DAY 178

Well, it's Labor Day, 2020. I started this blog on March 14th, 178 days ago. I began writing as a method of processing what was happening to our family and the world around me in response to school being closed, supposedly for three weeks. For a short time, it seemed like an adventure. Then the adventure turned into a living nightmare.

I knew at the time that my kids would not be going back in three weeks, but I never imagined that six months later we would still be grappling with this. If I had really been paying attention to history I might have had a clue. The Spanish flu pandemic lasted for two years. The really sad thing is that if the whole country had just shut down for three weeks, we could have actually been pretty successful at curtailing the virus. Instead, the lack of leadership coupled with a nation full of spoiled, entitled, put your head in the sand and ignore reality at all costs human beings led us down a dark and frightening rabbit hole.

College Boy still has no return to school date. I see his depression worsening as each day goes by with no word about what to expect. I see no reason for this when every other school in the state has either started or has a plan in place.

Tomorrow is our first day of Homeschool. Camp Covid-19 has become Clinton Street Academy. Miss Ten is excited to start school. Her cousin and one friend will be joining us for many of our lessons and activities. We have some fun and exciting things planned.

On to a new adventure.

DAY 170

I can't figure out if it is laziness, a form of protest against the mandate to wear a mask, or a general disregard for the planet we all live on and the people we live amongst. Over the last couple of months I have encountered a new form of litter on the streets and sidewalks around town - face masks. And not just disposable ones. I've seen a couple of nice masks that I was tempted to pick up, take home, and wash. I won't do that unless I come across a really cool tie-dyed one. I have grown accustomed to seeing flossing picks, cigarette butts, liquor bottles, and drink cups. I don't know why I should be surprised that people who are inclined to litter would add their face mask to the mix.

I generally pick up garbage when I am walking and deposit it in the nearest receptacle. Often I carry a plastic grocery bag in my pocket for this purpose. I am a girl scout at heart and I believe that we should always leave a place cleaner than we found it. I have tried to pass this principle along to my children and grandchildren. One of my daughters refused to walk with me when she was a teenager because she was afraid of getting a reputation as the Garbage Lady's daughter. I told her she should be so lucky and that her future self would be sorry that she did not aide me in my efforts. My lessons fell on deaf ears at the time but twenty years later I am pretty sure she has come around to my way of thinking.

Like so many things that I have experienced in the last six months, I find this incredibly depressing. Please people, I appeal to your better nature. Put your damned mask in your pocket and throw it away at home.

DAY 166

And so it begins - Hartland High School has closed for in-person learning until September 9th after thirteen confirmed cases and three probable cases of Covid-19 among teens in the district. The superintendent of Hartland Schools is of the opinion that gatherings outside of school are the cause of the spike in cases. Maybe so, but teenagers are going to hang out together in school and outside of school. And they are going to contract the virus. And they are going to spread it to their friends. This is not rocket surgery.

DAY 163

Howell Public Schools started virtual and in-person classes last week, on August 19th. I am of the firm belief that school should not start until after Labor Day. It is still summertime, and we have summertime stuff to do. So we are doing it. It's been really hot, so we have made several trips to the beach and Miss Ten has been in her pool nearly every day. Her best friend has not started school yet (that is a whole other story), so they have been riding bikes, taking early morning runs, and generally being silly ten-year-olds.

We have our learning space pretty well set up, ready to start school after Labor Day. I have all of the books and resources organized, online resources bookmarked, and two weeks of lesson plans set up in my planner. Miss Ten, the budding school teacher, wants to start school now. She can't stand having all of these cool teaching materials just sitting there. Since she is so enthusiastic I had her color a cover for her morning work folder, and help me laminate a few things. This seemed to satisfy her for the time being.

Honestly, I am getting a little excited about school, too. It can be a lot of fun to learn alongside your kids. It can be frustrating and exhausting as well. The important thing is to have realistic expectations of yourself and the kids. Otherwise, someone will cry every day. And it will probably be me.

DAY 161

Today was the last day of camp. The staff and volunteers did an amazing job of creating a "camp" experience in the midst of a global pandemic. Hopefully, next year the circumstances will be vastly different and they can all meet in person again. The Virtual Talent Show was a big hit. Here for your enjoyment is Miss Ten's Talent Show entry. She is totally her mother's child. 

DAY 160

There are so many fun things that happen normally at camp. One of the activities is Color Wars, where the campers basically smear each other with the paint color of their unit. It's always a challenge to get the stains out of their clothes when they come home. I always send a designated outfit for Miss Nine to wear in case I just need to pitch it. Another activity is Messy Olympics, which is just a big food fight.

One of the camp activities today was a fashion show. During a Zoom call, the campers took turns dressing up in whatever they had around the house. Here is Miss Ten's fashion selection.

DAY 159

Today was Empowerment at camp. This is the only time during camp that they address the reason for camp. The kids are each given a battery-operated candle. If and when they want to talk about the cancer in their family they turn on their candle and share their story. A counselor told me once that the whole feeling of camp changes after empowerment. The campers and counselors become closer, and a little bit of the weight that they all live with at home is released.  This year the campers received a candle in the box that came in the mail. Miss Ten went in her room and closed the door for the Empowerment Zoom meeting. I went to my room and had a good long cry.

