It is now January 29, 2021. It seems important to summarize the 2020 for our memories (long may they last). For Patti and me, 2020 has been a good year. A year ago we were in Singapore and Thailand. Although a little stressed by the news about the start of the Covid virus, we enjoyed Singapore and Thailand. And returning is on our list when international travel resumes. Right now, traveling internationally looks like 2022 at the earliest.
With the world seemingly upside down dealing with the Covid pandemic, Patti and I are grateful for everything and getting the most out of our current reality. We have been able to limit our close contact with people, but still enjoy the company of neighbors, friends and family outdoors, usually maintaining a safe distance. We feel pretty safe.
We were able to spend the summer in the Adirondacks in New York State and then returned to Virginia later in September. We arrived back from New York State around the third week of September with the boat (Patti Ann) in tow. My brother Mike drove the whole way. The trip was tiring, but everything went fine. We launched the Patti Ann on the Chesapeake at the end of September and took it out again in the second week of November. The weather on the Chesapeake Bay couldn't have been better.
Our next door neighbors, Wilson and Linda, let us keep the Patti Ann at the end of their dock. We really appreciated their generosity.
From there we cruised down to Gloucester to visit our neice, Michelle & 2 y.o. Cambria, then Norfolk to go to the dentist and visit Frank and Barbara, and Charlie and Bonnie.
And over to Onancock on Virginia's Eastern Shore to visit Pete and Sue,
and up on the Potomac River to explore.
There were lots of curious Bottlenose Dolphin near the mouth of the Rappahannock & Potomac Rivers.
Right now the Patti Ann is winterized and wrapped up waiting for Spring.
This fall and early winter we stayed at home. No holidays with family. No one in our house, and we didn't go into anyone else's house. At the start of November we decided not to go into any stores. We ordered food online and occasionally picked food up at the restaurants in town. These are amazing days.
But we didn't go without contact with local friends. Thanksgiving with Bill and Betty outside their front door.
Campfires in the front yard.
Sitting at the dock of the bay (Bob's dock).
Bob's birthday party.
Riding with Bill in his MG to get the Sunday paper at 7:50 AM in 40 degree weather (Bill's idea).
Celebrating Doc's birthday in his garage and driveway.
Christmas was not the same this past year. We missed Mom and Dad and our Christmas in Philadelphia and New Jersey. It has been many years since Patti and I stayed in our own home for Christmas. In spite of that, we had a good Christmas.
It sounds corny, but Patti and I, and Wilson and Linda visited several neighbors' homes to sing Christmas carols & give out goodies. It proved to us that it is the small things that make a difference.
And Christmas in the Broadway's driveway. Actually, we have maintained the "tradition" of getting together to eat outside at least once a week on Sunday evenings, sometimes with Jeff & Ceci's portable fire pit & our propane heater. We have bundled up and managed to keep warm enough right through last Sunday (January 24th). This coming Sunday is looking to be cold, windy and snowy, so not sure how that will go.
We filmed Doc and Sue's video Christmas card (can you believe such talented people live next door to us?).
And our New Year's celebration was on the front porch (until at least 9:00) with fireworks from around the world followed by a crackling fire playing on our outdoor screen. Bill and Betty and Ernie and Kathy joined us to celebrate.
Our Christmas decorations included a 12 foot tree on the outside of our house. With the lights outside the glass doors, they seem to be inside at night. It looks so good that it is still up. A "songful" Carolina Wren entertains us by regularly looking for bugs on it and on the wood ring. (A pair of Great Horned Owls can be heard courting nearby along with a pair of Bald Eagles flirting with each other up & down the creek. Three juvenile eagles join the fun & amazingly don't seem to deter the adults from their mission.)
We wish everyone a better 2021. The future is never certain, but we hope everyone has a good new year.
And here are Bill and Bob commenting on 2020:
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