On the Road in Three Hours (posted ten days later)

 October 16  I wrote this blog before we left South Bend.  I didn't want to share it because of the worry about Covid exposure.  Ten days later we know that we were safe.  We had heard earlier before the wedding party that Jim's golf partner had a second negative test.  So now I think I can post this after a week at home.  My next blog will be one of gratitude to be home and enjoying our lovely apartment again.

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October 7

I thought the next blog might be from Princeton but it has been a somewhat stressful 24 hours and may be worth recording.  Jim is teaching his last class.  The house is vacuumed and mopped and dusted.  I have to empty the refrigerator but am waiting until the last half hour so I can put some items in the cooler.  Sadly, I will have to throw out some food even though I tried not to waste anything.  I cooked chicken and will make sandwiches for our supper.  

I just had my hair cut and blown dry so if it lasts, it will look fine for the wedding party on Saturday.  It was good to visit Salon Rouge again.

The third green at Warren

When Jim comes home, we will give the house one more walk through to make sure we haven't left anything behind.  

Yesterday the crown that Jim was worried was loose fell out.  At least he did not swallow it.  He hopes that the root canal that was done under it means that he won't have pain.  So that is something he will have to deal with soon when we get home.

Yesterday, the man with whom Jim shared a golf cart let us know that his wife tested positive for Covid.  We wondered how much danger this put us in.  Jim emailed the theology department to ask for advice.  Googling it made us think that because we were vaccinated we didn't have to quarantine.  Plus the golfers were outside. Later we learned that the gentleman himself had a negative test so that was a relief.  At first I was wearing a mask in the house but gave that up after a while.  There is no point in getting tested because any positive results wouldn't show up for at least five days. 

 We have been fortunate thus far to have had no contacts with anyone who had Covid or tested positive for Covid before we were with them.   This was the closest we had come to exposure; the timing was bad for our trip home and Dan's wedding party on Saturday.  The wedding party will be outside.  The forecast is for a high of 57 but at least it is not supposed to rain.  If we go inside, we will wear masks. 

These weeks have definitely been a change in our routine. Change is good although we wondered at times about the confusion and disruption of these weeks.  Jim's class went well from his perspective and also from what we heard from others who had talked to students in the class.  He was pleased with the students' presentations and now will await their written papers.  We have been glad that we could see our siblings and many friends from church and the neighborhood.  We worshipped with our friends at Church of the Savior for six weeks--outside twice and then in the sanctuary.

Our long driveway-
the former Juniper Road

 It has been very good to have others enter into our lives more.   We have missed that in Princeton and need to work harder to make more contacts there.  Covid has not made that easy!  But now we can begin to invite others into our apartment and to enjoy meals in restaurants again.  

Our living arrangement in this rental house was something we got used to.  However after seven weeks here, we will really enjoy our lovely apartment at Barclay Square.  Two bathrooms, a large TV screen, a dishwasher that doesn't need to be hooked up, counter space in the kitchen--what luxuries! 

So, maybe the next post will be about the wedding party.  I hope so--that travel is uneventful and the party is awesome!