DAY 157

Miss Ten has attended Camp Kesem for the last four years. Kesem is a camp for kids who have been affected by cancer in a parent. https://www.campkesem.org/

College Boy started at Camp Kesem in 2012, the summer after his mom was diagnosed. He attended every year until he was too old to go as a camper, then he went two years as a CIT (counselor in training). When my daughter told me that Miss Ten would be able to start at camp when she turned six I said "we can't send a six-year-old away to camp for a week!" She picked her camp name when she was three. She watched her brother go off to camp without her for years and by the time she turned six she was totally ready to go. And I was ready to send her.

The counselors are volunteer college students. Some of them started as campers themselves. I have heard many of them say that Kesem is the best week out of their year. I can't say enough about what a wonderful organization this is. These kids get together for one week in the summer and find the "magic" that is Kesem. On the way home from camp his first year College Boy told his mom, "I hate cancer but if it wasn't for cancer I wouldn't get to know all these people."

The campers and counselors have a reunion in the fall and in the spring so that they can keep the magic going throughout the year. The spring reunion was scheduled for March 22nd, 2020. It was canceled due to Covid-19. A few weeks later we got the news that camp would not be happening in person this year. This was a huge disappointment to the campers who so look forward to it, and to the parents who wait all year for a week without kids.

The Kesem organization pulled together and created an entire week of online camp activities for the campers. Today is Day 1 of Camp Kesem at Home for Miss Ten. She received a box a few days ago full of things she will be using for camp. A camp shirt, a pink hat (because she is in the pink unit this year), a s'more flavored pop tart, and lots more. The schedule lists Facebook live videos and several Zoom meetings every day. We have to video Miss Ten for the virtual talent show that will be shown on Friday.

It's going to be an interesting week.

DAY 150

"What are you doing about school?" This is the main topic of conversation between parents over the last week or so. Moms are debating the pros and cons of all three options, in-school, virtual, or home school. Homeschooling Facebook groups have popped up on my newsfeed. I joined the Michigan Homeschoolers and Michigan Secular Homeschoolers. Howell Mi Virtual School Parent Co-op is the latest one I have been invited to join.

Homeschool curriculum sites are running out of printed materials. Many of them are offering digital downloads that you can print yourself. Parents who have been homeschooling for years are being bombarded with requests for advice. Families are joining up to form small groups of kids who can work together. 

I have talked to parents who are sending their kids back but fully expect the schools to close again and they are anxious about what that will mean for their family. A few schools that have opened across the country are already closed again. I sense a high level of uncertainty from everyone I talk to. Many parents are judging the choices of others harshly. I envy families who have been homeschooling all along. They don't have to agonize over these options, they can just carry on as usual. Their kids have not been traumatized by their school closing and uncertainty about the future.

I sent an email to our principal letting him know that Miss Ten would not be attending either the classroom or using the virtual platform. He was disappointed to hear it but said that he fully understood. I know from past experience that many teachers and administrators seem to feel threatened by the choice to homeschool like it is a judgment against them.

The thing is, children are born to learn. You can't stop them from learning. All you have to do is provide them with opportunities and encourage them, whether it is in a classroom or at home. The real challenge for us as parents and teachers is to stay calm so that we can guide our kids through this very difficult period in all of our lives. 

DAY 147

We spent the last several days camping in Montague Michigan. There is a little county park campground out by Lake Michigan that we return to over and over. We love the quiet seclusion, no wifi, or phone service at the campsite. The weather was cool for the first couple of days that we were there, and the water in Lake Michigan was extremely cold. This did not deter my husband and Miss Ten from getting completely wet several times. They love playing in the sand and water. I love to sit on the beach with a good book.

Things seem so normal when you are out in nature. It's easy to forget that we are still living in a state of emergency and that people are wary of coming in close contact with you. I had to wear a mask when I went into the office to check-in, but otherwise, our experience at the campground and on the beach was no different than last year. Miss Ten made friends with neighboring camp kids. Their parents asked us to come over and play some music around their campfire. Our portable Little Free Library got lots of attention.

But then we stopped to look at a travel trailer that had a for sale sign in front. The woman who owned it invited us in to take a look, but we had to mask up. She very nicely offered us disposable masks since ours were back in our camper. We went into town to visit the little coffee shop/bookstore that I love so much. Again, masks required. This is the world we live in for the foreseeable future.

We needed a little vacation from it all, and camping is a great way to relax and avoid big crowds of people. None of us wanted to come home, but even in this dystopian world we are living in bills have to be paid, lawns need to be mowed, employees want their paychecks on time. So, here we are, back to reality.

By the way, we bought the camper.

DAY 140

Foster Kitten

I had an online session with my therapist today. We talked about her foster kittens and the picture that I sent her of me holding my baby granddaughter. But mostly we talked about the issue of school.

I shared with her the fact that I had homeschooled my older kids for several years, and College Boy for kindergarten. I told her about my daughter in law homeschooling my grandson since kindergarten. He is three weeks older than Miss Ten and also a fifth-grader. I told her that I know deep in my heart that old school homeschooling is far better than any virtual platform they can come up with. Sitting in front of a screen for several hours a day cannot compare with real-world interactions with a teacher. And yes, parents are teachers. We began teaching our children from the day they were born and no one has a greater interest in their education than we do.

