The Final Month of 2020

 December 2020

What can I say about this month?  We are all hoping that 2021 will be a much better year.  I have so little memory of December, that I am not sure it even happened.  Christmas was a big zero.  We could not visit with any family.  We could not visit with Dad.  We had hoped to have Chris and Candice with us but Chris woke with the feeling that he was losing his taste so instead of a seafood dinner he had a Covid test.  Fortunately, he was negative.  Brandon was quarantined because Lindsay and his cousin had Covid.  We do not have a single picture taken in December.  The entire month was one big zero.

A Few Signs of the Times

Throughout the year 2020

Though we tried to be as active as possible, and I think we did pretty well, these are some of the things we constantly had to look at.  You almost had to be a rebel to get out of your house.  Even to shop.  We had to go outside Montgomery County to shop.  We really couldn't deal with the long lines and rules here plus you never know when you are going to get too close to someone and they will freak out.  Other counties were handling things a little better, plus it seemed that we have so many people in this county it was just too much competing with them.  I was always watching the numbers, which never really made sense, and the news was always frightening.  It seemed that anyone who died or got sick, it was only Covid that caused it.  In my opinion, even though the virus was/is terrible there was way too much fear and overreaction spread around.  There was so much unknown in the beginning, but even as new things were learned about the virus things were very slow to change particularly in Montgomery County.  People were masking up and wearing plastic gloves afraid to touch their groceries.  Then go out in the parking lot and throw them down instead of putting them in the trash.  It never ceases to amaze me when I would see an individual driving in their car with a mask on. And no one will ever know why there was a toilet paper shortage.  Some of my pet peeves were closing public bathrooms "for your safety." Yet there were porta-potties set up outside the doors in some places.  Other places, once they could open for business still had restrooms closed.  How can not being able to go to the restroom when you need to, be safe?   Safeway wrapped their credit card machines in Saran wrap as if that surface was different from the original surface.   We have fortunately been able to go back to our water exercise classes.  Though in the beginning, we had to come and go from our pool (because of renovation) in our swimwear.  Leaving the pool in a wet bathing suit when it is winter is no fun.  We have to wear a mask in the facility but not in the pool.  Some women actually wear two masks in the pool.  I can't imagine keeping them dry if they are putting any effort into the workout nor can I imagine breathing in that chlorinated water is healthy.  They have obviously increased the chemicals in the pool.  Our skin will show you that, plus they have to spray some kind of disinfectant all the time.  What we won't do for some exercise.  I am sick of hearing "We are all in this together," "this is the new normal," and "it is too soon to open anything up, stay home and save lives." I could go on and on about things that didn't make sense but people are getting very sick and people are dying.  I just wish there was a little more thought put into things.

Never did figure out why people were throwing balls in the playground. 
 Think it was a silent protest.

Look at all the tennis balls.

Tennis Courts eventually opened up but the basketball hoops
are still gone as of the end of 2020.

November was a Quiet Month

 November 2020

On Thursday, 11/5, we went for another hike in the area.  Today we hiked a trail in Little Bennett Regional Park, the Froggy Hollow Trail.  We walked around the Kingsley Schoolhouse.

The next day we did a geocache that took us out to Dickerson, MD.  We ended up at the Woodstock Equestrian Special Park.  This cache was located at the bottom of what looked like a furnace or chimney of some sort.  This area was the Brewer Farm in the past.

We also went to Kingsbury Orchard where another cache was hanging on a tree.  There was a market stand nearby and when we got out of the car to go to the tree the lady at the market stand freaking out because we hadn't put masks on.  We were not even walking anywhere near the fruit stand.  That is how afraid people have become.

This is Taylor Cooley.  She is my 15-year-old niece.  She and her mother, Melanie, visited the graves of my parents and placed a cross between their graves.  What a sweet thing to do.  Unfortunately, my folks never got to know Taylor.  They would have loved her dearly.

The week of Thanksgiving will go down as one of the strangest ever.  On Monday evening I received a call from Chris.  His good friend that he was with received a call that he had tested positive for Covid.  Candice is expecting Victoria in April and Brandon was with them at the time.  Candice and Brandon packed up some stuff and came to stay with us while Chris isolated himself until he received the all-clear that he had not acquired the Covid.

We were very happy that they had a safe place to stay with us.  In fact, Brandon and I did a Youtube video while they were here.  It was fun working with him.  The video had its moments, but it is not easy to make a successful video.

An action shot.

Thumbnail.

