Summer of Yes!

Writing this now mostly as a reminder of the MANY things we did this summer, as I've already forgotten a few parts.  From a parenting perspective, I'm sure at some point we'll come to regret our approach to the summer, the "Summer of Yes!"  But given the awful preceding 18 months of the plague and windows of opportunity that were available before the probable next wave of Covid, our answer to everything has been "YES!"  We departed Latvia in early July, as the country was just beginning to reopen.  We took our kids to eat at their favorite Latvian restaurant, Lido, using our newly acquired "vaccine passports" to get in.  Ham and cheese crepes with strawberry jam, buckwheat groats, and sour cream were enjoyed by all. The first time we've eaten in at a restaurant in over a year.  YES!

Fully masked for almost 20 hours, we made our transatlantic flight back to Virginia, where we temporarily moved in to the basement of the in-laws.  Essentially homeless during our two months of congressionally mandated "home leave," it was nice to have a place to hole up until we moved in to our assigned apartment near DC two months later.  For the first time in nearly two years, the kids were finally able to see their grandparents and relatives in person, first the Virginia clan, and later the Utah clan.  After a few days overcoming jet lag, we were primed to continue with the Summer of Yes!  Here's a roundup.  Again, mostly for me, so as to not forget.  Not you per se.  

- Uncle and Aunt M&M got married!  A few weeks before we got back to the US.  But!  We got to go to the reception.  Yes, there were M&Ms from M&M.  And sliders and fried macaroni and cheese balls. YES! 

- We went to Pittsburgh! OK, so maybe I'm the only person to put an apostrophe after that sentence, but honestly, we had a great time.  Looking to reunite with cousins, again, for the first time in two years, we aimed to find a destination that was nearby, family friendly, and a place we'd never been to before.  So...Pittsburgh!  We ate Primanti Bros sandwiches stuffed with fries, went to the Idlewild amusement park, Pittsburgh zoo, Heinz Museum, the Inclines, a Pirates game, and so much more (I've honestly forgotten).  Ice cream? YES!  Cotton candy? YES!  Carney games?  YES!  Pretty much any junk food you can think of or expensive activity that any parent should decline?  YES!  And the grandparents visited for a few days as well.  We even visited the childhood home of Grandma E.

- After Pittsburg, we flew to Utah for two weeks.  First we stayed with the grandparents up in the mountains and visited a dairy farm, took a train ride, saw a magician, and ate more junk food.  Raspberry shakes?  YES!  Sno-cones?  YES! Cheese curds?  YES! We then went down to Lake Powell to stay on Uncle S's houseboat.  Severe drought has nearly evaporated the lake, shutting down several marinas, but we were able to enjoy a fantastic week of family time and swimming.  CR nearly drowned, but... it was a learning lesson.  Both kids learned to swim while there, and mom and dad got to see how much weight they'd gained while wearing swimming suits for the first time in two years.  

- While finishing up our time in Utah, an apocalyptic level of smoke blew in to the state from multiple forest fires in California and Oregon.  Global warming they say.  Or as the FORMER president would say- Fake News.  In spite of the lung-scorching smoke, S and I went to a rock concert- the first in nearly two years.  Splurging for my birthday, we got meet-and-greet tickets to go see lesbian rock icon Melissa Etheridge. While I've always been a passive fan and enjoyed her music, during the worst of the pandemic (so far?) she put on near daily online concerts which satiated my need for live music.  Given the dearth of other options and the length of the pandemic, I surmise I've probably spent more time listening to her than any other artist.  To be fair, I'm a bit tired of her by this point, but her playing a live show, on my birthday, in a city I was in, had to be fate.  Count me as her biggest straight, male, cis-gendered fan... during the pandemic.  The meet-and-greet was "socially distanced" but it was great to meet her and she put on a great show.  I already have a ticket for her show here in Virginia when she comes in October.  Maybe I won't be sick of her by then.  YES!

- Returning to Virginia, we continued the Summer of Yes!  Swimming lessons, u-pick peach picking at a nearby orchard, sightseeing at Harpers Ferry, IHOP, the zoo, and lots of grandparent time, were then followed by a bit of NO!  We all had several long-past-due medical and dental appointments.  Then school registration and moving in to a new apartment, in miserable Virginia summer humidity.  But... donuts?  YES! Carousel ride?  YES! Frosted flakes and Fruit loops?  YES! YES! YES!        

M