I don't know what it is about talking to a good therapist or sponsor, but I always end up finding my own answers when someone really listens and asks me the right questions. By the time we finished our call I knew exactly what I need to do. I have to trust in my abilities as a seasoned homeschool mom. I need to reach out to other homeschoolers and families who are choosing the virtual route for opportunities to work together. We can have an adventurous and exciting school year in spite of the challenges we are faced with. We can look at this like a gap year between high school and college, even though it is between elementary and middle school. We can go to the U.P. and visit waterfalls. We can go to museums. We can stay up late and look at the stars.

We are not choosing the classroom or the virtual platform, we are dropping out and forging our own path. Don't expect me to teach calculus, but I can certainly teach fifth grade.

DAY 139

Some of my fondest memories are of picking berries with my grandmother when I was young. We would head out early in the day to get to the berry patch before the sun was too hot. We took our sun hats and mosquito spray. When my kids were young we carried on the tradition. As grandma got older we would take a lawn chair for her to sit in while we picked berries. When my son was about four years old we were picking raspberries one July morning. He had his little berry basket and he was enthusiastically picking berries. After about half an hour he came to me and said "look how many berries I have mom." I looked at the six or seven berries in his basket and then looked at his face which was covered in berry juice. He was smiling from ear to ear. I told grandma that we should have weighed him before we started picking so that we could pay for the ones in his tummy.

When you are in a berry patch bits of conversation drift to you from all around. You hear little snippets of news from other berry pickers. I love trying to figure out who or what they might be discussing. I fill in the blanks to make interesting stories. I could write a whole book about the things I have overheard in a berry patch.

Miss Ten and I went out early today and picked four pounds of berries. She told me that her method is one berry for the bucket and one berry for her mouth. I think the bucket got cheated a few times on this trip.

DAY 137

Last Friday we received notice that school will be resuming on August 19th. We are faced with two options - in classroom learning or a virtual platform. I have spent the last several days agonizing over the choices we have to make. Today I attended a two-hour question and answer Zoom meeting with the superintendent of Howell schools and about 400 other parents. We were asked ahead of time to submit any questions that we had so that they could be addressed in the meeting. I had plenty of questions but only submitted a couple.

Mr. McGregor started off by talking about the Michigan Safe Start phases of reopening. We are in phase four, which allows for in-person learning with a whole list of precautions that must be followed. He went on to say that he fully expects us to fluctuate between phases. If we slip back to phase three the schools will close again. If a classmate or teacher becomes ill the whole class will have to quarantine. They will enforce social distancing as feasible. I have seen how feasible it is to expect kids to social distance. Not likely. The kids cannot share school supplies such as pencils, scissors, etc. Also seems unlikely.

They don't even have a clear idea of what the beginning of the school year will look like. They will possibly be restructuring the first week of school with a gradual start, maybe four days a week until mid-September. They sure aren't making it easy to plan for anything. Whichever path we choose, we are expected to commit to it for the first semester. Who knows what January will bring?

All I can see is the clear potential for more disruption of the learning process for these kids. And, although the virtual platform is much better than it was in the spring, I don't feel that it is the kind of learning experience that I want for Miss Ten. We have until noon on Monday, August 3rd to sign up for the virtual platform if that is our choice. No pressure there. I watch the number of cases rising every day. Things could look very different by August 19th, for better or worse.

All of the parents that I have talked to are planning to send their kids into the classroom, even though  they admit that they fully expect school to close again at some point. These are parents who have to go to work so it's daycare or school. I would choose the classroom too if I was in that position. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I do not have to go to work. This leaves me to carefully weigh all of the options and make the best decision I can for our family.

It all sucks. All of it.

DAY 136

College Boy is turning twenty-one in September. He received a notice in the mail to renew his driver's license. Until you are twenty-one in Michigan you have a vertical license. After that, you get a real adult horizontal license. The notice said that he had to go in person to the Secretary of State to get his new license. I figured it was not going to be easy in these days of Covid-19.

Back in the olden days, you would go to the DMV and wait for hours until your number was called. Then half of the time you would be informed that you did not have all of the correct paperwork to complete the task at hand. You would go back another day to wait some more. Now you have to make an appointment to go in. No one is allowed in the building without one, and you are required to wear a mask. So, you have to go online to their website and make an appointment. Your choices are future or same-day appointments, which can be made 24 hours in advance. It seems to me that they are all future appointments since I don't ever need to make one in the past. Whatever, I got online to sign him up. First I tried a future appointment. The first available was November 4th. Not going to work since he has to do it before his birthday. Next, I tried a same-day appointment but since it was Friday there was nothing available. I went on again yesterday and scheduled one for 4:00 today.

We arrived a little early. There were a couple of people waiting outside the door. College Boy masked up and stood six feet behind the last person and waited. He was inside the building and back out within ten minutes. It was like a DMV miracle happening right before my eyes.

I guess there are some advantages to this virus.

DAY 133

The long-awaited announcement regarding a return to school was sent out today. Here is the e-mail that I received late this afternoon.