Thanksgiving Day was a strange one.  Brandon went to his Mom's so it was just Me, Bruce, and Candice here for dinner.  We still had our deep-fried turkey.  We, of course, fixed a plate for Chris and dropped it off so he could enjoy his dinner.

Brandon came back Sunday and he and Candice were able to go home on Monday.

I started a new hobby this year.  Bruce took this picture of me working on organizing my postcard collection.  It is an amazing look through history looking at postcards, some of which are over one hundred years old.  It is especially interesting reading what someone in 1910 may have written to a friend.

  

Harper's Ferry

 Friday, October 30, 2020

Today we decided to visit Harper's Ferry, WV.  It has been a while since we have been here and I know a lot has changed.

Site of John Brown's Fort

On our way home we stopped at Smoketown Brewing.  Because it is in an old firehouse we were able to be very comfortable eating in one of the open bays.

Retired Members Club Fund Raiser

One of the goals of the IBEW Local 26 Retired Members Club is to provide medical equipment to the members and their families whenever they are needed.  One of the ways this is accomplished is a yearly raffle to raise money to buy needed equipment.  For the past several years we have volunteered to help with the mailing of the raffle tickets to the members of the RMC as well as Local 26 members.

This year with all the restrictions in place it was a bit more challenging.  We were able to go into the local's headquarters with a few others and work on stuffing and addressing envelopes.  But this year our numbers were small.  We also changed how we were selling the tickets and wanted to use up any older supplies of tickets we had.  

This meant old ticket prices had to be blacked out before we could use them.   That was a very tedious job.  We had other volunteers that were willing to stuff and address envelopes from home as well, but we send out 10,000 requests.  We worked there all day and also brought home a lot of work too.  Even though it is a lot of work, we are always glad to help.

Flight 93

 Friday, October 23, 200

We have wanted to visit this memorial site for some time and today we finally did it.  This was one of the most emotional places we have ever visited.  The memorial is done so well and you can really feel what happened that day. 

The visitor center really explains how everything took place.  The flight path of the plane is represented in the shape and direction of the walls leading to the area where the plane crashed.  That area is considered a burial place and you are not allowed to go there.  There are many places where each individual is named.  One can really reflect on what happened that day.

The day we visited was a cool, clear, sunny day.  Just like the day it happened.  I could just imagine hearing the plane and looking up to wonder what was happening.  This area of Pennsylvania is just quiet farmland.  What a shock it was for those living in this area.  Just as NYC and DC was in for such a shock.  This was a remarkable visit.

A beautiful day, just as it was on 9-11,

The actual crash site.

A panel for each life lost on Flight 93.

After our solemn visit to the Memorial, we explored this area of Pennsylvania.  We did three covered bridges.

Abandoned Storyland in Shellsburg.

This memorial was across the street from one of the covered bridges in Stoystown, PA.

Meat Slicer

 Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Bruce has always wanted a meat slicer, but considering the cost and the minimal need we have never followed up on that wish.  But, shopping at the 2nd Avenue Thrift Shop, guess what we found?  It was in really good shape and quite reasonably priced.  We did order some new blades and some food-grade lube for the slide, but all in all, it was a good purchase.  Now to test it out.

I call that a success.

Last Few Days at Wilderness

Monday, October 5 - Wednesday, October  7, 2020

Well, the kids are gone but we still had a couple of days so we did some geocaching and exploring.  We went to downtown Fredericksburg and out toward Culpepper.

Now it is time to pack up and head back to Maryland.

The Kids Are Joining Us

 Wednesday, September  30 - Sunday,  October 4, 2020

We had to move from our campsite to our second location.  The kids will be joining us soon for a few days.  Because Brandon is doing virtual school he can attend here in the RV.  We did a preliminary setup to make sure he had a good place to do his school work.  The bedroom worked out really well.  He had plenty of space, quiet, and internet.

Brandon and I went on a number of walks.  He had his hoverboard with him. 

We did some geocaching Thursday evening.

Of course, Food is important when you are out camping.

Brandon had to do virtual school, but it worked out really well.  Our setup worked well for him and our Mobly hotspot took care of the internet.  Once school was out of the way we all kept busy.  Chris, Candice, and Brandon mined for gems.  

We all participated in another Escape Room.  This time it was the "Lucky Duck Speakeasy."   This room is located right on the Wilderness property.  Unfortunately, we could not take any kind of pictures here.  We really enjoy these Escape Rooms.

Chris and Brandon took on the challenge of the Adventure Park here at Wilderness.  I was exhausted just watching them. 

Too soon it was time for them to leave, but we really enjoyed the time we could spend together.