cut loose a bit.  They boys got the house and WIFI to themselves for the night.  They cooked pizza and nachos when they go hungry.  It was an all around win.

Happy 2020!  Best wishes for a healthy & happy new year and new decade!