Dear Families,

The process of developing our Return to School Plan has been a long and difficult one. Several committees have spent countless hours reading and rereading Michigan's MI Safe Schools Roadmap as we have worked to build a plan that not only meets the requirements of the roadmap but also meets the expectations of our families. These committees have looked at every aspect of our district as we have adapted, revised, and created new procedures designed to keep both students and staff safe as we reopen our schools. They have also reviewed our family and staff survey results and used those to help inform the plan. In addition, dedicated teams of teachers have been working incredibly hard to develop Highlander Virtual, our new virtual school, to be a robust learning experience and a viable option to in-person teaching and learning. We have worked to prepare for the known and unknown and around what it looks like should our region move down to Phase 3 of the MI Safe Start Plan, which will trigger mandated distance learning for all students. Currently, our region is in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan, allowing for in-person instruction. As a county, our school districts have collectively decided to move forward with in-person instruction for the fall. I fully understand that with the release of our Return to School Plan, our families will be making very difficult decisions regarding how to proceed with their child's education. I hope that our learning options and plans will meet your family's needs and expectations. 

Our Return to School Plan outlines what teaching and learning will look like across Phases 1-6 of the MI Safe Start Plan and what safety precautions will be taken to ensure students and staff are safe while at school. To provide a high-level overview of our plans:

• Phases 1-3 Mandated Distance Learning - In Phases 1-3, all school buildings are closed for in-person instruction. This will be a much more robust experience than what we saw during crisis learning in the spring. Students, teachers, and families will utilize the district's new Learning Management Systems (SeeSaw and Schoology) for a more streamlined learning experience. All extracurricular activities will be suspended, and our food service department and technology departments will activate plans for meal and device distribution. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.
• Phase 4 In-Person Instruction with Strict Safety Protocols - In Phase 4, schools are open for in-person instruction. This phase requires facial coverings to be worn by students in 6-12 grade and staff while in the buildings and highly recommends that begindergarten-5 grade students also wear facial coverings. Facial coverings  are also required when utilizing district transportation. Additionally, efforts will be made to follow social distancing recommendations to the extent practical. Extracurricular activities can occur with strict attendance limits, and facial covering  and social distancing requirements. Visitors to buildings will be limited, and when allowed, visitors will be required to wear personal protective equipment. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.
• Phase 5 In-Person Instruction with Relaxed Safety Protocols - In Phase 5, schools are open for in-person instruction. At the same time, we will continue to follow many of the safety recommendations outlined in the MI Safe Schools Roadmap. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.
• Phase 6 In-Person Instruction, Normal School - In Phase 6, schools are open for in-person instruction, and we begin to return to normal operations. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.

In recognizing that not all families will be comfortable returning to in-person instruction at this time, we have developed Highlander Virtual, a robust virtual learning experience. Highlander Virtual is designed to closely mirror the teaching and learning that occurs in the classroom. Howell teachers have developed the core content area/Michigan Merit Curriculum courses, and Howell teachers will deliver this instruction. At the secondary level, families may choose to have their children attend select, in-person elective courses or choose elective courses offered by Michigan Virtual. Since Highlander Virtual was created locally, it will allow students enrolled to remain connected to a local school system opening up access to support systems, athletics, clubs, and other opportunities. To learn more about Highlander Virtual, please visit https://bit.ly/3fXgAwj. To allow us to adequately plan for Highlander Virtual and our school building staffing, we are asking families to make their decision by Monday, August 3, at noon. To enroll your child in  Highlander Virtual, please visit https://bit.ly/30xh5Xo. If you plan to have your child return to in-person learning, you do not need to take any action.

You can find our full Return to School plan at https://bit.ly/30OmR70. We have also created a Return to School Plan Quick Reference Guide, which touches on the plan's highlights. The Quick Reference Guide can be found at https://bit.ly/2ZZMvXv. Additionally, we have built a Return to School webpage to serve as a one-stop reference area. On this page, you will find a FAQ, links to resources, and submit questions about our plan. The Return to School webpage can be found at https://bit.ly/3eZral7. 

Knowing that there will be many questions about our Return to School Plan, we have planned three question and answer sessions next week. The schedule for these sessions is as follows:

• Tuesday,  July 28, Zoom Meeting, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Click here to register for the meeting
• Wednesday, July 29, Freshman Campus Cafeteria, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Seating is limited, click here to sign up
• Thursday, July 30, Freshman Campus Cafeteria, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Seating is limited, click here to sign up

Our Return to School plan is still in draft form. As we finalize the plan and our return to school, there may be minor changes to the plan, the daily school schedule (class times, not school hours), or the approved school year calendar. We still plan to start school on Wednesday, August 19, however, we may adjust the schedule slightly to allow for an easier transition back to school. Any changes will be finalized by Monday, August 3, and will be communicated to you.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has helped develop our Return to School Plan and Highlander Virtual. I would also like to thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. 

Sincerely, 

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S.

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools

DAY 129

We heard that the elementary school that my husband and I attended here in town is going to be torn down in the next few weeks. Yesterday we gathered in front of the building with a few old classmates and my husbands siblings to reminisce and take some pictures. We talked about old teachers and classmates that we have lost touch with. My husband, the ex safety patrol boy, tried to keep us all in line but we weren't having it.

My brother in law lowered the flag to half-mast, as we are all mourning the loss of a piece of our childhood.

DAY 128

Every summer on two separate weekends a local landscaper opens up their property for a "Hosta Walk." They live on a beautiful shaded piece of land in Hartland. You can walk the paths they have created through the woods, enjoying the plants, birds, and many fairy hideouts. Poking out from under their garden shed are pair of legs clad in striped stockings and black pump heels, Wizard of Oz style. They sell Hostas and other shade-loving plants at the local farmer's markets and have them available for sale on these two weekends at their home.

