Life in a Pandemic Part 3

 

Life in a Pandemic

Addendum

                    So we thought the pandemic was winding down. Things eased up, encouraging us to spread our wings a bit with some interstate travel: following on our lovely Nantucket weekend, another getaway to Burlington VT and a golf vacation for me in Pinehurst NC. Nice opportunities to write up some trip journals in my ramblingwithruss blog. But concluding my pandemic journal proved to be premature. A “Delta” COVID variant arises, first apparently from India but spreading around the world. It has proved to be more infectious & transmissible, and cause more serious illness.

Pinehurst Golf Adventure

 

Pinehurst NC

A Golf Adventure

August 2021

 

           

          I’ve played golf in Branson MO, Kansas City KS, and Salt Lake City, but haven’t done a real “golf vacation.” Marjorie’s brother-in-law Jeff (my then apartment mate when he started dating Mary, thereby leading to my soon-to-be 50^th wedding anniversary ˗ but that’s another story) invited me to join a golf gathering of friends from St. Catherine’s High School in Racine WI (plus others over the years) that since 2001 has been a periodic reunion event dubbed “Still Crazy;” the core group is captured in freshmen “mug shots” (1961) in one of event organizer Bob Schroeder’s e-mails. 

 

Their logo is, shall we say, an homage to both the SCHS Angels and the “Blues Brothers” (John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd). Sites for the gatherings have included Santa Fe, Utah, Myrtle Beach, Breckenridge, Phoenix, & Orlando. Cancelled last year by the COVID pandemic (like so many things), but the 11^th “full-fledged official trip” has been organized for Pinehurst NC in August. I wait to see if there’s room for a “guest,” the invite coming in June to be on the 24-man roster, a smaller group this time. Couldn’t pass up this adventure. More about Pinehurst and courses below, but suffice to say legendary Bobby Jones called it “the St. Andrews of United States golf.”

            I arrange my participation with Bob, who has quite a task! Plus Tim Paulson handling financial matters. The stay is covered by a trip charge that, to quote Bob, “covers EVERYTHING once you arrive: shared vehicle travel, all meals, all munchies/healthy eating between meals, a dozen balls, green fees, carts, range balls, beer, wine, soda, juices, fruits, personal bar soap, tournament entry fees and prizes, four days of great conversation, a houseful of developing new friends, more golf tips than you can stand...and the best tasting hot early morning coffee you can ever recall...on and on...” I decide to join most of the guys for early Saturday arrival to allow a practice round Sunday before festivities officially begin with dinner Sunday night ˗ and, Jeff says, my “initiation.” My flights from Albany to Charlotte NC via Washington DC use mileage accumulated on our United credit card while the pandemic limited travel. Thought I might visit friends outside of Charlotte, but logistics don’t work out. A borrowed bag from friend Glenn will hold golf bag & clubs as checked baggage. That bag has oversized dimensions, but golf bags don’t incur an extra charge. Have to stay under 50 lbs, splitting clothes between carry-on & checked bag. It helps that I can use a very light golf bag that golf buddy Mike wins at a golfing fundraiser.

Burlington VT

 

Burlington

June 2021

 Marjorie likes to refer to her “Birthday Festival,” so maybe I can at least call this trip part of my birthday “celebration.” I’m still basking in birthday greetings. Marjorie’s brother-in-law Jeff’s BlueMountain e-card with gospel singers serenading me: “Still lookin’ good. Can I get an Amen!” Plenty of other greetings via e-mail & Facebook. A round of applause from my CARGO golf league. But it’s time to let go and enjoy our jaunt up to Burlington. It’s so nice that travel options are beginning to expand. We enjoyed an “interstate” trip to Nantucket in mid-May. Now Vermont, one of the most stringent states for COVID testing & quarantine requirements (14 days!) for out-of-state visitors, is easing its restrictions; it’s the 1^st state with 80% vaccinated. We’ve been briefly thru Burlington a couple of times, most recently 2010 coming back from a trip to Montreal with Steve & Jill Messner, but haven’t really seen much of the city. On the shores of Lake Champlain, Vermont's largest city, population 42,500, Burlington is “known for its ultra-liberal environment and free-thinking spirit.” It reminds us of Madison WI.

Thursday, June 17^th: “Panoramas and Markets”

           A gorgeous day heading out at 7am for the 3-hour 140-mile drive north. Down into the high 40s last night, lots of sun with temps in the 70s today. Good thing we’re not headed out West: a “dangerous heat dome” bringing temps of 115-120 to Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other places. Crossing below Lake George, passing a large horse farm and several big stone companies (lots of granite around here). Into Vermont, a stop at a Welcome Center. 

A scenic drive: farms, pretty towns, mountains on both sides. Past “Devil’s Bowl” racetrack (seems like Lebanon Valley Speedway near us) and Shelburne Museum (we visited in 1977 with little Matt and Marjorie’s Mom).

        Into town, first stop, after circling to find parking on a nearby dead-end street, Battery Park, high overlooking Lake Champlain. A military camp during the Wat of 1812, a decorative cannon commemorates a battle defending against the British. Now a park with promenade, playground, and bandshell for summer concerts. “Beanie’s Bus” (a converted school bus) also seems to be a mainstay for lunch, snacks, even an ATM. Most notable for us: “Wow!” panoramas of the lake and Adirondack Mtns in the distance. 

