Life in the Time of Coronavirus, 6/27/20

Happy Birthday to Us!

It's My Birthday! 
Today is my 61st birthday. It feels somewhat uneventful this year. Normally, Darrell (birthday is June 24) and I travel to some exotice place, or our regular fall back, which is Lake Tahoe. We've spent so many birthdays in so many special places, and I am so thankful that we did everything that we did when we did it. I miss being free to do whatever, whenever.

Because of COVID-19, we celebrate from home with brief visits to local Carlsbad Village locales that practice safety measures. We have been to local restaurants and bars that are doing a great job of keeping things safe.

Today, we had lunch at my favorite, "Pho Brothers" restaurant in Vista, had a visit to a local pub to play Keno, and later, visited our local, "Islands" restaurant to have a couple of martinis and a decadent birthday dessert.  It was a very excellent, low key birthday.

Let Us Eat Cake

Darrell Easter's Surprise Birthday

Surprise Zoom Birthday

My husband's (Darrell Easter) birthday was June 24th. I arranged a surprise Zoom party with his two sisters, Debby and Darcy and brother-in-law, Dennis, and brother, Don, sister-in-law, Becky, and Mary, my sister, and Dan, our brother-in-law. We wished him a happy birthday, told him funny stories, sang him the birthday song, caught up on life, and laughed so much about Don's antics, as well as Mary and Dan's Zoom backgrounds. Don, Becky and Debby Zoomed in from Sebring, FL, Darcy and Dennis from North Carolina, Mary and Dan from Milpitas, CA.  It was about an hour long party, and it was a blast! I recommend it for everyone.

Will Life Ever Be The Same?
I think not. We quarantine. But we still do little things, such as grocery shop, visit a safe restaurant or pub, and even with great care, we risk being exposed. It's so strange to be in what seem to be normal circumstances, yet knowing that this invisible virus may be hiding in any breath.  What a horrible curse this is that we cannot be close to and love one another in the ways that we want to, to hug, to kiss, to be close. It is so sad and it fills me with despair at times.

Strange Days

What We're Doing
I finally was able to get my hair done by my hairdresser, who moved to a new salon in Solana Beach.  She's moved to a little boutique salon, that has a nice vibe.  We arrived a bit early, walked around, texted her and she was ready to take me.  Upon entry, we had our masks on.  She took my temperature and then the overdue four month magic happened.  She colored, highlighted and cut my hair. I am now set for another several weeks, or longer, if we get locked down again. It felt so good to have my hair done once again.

Solana Beach is so awesome. We spent time afterward walking to the beach and had lunch at a very nice little socially safe pub. I'm looking forward to spending more time in the area.

Solana Beach

We continue to keep busy working on home projects, cooking, baking, drawing, playing games and working puzzles, reading, catching up on good movies and series, catching up with family and friends, and trying to stay positive through some of the darkest times of our lives.  Every day, it seems as though yet another challenge faces humanity, and I'm amazed that we are so resilient. I hope that we can endure.  As I write this, we are seeing a resurgence in the virus that threatens all of the progress that we've made. I continue to stay positive and to pray for us. Bless you!

#StayStrong #HoldFast #ItWillGetBetter