My cousin, who just moved back here from California, wanted to know what she could plant in her shaded front yard. I gave her a few ideas and said, "we need to go on the Hosta Walk." She said, "I don't know what that is but I want to go!"

We both spent quite a bit of money.

DAY 127

I went to visit my daughter and her family today. The baby was sleeping when I got there. My daughter and my two-year-old granddaughter sat out in the yard and visited. When my daughter heard the baby starting to wake up she told me to go wash my hands. She was going to let me hold the little critter. I cried like a baby.

I held that little chick for about ten minutes. I walked around the yard with her, showing her the leaves on the trees and talking to her about the color green. She was reluctant to look me in the eyes because she does not know me. Having to talk to her through a mask is not the ideal situation, either, but I will take what I can get at this point. It felt so wonderful to finally have her in my arms. When this insanity is over we are going to have some serious catching up to do.

DAY 126

Way back on March 14th when I wrote my first post in this blog I could not have imagined that we would be facing another school year with this virus hanging over our heads. But here we are. I have been getting emails from our school district about every week. They vaguely discuss what might be happening in the coming school year. We have gotten two different surveys to fill out and return letting them know what we plan for our kids. Will we be putting them on the bus? Are we in favor of in-person classes? How comfortable are we with a mask requirement for BK - 5 students in the hallways? And a whole lot of other questions. I have filled out these surveys and returned them. It is mid-July and I still have no clear idea what they plan to do, or when.

The more I listen and read about the possibilities and talk to other parents about what they think, the less inclined I am to send Miss Ten into a classroom this fall. I am honestly more concerned about the effect of the stress and anxiety of being in a classroom under the conditions that they are planning than I am about the actual virus. With a teacher who is stressed out to boot. I have seen first hand that kids will not social distance themselves without constant reminders. They will share materials and germs at will. Classrooms are Petri dishes on a normal basis, and I can't imagine the frequent cleaning and handwashing will make a big difference. Many children were already stressed out in school. Adding a whole new level of stressors cannot be a good thing for them.

I am also not enthused about whatever distance learning plans the school district might be putting in place. I know that they did the best they could in the spring on the spur of the moment, but it was less than impressive. As an experienced homeschooler, I can come up with far more engaging ways for her to learn, without relying on a compute/tablet/whatever. Kids showed up on the planet ready to learn. As long as they are exposed to a rich variety of experiences, they will learn.

I think that we have a real opportunity here to re-imagine and reinvent the way we educate our children. Warehousing them together for many hours five days a week is not the most effective way to encourage learning. I know from experience that two hours a day spent on academics is plenty. Throw in some art projects, physical activity, and music. Read and write something every day. They need no encouragement in the technology department!

My heart goes out to the parents who have to leave home for work, who have to choose child care or school, who will have to try and guide their children through online learning while trying to maintain their careers. The choices and sacrifices required of us all are incredibly difficult. To all parents, whatever choice you make is the right one for your family. Know that you are doing your best under ridiculously horrible circumstances. You and your kids will be stronger for going through this. 

DAY 113

Independence Day, 2020. We didn't do much of anything. Not much to do. We hung around the house and ate dinner on the deck. When it was almost dark we went to Page Field and lit some fireworks that my husband procured from a local stand. We drove around through the cemetery and watched a few fireworks displays that people across the lake were having in their yards. Then home to bed. Definitely not our usual 4th of July, with a family picnic at the park, parades, and a big fireworks show.

Nothing is usual anymore, is it?

DAY 111

It is Miss Nine's birthday. She is now Miss Nine Plus One. Or as she insists on calling herself, Miss Ten. Double digits, growing up too fast. She told me in January that she wanted to camp for her birthday, so I made a reservation at a kid-friendly campground close to home. With the quarantine situation, I was not sure if we would still be able to camp, but when I called them a few weeks ago I was told that we were good to go.

We have a 27 ft. Jayco travel trailer, our home away from home. I hauled it out to the campground and parked it. Voila, we are camping. I used to be a tent camper. I made fun of people with RV's and such. I thought that they might as well just stay home. I was much younger and did not mind sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag. Now I am old and want a real bed at the end of the day. And my own toilet in the middle of the night.

Miss Ten invited a friend to come camping with us. She came to stay last night and her mom picked her up this afternoon. This campground has a beach, a splash pad, putt-putt golf, playground, basketball court, and lots more. I prefer a quieter camping experience but this is a fun place for the kids. The girls swam and played, we made s'mores on the campfire, and they giggled like girls until late last night. Today my oldest daughter and daughter in law came out to have a birthday lunch with us. This evening my husband and two grandsons joined us for dinner and a swim. And of course cupcakes and presents.

Social distancing while camping should be relatively easy. You are outside and everyone has their own allotted area. When you are a kid, though, your boundaries are pretty flexible. I cautioned the girls to play a safe distance from others. I asked them not to climb on the floating rafts in the water. I had them wash their hands often. Mostly I just let them enjoy themselves. And I sat in my lawn chair and read an entire book.

DAY 110

Since early June when businesses started slowly opening, the number of Covid-19 cases has increased considerably. Who saw that coming? Outbreaks in the last few weeks have been linked to bars and other large gatherings. Young people, in particular, are gathering in large crowds, ignoring social distancing recommendations, and are spreading the virus among themselves and to their families.

Governor Whitmer signed an order today closing all bars in Michigan once again. These businesses can have outdoor service and are now allowed to sell "cocktails to go." I imagine drunk driving tickets skyrocketing.

