Pins and Needles

Mother's Day (May 8) was lovely. James and I have not grown up with Valentin's Day, St. Patrick, Mother's Day and Father's Day. We think they are Hallmark days but of course we have always gone with the flow. 

We love having dinners with our children so when Sarah invited us to dinner we happily accepted. She made a point of saying that it was nothing special ... just meatloaf ... but it was a very nice meal. There was nothing not special about it. 

So when we heard from her on Monday night that her husband had tested positive for covid we were shocked. 

Two plus years (2+) of the pandemic and it finally had caught up with us. What did that mean to James and me? We had been exposed to covid. Pins and needles! We had booked a cruise leaving Richmond on May 21 ... less than 2 weeks. This is the exact trip which we had booked 2 years ago when all trips were cancelled.

Well, it meant quarantine. James and I were very careful. We had been careful for 2 years and that would not change. Got the vaccination, get the boosters, listen to the CDC. We just got our 4th jab (what the Brits call the injections). 

The week went along. One after the others in that family of 5 tested positive. Luckily nobody was really sick. I tested negative Thursday, Friday but on Saturday morning ... shock: positive. May 14! Our trip is in one week. James is still testing negative.

As always, we tried to make the best of the situation. But the unknown was really difficult. Contiued masks in the house for both of us. I spent most of my time outside. Luckily the weather was very nice. And when it rained, we just kept the awning out. It will dry again and it was quite cozy underneath.

Freddie is there every time we get the cushions out.

Of course our walks are still possible too. Once when we left the house I almost missed seeing this guest in our front yard. 

The rain beat the peonies down. When that happens they always make a cheery appearance in a vase.

Sunday James stambled by chance over the information that we could watch the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebration live on TV. Every so often a screen like this popped up. We wondered. Only the Brits...

James texted with his sister Kate and husband David in England. Finally we figured it out: they had to watch advertisements. 

The day of truth! Thursday afternoon we had appointments for our official covid tests (within 72 hrs before embarkation) which you need to travel. I was first. Still positive! Cells can show up in these tests for a long time. But it is what it is and it means NO TRIP! No need to test James either. Save that money.

Well, it was not unexpected ... but still a shock. We will get over it. There are people much worse than us. Still, I hope to get to see the glaciers one day and all Alaska has to offer.