Back: traveling during a pandemic

It happened fairly quickly,

PA and OH became safe to drive through, 

MI numbers in my parents area got better;

we decided to go for it; 

so the day after we were in NYC we began

a 2 day drive to Michigan, to my parents house.

For various reasons, including honouring my Husband's wishes,

I can't blog before hand about when we leave. 

We just leave and live in a different dimension;

as in with family; a whirl of visits; my Husband working from my

parent's home; while my Mom, my cousin and I found the dress

I will wear in the wedding that is the weekend after we get get back to NJ.

Later my Mom and I went shopping for a tie for my Husband to wear

to match my dress for the wedding.

I went to the Dutch store, 2 thrift stores, 1 twice.

I found two cute dressy outfits; one cream, a jacket and skirt; 

one a sheath long dress in linen and rayon with a jacket 

(the first was 7.50 the second one was only a dollar! The thrift store

was getting rid of their summer inventory!) 

I got BEAUTIFUL dishes from my Great Aunt P. who moved from her home.

I got lots of meals with parents.

I got to see my sister and family twice; my Grandma 4 times; my Uncle 3,

another Aunt and Cousin once; 

stores, churches visited, all while wearing masks. 

We went up north Michigan and saw my Husband's parents;

saw Husband's 3 Aunts, his parents, two of his siblings; various nieces and nephews.

A bed and breakfast (with safe protocols) for 2 nights while in Northern MI.

We had our 8th wedding anniversary dinner with my Husband's parents there.

I took many walks; drank in the green that was everywhere, the beautiful hills; the trees;

struggled with the fact that we would have to return to NJ where there is not such

beauty, such green as much as the eye can see. 

I brainstormed in a journal about how to manage the coming season and the unknown;

how much loneliness, isolation; are we going to have?

Can I keep remembering this summer, hold out for it to come again,

hold out for better days; to remember to be thankful and look for thankfulness everywhere. 

I pray I can, that I will.