DAY 109

I was finally able to take our dog, Bella, to her regular groomer. Bella was not as happy as I was about this. She hates going to the groomer. As with the hair salon, you have to wait outside until there are no other customers in the lobby. Then you go in with your dog, take off their leash and put them in a crate. After that you leave and the groomer comes and gets them out of the crate. The process is reversed when you pick your dog up. Of course, you have to pay for the grooming. The front counter is surrounded by plexiglass, with a little slot cut out for the credit card machine.

Bella was happy to be back in the car and headed home with her new do and a pretty little scarf which she promptly pulled off her neck.

DAY 106

First we had a toilet paper shortage, then every other grocery item you could imagine, and now we are suffering from a coin shortage. I saw this sign in Walgreens and I thought it was some kind of joke. I said to the clerk, "they can just make more can't they?" He agreed. Now I have seen the same kind of sign in several other places. Evidently, because of our quarantine situation, people are not circulating coins in the way that they normally do. According to the Federal Reserve, "The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the supply chain and normal circulation patterns for U.S. coin." Unbelievable.

I also heard that people do not want to handle coins for fear of the virus. I have found myself being much more careful when handling money in our business. I used to lick my finger before counting large stacks of bills to get a better grip on them. I don't do that now. I bought some of those rubber finger covers but I hate them. They are awkward to use.

There seems to be no end to the ways that this virus is affecting every area of our lives. I can't wait to see what's next.

DAY 104

I have had my printer for about ten years. It decided to stop working a couple of weeks ago and nothing I tried fixed the situation. Time for a new printer. Should be easy, right? No, it has been very difficult to find a printer. Since so many people are working from home and buying printers to facilitate their work, there is now a printer shortage.

I finally settled on a printer that I felt would work for me among the few that were available online. I ordered it and had to wait a week and a half for it to be delivered. It came, I set it up, and the thing would not print. I ran the troubleshooter several times and still no luck. So, I put it all back in the box and took it to our local Best Buy to return it. After completing my return I went to the back of the store to see if they possibly had anything. The shelves were bare.

I got back online and finally settled on a color laser all in one machine. Way more printer than I need but it was the best choice I could find. This thing faxes, scans, has wifi capability and I think it will launch the space shuttle. It was delivered in a few days and works great. I am back in business.

DAY 102

I got a haircut today. What a welcome relief! I was a little reluctant to do it but felt very reassured when I entered the shop. Plexiglas barriers have been installed at the front desk. Decorative barriers separate the shampooing stations. Everyone in the shop wore a mask. And when I say everyone I mean only two other employees and one customer. After my shampoo, the chair and sink were sanitized immediately by someone other than my stylist. We chatted through our masks while she cut my hair, talking about how we have coped with the whole Covid-19 debacle. I felt safe and secure and definitely more like myself when I walked out the door.

A friend of mine went to get her hair done a week or so ago and had quite a different experience. Her stylist is of the opinion that the whole thing is a hoax and that she has no responsibility to try and protect anyone by wearing a mask or taking other precautions. Sadly, there are too many people who feel the same way. I don't know how they can ignore the 120,333 who have died in this country in the last three months. I've said it before and I will say it again, you can't fix stupid.

DAY 101

My daughter and daughter in law came to my house for the first time since quarantine started. They brought lunch from Panera and we sat out on the deck and ate. They stayed for a couple of hours. It was so nice to sit and talk with them in person, rather than on Facetime. We did not hug when they arrived or departed.

These normal family gatherings are what I miss the most. The isolation that we are living in is soul-crushing.

DAY 100

Father's Day 2016

Day 100, Father's Day. My dad died almost two years ago and I miss him so much. I'd give anything for one more day with him, but at the same time, I am thankful that he did not have to witness what we have experienced in the last few months. He had the kindest heart, and it would have been so hard for him to see how his loved ones have suffered trying to function during this crisis.

My husband, his brother, son, and one grandson went out fishing early this morning. They actually caught some fish, which is a minor miracle. They have a history if coming home empty-handed from their fishing trips. I met them at the city park in the afternoon and the guys cooked their fish on a grill. My aunt and a friend of hers joined us. We sat on the hill eating fish, potato salad, and coleslaw. There were very few people in the park, a few boats out on the lake and probably twenty people swimming. In spite of things reopening it seems that there is still an abundance of caution being practiced by most people. It was a great pleasure to spend time with family on a Sunday afternoon. These simple things have become so much more precious to me, and I hope to others.

DAY 99

I feel a great sense of hope at this moment. Hope that there really is a monumental change happening in our country, and in our collective souls. In spite of all that is going wrong in the world, it seems that people are waking up to what is really important. Conversations are happening that are deeper and more meaningful. People are looking inside and acknowledging the ways that they have helped to perpetuate the oppression of others. This virus has brought about a reckoning that I hope will endure long past the time it takes us to resume some semblance of normal lives.

And, that man in Washington can't draw the huge crowds that he thrives on.

DAY 98

I took Miss Nine to the dentist today. This was an appointment that was scheduled six months ago, b.c. I received a call to confirm the appointment with instructions on how to proceed when we arrived. When we got into the parking lot I called the office and let them know that we were there. A hygenist came to the door to meet us, gave me some paperwork to sign, and took Miss Nine in for her check-up. I had the option to come into the waiting room or wait in my car. I waited in the car. When she was done the hygenist brought her out to my car and gave me a report on the state of her teeth. No cavities.

