Tom did indeed have covid. It lasted 3 weeks. The first week we thought it wouldn't be so bad, but by the 2nd week he was on oxygen, no energy. I was taking his statistics each day and sending the results to the hospital. We received daily calls from the hospital and we felt we had excellent care and attention. One lady was especially good. We had to go to the emergency one day b/c his oxygen level was at 83. They sent him home without oxygen, but this lady followed up and insisted it was brought to our house. It saved the day. She was great.
We were very isolated of course, and everybody was surprised that I didn't get it, including myself! We had planned a mini family reunion but since Tom got Covid, the Portugals took a raincheck. Jake and his family still came b/c by the end of week 3, Tom was well. Yes, low energy and had to take it easy for another couple of weeks, but by and large, back to himself. We even went for a hike at Park City and I took a "Covid Survivor" photo of Tom.
So with Tom well, we went ahead with a mini reunion, without the Portugals. I remember cooking umpteen pancakes one morning for breakfast, all served on our huge deck. Most meals were outside in fact. Took river trips on the Provo River, did yoga, Jake biked Guardsman Pass twice!, we floated the canal, we did the Heber Creeper, we had a great time!
Oh, I forgot. The day before Tom was diagnosed with Covid, we went piano shopping! It was a birthday present as well as I helped us avoid paying for the repairs to a rental car, and I chipped in some of my social security money. I'm very happy with my piano. Just wish I fit in more regular practice. How is it that a retired person can be so busy they don't get to all the things they want to. It makes no sense, but still it's a fact.
Well, after Jake left and it settled down a bit, on the spur of the moment, Tom and I decided to go to California! We went for his birthday as well as to have a look around to see different areas for a possible purchase once Virginia house sold. We shook hands on the trip down to CA that we wouldn't buy anything because our house wasn't even on the market yet. Well.......we found something! And we decided to go for it: 190 Del Mar Shore Terrace, #73. As of today, 3 buyers later, and 2 months later it appears that it will go through. It's been such a roller-coaster ride. Both Tom and I are amazed that the CA sellers have been so patient with us. We have a contingent contract as we are doing a 1031 exchange. The VA house has to sell or we don't buy!
When we got back from CA, we offered to help Nicole sand, prime, and paint her house. The girls were at their Dad's house for a vacation week, and it was our opportunity to pound it out. Whew! It was a huge job! We worked all day and went back to Suzanne's at night and crashed, only to get up and do it again. Colie used my leftover paint from painting our Heber house and it looks really awesome. The worst really was the sanding.
The next big event was the birth of Loren Isaac Herway on July 25, 2020. He is our 20th grandchild, born in 2020. Pretty cool. And he is a namesake. Steve blessed him at his house. Everything is still so different b/c we are STILL dealing with Covid. Seth's family was able to stop in to met Isaac on their way to Montana. Colie went up the following week-end, so she could go without her girls. He is adorable, everybody agrees.
In August we were invited to spend a week on a houseboat at Lake Powell with our neighbors, Mary & Terry Pitts. EVERYBODY had told us that it's their 'happy place', that it's a blast, that it's a MUST. It didn't sound so great....but we had to give a try to know for ourselves. Well, we know for ourselves. Not for us! It hovered around 104 degrees during the day and felt lucky if it dipped below 90 in the night. Our host would not turn on the A/C!!! We felt 'imprisoned' b/c we had no way to go anywhere, and to add salt to the wound, they were all Trump lovers, UGH. We were stuck on the boat. No privacy. Slept on the roof with all the snorers. It was downright miserable. We'll go with Seth on his motorboat and sleep in the hotel at night, but NEVER again on a houseboat. There was one bright spot. The Tomlinsons were there on their houseboat and had extra room. Maddy had just gotten married and the wedding guests had gone and they had an extra bedroom. The Kimballs were also with them, so for 24 hours we had our own room, A/C, and they taught me how to surf!!! We had great conversations and reconnected in a real way. It was a true highlight. Sydney Kimball now married, Spencer Jr has 'come out'. Jenny still suffering from her motorcycle accident in Nepal. Maddy now married to a wonderful guy, Kyle.
Suzanne usually has an Easter Egg Hunt, but in April everything was under Covid lockdown. She decided to have it in September! She is good to invite Colie and girls and us to join in. It's always a big party and a very nice meal and great company.
Natalie had originally booked a flight to come in April to visit my mom. Postponed b/c of Covid. She rebooked for September. She fit ALOT into only 9 days. Seth's family was visiting the Bluths for Labor day and we joined them for a hike to Lake Blood. We had a great visit at my Mom's. Mom saw Natalie's 'torn' jeans and said, "you actually paid money for those jeans? Unreal!" Natalie bought her some mums and mom was thrilled. I bought new carpets and mom thought I should take them back. Oh well. She took a trip with Colie up to Idaho to meet Isaac. It was great to have her her, all to ourselves, and didn't have to share her with kids or husband! On our way back from Farmington, we stopped in to visit Arches National Monument. It's very impressive.
So on Sept 19 we headed up to Idaho Falls to surprise Steve for his 30th birthday! We pulled it off and it was great fun. Took him to breakfast at Abbra-ca-dabbra. Lara and Dan hosted a b.day dinner for him the next day. Tom and I were the first guests to stay in Lara/Dan's guest bedroom. With Daphne gone, they did a lot of rearranging and now they have a bonafide guest room! (Daphne is loving college, and she has her boyfriend Braxton to ease any pain!) We were there for Zane's homecoming! He's a cute, cute guy!
The sad thing was while on the drive up to Idaho I got the news that Roz Hawk only had 2 weeks to live. I sent her a couple of Marco Polo's and prayed for her and her family. She died 2 days later. It is devastating to lose a close friend. She's been in pain for over a year and I'm sure that now she is in Paradise, she is very relieved and at peace, but her poor family is going to grieve her absence for a long long time. I told our friend Freya about Roz's passing and as a result was able to get a Book of Mormon to Freya! On our way home we stopped in to see Lyle/Jerralyn Bruce. They had lots of good advice about caring for an older parent. (Didn't work to pass her around to different homes, didn't work to have her in one home b/c too hard on both child and parent, so they ended up putting her in assisted living)
This Fall has been amazing. We take bike rides when we can. Tom's favorite is the Provo Canyon. It is quite beautiful. We did go to Squaw Peak with the Greens. We discovered Cascade Springs and took a hike and car ride over there one Sunday. We have been able to get some landscaping done here at the house. We eat all our meals on the deck. We hiked Strawberry/Daniels with the Gardiners. We had a great swim and steak dinner at the Kimballs. We have visits from Colie and Seth on a regular basis. I've read lots of great books. We hike at Park City. We bike with the Teerlinks (couple from the MTC), go to dinner with the Fenns for Italian pizza, etc. Add perfect, intoxicating weather, and viola: Perfect Golden Years Era! We stay super busy, enjoy each day and try to savor it as far as is possible. Covid has affected us, but it's not so bad. We are all coping and doing fine. Roz brought it home oh so clear: life is short. Way too short.