 

New Paltz, Catskill, and Nantucket Outings

 

New Paltz-Catskill-Nantucket 

Spring 2021

          With multiple pandemic cancellations & rebookings, there haven’t been journal-worthy travels for a while. And I’ve missed my travel agent persona. So I’ve decided to combine here a day trip to New Paltz & Catskill with a weekend jaunt to Nantucket to give my writing chops some work. Its nice to get away a bit on these mini-trips, but we haven’t been hermits, finding various earlier Spring outings and photo ops. Flowering trees & shrubs have been beautiful, forsythia seem particularly bright, and daffodils then tulips coming out in force. 

 

Life in a Pandemic Part 2

 Life in a Pandemic Part 2 

 It takes annoyingly long to open the lengthy "Life in a Pandemic" post for editing, so I'll continue with a second post. What I might have expected to last maybe a few months has now continued for a year and still more to come!

        We’ve had another stretch of cloudy dreary weather, so a brighter day with breaks of sun in the 40s triggers our continuing efforts to get out & about with local outings, this time to Hudson. After delivering to St. Pius robes & linens Marjorie has laundered, we find ourselves behind 2 Brooks BBQ trucks; should we follow them for lunch? Into downtown Hudson – all the parking is metered! But we find a spot a block from the main drag. Many colorful old buildings & shops, murals, store windows, and especially antiques. Marjorie: “Not the Hudson I used to work at” (for CHP). Hudson has experienced quite a revival spurred in part by antique dealers. A friendly, relaxing lunch at another Patisserie Lenox (as in Great Barrington). Tradewinds (a “Not for Profit Mercantile”) an especially pretty shop. Nearby whimsical marker: “On this site in 1897 nothing happened.” A stop at The Warehouse with many (very expensive) antiques; Marjorie deems it a “Mary Spot,” sending photos to her antique hound sister.

 On the way out of town a nice view of the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse in mid-River, Over the Rip van Winkle Bridge with beautiful views of the Hudson & Catskills on the way home. 

 

 

 

 

 

Life in a Pandemic

Life in a Pandemic

A Personal and Historical Record

 

 

             We had a busy travel year planned for 2020. . . until the coronavirus aka COVID-19 pandemic throws travel into disarray. A trip to Europe for the end of May is cancelled. Ironically, it was highlighted by the famous Oberammergau Passion Play, which began in 1634 when residents of the village vowed if God spared them from the bubonic plague ravaging the region they would produce a play depicting the life and death of Jesus. Offered every 10 years since, it had been cancelled only twice before, in 1770 when all passion plays were banned & 1940 due to WWII. We accept an offer to reschedule at the same price when the Play resumes in 2022, with full refunds for trip insurance and United miles used for flights.Another shoe drops: a Viking River Cruise in Portugal with Marjorie’s cousin Jim and wife Susan scheduled early August is also cancelled. As usual, Viking is very accommodating: full refund or voucher for 125% of what’s been paid. I coordinate with Susan to rebook the trip in Spring 2021 (and then to July, joined by Marjorie’s sister Mary & Jeff). Closer to home, a visit with friends Francisco & Beth for Nantucket's Daffodil Festival has to be called off. One other possibility, Marjorie’s 55^th high school reunion in Portage, is also cancelled.

More cancellations accumulate on the calendar. Choir singing stops and all Masses move to streaming on-line. My Mendelssohn Club rehearsals and Spring concert are cancelled; we have some Zoom meetings of brothers and of the Board to think about the Fall, which is eventually also cancelled. Viewing a webinar on transmission from choral singing, to both singers & audience, was pretty scary! Marjorie has a major art exhibit through April with 3 artist friends cancelled, but thankfully able to reschedule in December (hopefully!). 

 The summer art camp she’s organized for several years for the Colonie Art League is cancelled, as is the Siena College Relay for Life event (tho Marjorie nonetheless surpasses her fundraising goal!). Son Matt and family in Queens are affected in various ways. Matt winds up being furloughed by Manhattan School of Music, moving onto unemployment checks. Anthea continues going to her mostly empty Metropolitan Youth Orchestra offices on Long Island, working hard to hold things together. Grandsons William & Miles finish the school year on-line. William’s soccer is on hold, Miles must settle for on-line dancing and singing classes.

 So what to do? Doesn’t look like I’ll have opportunities to do the usual trip journals for my blog. But I can do something similar to document our life in a pandemic, our local activities and ongoing updates of developments & events ˗ a combination of personal journal & historical record. Plus staying at home gives time to work on photo books, other projects. Artist-in-Residence Marjorie is able to create a stockpile for future shows. 

Saratoga Birthday

 

Saratoga Birthday

September 2020 

 What to do in the midst of a pandemic for Marjorie’s “Birthday Festival” (as she likes to call it)? A new garage door installed, but that doesn’t seem quite the thing. William Shatner sings to her on an e-card, courtesy of Jeff like my Dolly Parton BD serenade. I cater cheesecake for her church discussion group at our house, tho they leave too quickly so we’ll have to eat it all. Still not enough ˗ and she’s complaining there’s no marching band! A surprise overnight should do the trick. Plus good forecasts thru the weekend: sunny & cool (into the 30s, highs about 60).