After the appointment, we headed to Romulus to visit with my daughter and her kids. We stopped in Ypsilanti on the way to drop off some things at a kids resale store.  There were only a couple of other customers in the store, and they now have a different procedure for dropping off your items. I put my basket on a shelf where the clerk wiped the handles before she sorted through the clothes. Everyone I saw in there wore a mask. I left the things there and told them I would be back later to pick up whatever they did not take.

At my daughter's house we sat in the yard while the kids played. Miss Nine and her cousin went for a bike ride. I am still not able to hold my new grandbaby or get too close to any of them. We ordered lunch from the local bowling alley bar and restaurant. When I went in to pick up lunch there were five people at the bar, two sitting at a table and one waitress. I was the only one wearing a mask. This was in Wayne County where there are still many new cases of the virus every day.

We stopped back at the resale store on the way home. I picked up the things that they did not want and received store credit for the things they kept. I did not have any desire to hang around and shop. We will go back another day for that.

Navigating the world these days sort of feels like walking through a minefield. It's exhausting. I came home and took a nap.

DAY 92

Many times I have thought that politics and religion will be the end of us. When I say religion I do not mean faith or spirituality, I mean the hardcore adherence to a certain set of beliefs that separates you from the rest of humanity. The belief that you are right and anyone who does not follow your particular view is wrong, the enemy. For a few years I belonged to a church that proclaimed itself to be the one true church. I grew disillusioned with that very quickly and stopped attending.

I have watched the response to many things over the years, but lately, it is the reaction to the pandemic and to the protests occurring around the world that has renewed my thoughts regarding this issue. People are taking sides based on their political or religious views rather than on facts or genuine concern for ourselves and our fellow human beings. Every issue seems to turn into our side against your side. When I hear people say "we don't discuss politics or religion" what I really hear is "I am set in my ways and I refuse to consider another point of view." This blind devotion to our beliefs is killing us. It is the reason we go to war, the reason we can justify the oppression of those who are not like us, the reason that we refuse to look beyond our own narrow interests and see that we are all one. Every living thing on this planet is interconnected and until we embrace that reality we will never stop trying to destroy ourselves and everything around us.

DAY 91

The weather for this weekend is beautiful, 70's and sunny. My husband has gone fishing and I spent the day working in the yard. That's all I've got for today.

DAY 90

Someone called from my hair salon today. They asked if I wanted to make an appointment for a haircut. "Yes, please" I replied. It has been three months and I am ready. I've been saying for weeks that I want a haircut, but I don't need one. I tell people that my hair is saving their lives. I made an appointment, the first available is in two weeks. I was given a whole list of rules I need to follow in order to get this haircut and a rundown of the precautions that are being taken in the salon.

1. Remain outside until 5 minutes before my appointment time.
2. They reserve the right to take my temperature before entering the salon.
3. I must wear a face mask with ear loops.
4. Hand sanitizer is available at every station, in the restroom, and at the desk.
5. The stylist will sanitize and disinfect her work station and tools between appointments. (I am not sure what the difference is between sanitizing and disinfecting).
6. If I need products I should call ahead to order them.
7. No one is allowed in without an appointment.
8. No food or beverages will be served (I am going for a haircut, not a snack).
9. No reading material will be available.
10. I am to leave any unnecessary personal items in my car.
11. The credit card terminal will be regularly sanitized.

This is a relief. I cut my husband's hair a few weeks ago, but I sure was not going to let him cut mine.

DAY 89

When I started this blog I never dreamed that I would still be at it eighty-nine days later. I was sure that the original school closing would go on for longer than three weeks, but the idea that we would still be here three months later was beyond the imagination. Yet, here we are. Three months of fear, uncertainty, illness, and death. Even though businesses are opening up and so many people feel free to resume their previous lives, I know many who are not ready to embrace a life of close contact with others. The virus is obviously still circulating. In many states, the number of cases continues to rise. So how do we go forward and what will we face in the future if we are not extremely smart about our interactions with the world?

I read an article about the response in Japan to the COVID 19 pandemic. The Japanese did not do many of the things recommended to slow the spread of the virus, but they did one thing immediately -  everyone began to wear a mask when they went out in public. As a result, the number of cases has been a fraction of what we have seen in the United States. We were told in the beginning to stop buying masks. There was no clear direction regarding the effectiveness of wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the virus. We were slow to begin this practice and even now when the evidence is clear people refuse to wear them because they are uncomfortable or they don't like the way they look. Not wearing a mask is seen by many as a political statement, which makes no sense to me whatsoever. This virus does not respect your politics.

A whole industry has sprouted up to fill the need for face masks. Companies have issued masks sporting their corporate logo to their employees. Patterns for masks, including some with cute animal faces for kids, began appearing on Pinterest in a hot minute. I received a package from Blue Cross/Blue Shield with a mask, disposable thermometers, and a packet of lettuce seeds. I am not sure how they think the lettuce is going to protect me, but I appreciate the thought. I am continuing to make face masks for my friends and family and to donate to the local hospital. I hope that face masks become the new fashion statement for 2020. I think I will make myself a tie-dyed mask and let my freak flag fly.

