Allll the lawn games, and a picture perfect Saturday
Our day on paper was a great day. Space Jam, croquet, yard work, and hanging out with my best friends (on Google).
The only thing that would’ve made it better was if there wasn’t a global pandemic threatening us all. Aside from that minor detail today was one of those days I dream about.
The kids woke up at 7:15am (despite going to bed way too late, and us even later) and Gavin role played super dad while I somehow miraculously slept in until 10. Apparently that’s how parents do it? I literally don’t know. I’ve heard you never know what tired is until you have a kid and a 100% believe that. My heart goes out to all the parents right now who are trying to work from home, educate from home, not go crazy at home, and appear to keep their shit together at home. You are all super heroes.
I will say Saturday morning group snuggles on the couch is one great way to start the day, couple that with a viewing of Space Jam and too many animal crackers and what a dream! Once the rain passed we ventured outside for a family walk. I had intended to bring everyone to the paths in the woods I had discovered earlier this week, but apparently Fiona was not in the mood for all those steps. After two blocks we headed back with Gavin carrying her and Jack and I admiring the work of local landscapers that were still out tending to the neighbors yards. I asked Jack if he like the smell of fresh cut grass and he replied “I think it smells like ramen.”
Funny that I’m now just realizing this, and perhaps it was subconscious, but I proceeded to make them ramen for lunch. Maybe it was coincidence or maybe it was just that our kid-friendly lunch options in our temporary kitchen are severely limited… After lunch we proceeded to play allllll the lawn games - croquet, badminton, football, and makeshift baseball (with the bat we bought for protection and a pickleball we had in the car). We were really getting into pickleball before we left the Island and I’m thinking we might be able to find some abandoned tennis courts here to play on.
In all the fun we received a call from my stepbrother Brendon who recently emerged from the woods of North Carolina where he successfully completed special forces training (a HUGE congratulations to him, he’s a super bad ass). He started training in mid January and has been completely shut off to the world for weeks. Needless to say he came out to a whole different world, and I can’t imagine how surreal this all must be from his perspective. Now he’s straight chilling like the rest of us and he’s desperate to get his dog back. I think we could all benefit from some puppy love right now.
We also got to catch up with our contingent of old Brooklyn friends via Google Hangout, reporting from various corners of the globe. Lindsey in Denver (who provided comic relief with a series of SnapChat filters including toilet paper head.); Cynthia from Newport Beach, California; Bridget from Graz, Austria; Dave and Nora from Clinton Corners, NY; Ryan from Amsterdam; and Lou and Jerry who are still holding down the fort in NYC. We are all doing our part to shelter-in-place and it was so nice to see everyone’s beautiful faces from across the world. We easily could’ve set up something similar months ago just to catch up but didn’t, so I’m grateful for the silver lining that we’re all actively connecting right now.
I’m even more grateful that Gavin and I were able to spend time with many of them face to face throughout our road trip. The generosity of their hospitality allowed us to make the trip possible and there is nothing I value more than quality time with my friends and family. If we’re forced to do it online for the time being we’ll take advantage of all of the resources we have to stay in touch, and we’ll appreciate those in-person hangs even more once we have the opportunity to do so again .
Today’s Headlines: Italy’s deadliest day and what it means to our future, MV Hospital issues statements to seasonal residents to not come to the Island, Vice President Pence tests negative for virus, US death toll hits 300
Today’s Silver Lining: Being able to give my in-laws some kid-free time
Something I appreciate: Gavin’s new guitar. So he can stay sane and continue to be my rock.
Best thing I read: Positive stories coming out of the Coronavirus crisis including: the canals of Venice are clearing up, distilleries are making hand sanitizer, celebrities stepping up to donated money and meals