DAY 88

Today was the funeral for George Floyd. Hundreds of people gathered in a Houston, Texas church to mourn for and honor this man who is the embodiment of the suffocation long felt by black Americans. Protests have continued across the country and around the world in the wake of his murder. The mayor of Houston stood at his funeral and announced that he would ban the city's police from using chokeholds and strangleholds. Police departments around the country are scrambling to change their policies in response to the public outcry over the ongoing violence perpetrated by those charged with protecting us.

A New York City police officer surrendered to face criminal charges after he was recorded shoving a woman to the ground and cursing at her during a protest against police brutality. Two police officers in Buffalo, New York were charged after knocking a 75-year-old man to the ground during a protest. Democrats in Congress unveiled legislation aimed at combating excessive use of force and racial discrimination by police and making it easier to identify, track, and prosecute misconduct.

I saw a video of George Floyd's six-year-old daughter saying "my daddy changed the world." I hope she is right, but we are the ones who must change, and continue to stand up against injustice wherever we see it. We must work to create equality in whatever way is effective. Here is a link to a document outlining anti-racist resources. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrAq4iBNb4nVIcTsLcNlW8zjaQXBLkWayL8EaPlh0bc/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR2vsrujmidfAMCJlFmh6qYa2xwFwoOAfknvz8DcIXeCvWJx3FGkOSBcuik

I encourage you all to read and put into practice the many actions needed for true change. Let's show Gianna Floyd and all of our children a better, kinder world.  

DAY 87

The state of Michigan has now reached Phase 4 of Governor Whitmer's plan to reopen businesses. Restaurants are opening with reduced capacity. Dog groomers are making appointments. On June 15th hair, nail, and massage businesses can reopen. I know that many people are very anxious to finally be able to get a hair cut or have their nails done. I personally would love to get a hair cut, but I am not in any hurry to rush back into being in close proximity to very many people. I am wondering how the mask issue will work when getting a hair cut. I saw a post on Pinterest of a mask that you glue to your face somehow. That seems a little excessive. Although, I suppose you could get a haircut and wax your facial hair at the same time with that method.

Protest in Austin, Texas

The hope is that we will not see a massive rise in cases of covid-19 when the stay at home order is lifted. It will be interesting to see what happens in two weeks after all of the massive demonstrations around the country in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.

Miss Nine has resumed playing with a couple of friends. It is not possible to keep kids six feet apart when they are playing. The other parents and I have made the decision that the mental health of all involved (mainly the parents) far outweighs the risks. As of today, there are only thirty-five active confirmed cases of the virus in our county. The kids play outside in the pool or ride bikes together. Today Miss Nine's cousin came over for a few hours. His mom hugged me when she dropped him off. I cried like a baby.

DAY 86

This afternoon I watched Dear Class of 2020, a virtual graduation ceremony hosted on YouTube. The program began with Lizzo playing Pomp and Circumstance on the flute, joined by the New York Philharmonic on a Zoom type concert. Scenes of young people protesting the ongoing injustice against people of color played in the background.  The first speaker was Alecia Keys, talking about the challenges of graduating at this time in history, and particularly in relation to the killing of George Floyd and all of the protests happening around the world.

Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Condolezza Rice, Lady Gaga, Malala, Justin Timberlake, Tom Hanks, and many more celebrities spoke and performed for this ceremony. They offered encouragement and wisdom that can benefit young people graduating now, and indeed for all of us. Bart Simpson mooned the audience, with 2020 emblazoned across his butt cheeks. Marge Simpson having a nervous breakdown in the kitchen, surrounded by piles of dirty dishes, was priceless.

At the end of the broadcast, Barack Obama returned with some final words for the graduating class. "Yours comes as the world turned upside down, by a pandemic and a country swept up by protest. I can barely imagine how head-spinning these months have been for you." He said the peaceful protesters were "unbelievably inspiring. You make me optimistic about our future" because "the old normal wasn't good enough."

He is so right.

DAY 85

My calendar is actually starting to fill up with events that I need to pay attention to. Granted, the majority of them are Zoom meetings, but it's enough that I feel the need to check my calendar often so that I don't forget about something that I need to do. I will admit that I enjoyed not having a full calendar, but I know that can't go on forever.

Traffic in town is back to normal. While this signals a return to life as we knew it, I miss the feeling of being returned to a slower, more peaceful time. I have posed the question many times over the last weeks - how will we know when we are truly safe and secure in going about our lives without the threat of illness all around us. I suspect that there will be no specific day or thing that will signal this for us. I think that one day we will just realize that we've been in that place of renewed security for a while and did not even recognize it. We will greet a neighbor without feeling the need for six feet of distance. We will forget to wash our hands for the umpteenth time in one day. We will not dread grocery shopping, other than the normal "I hate grocery shopping." We will hug a friend, and hold on for a little longer, maybe a lot longer because we realize how truly precious that privilege is.

DAY 84

Donald Trump finally has his wall - around the White House. An eight-foot black fence now surrounds the perimeter. When armed protesters entered the capital building in Michigan because they were not happy with Governor Whitmer's stay at home order Trump tweeted "The governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal."

Now when peaceful, unarmed protesters gather outside the White House a wall is erected between him and the citizens who truly want their lives back, safely. These are good people, angry people whose lives have been threatened and literally taken from them for centuries. These people are not protesting because they want to get a hair cut or go to a movie. They want to stop being murdered. Why can't he just "see them, talk to them, make a deal?"