Thanksgiving 2021

 

Thanksgiving 2020 was a solitary affair thanks to Covid restrictions. 

This year most of us are vaccinated and it was a two family feast with 21 of us plus Max, the Conway puppy, all hosted by the newlyweds Dan and Alex at their lovely home near Walkill, New York.  Dan and Alex gave the feast a theme of indigenous foods--which included the 20 pound turkey, cranberry relish, beans, rice, and pumpkin pie.  

Susan made her traditional rolls.  Last year she dropped some off at our apartment and talked Laura through baking them on her own.  This year it was great to enjoy them together.  Alex's dad made a cranberry sourdough bread giving credit to Dan who taught him how to make sourdough bread.  Katie made a chocolate pie which apparently is a traditional recipe from her boyfriend's family. I made a sweet potato-cranberry-walnut dish plus fudge which as often happens turned out to be spoon fudge.  Still tasted good however!

Before dinner there was football and frisbee throwing in the large yard behind the house at the foot of the Catskills.  Some of us stayed inside and enjoyed our cider-bourbon cocktail, the same recipe from the wedding celebration.  A rainbow came out to bless our gathering.

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I asked Ruth to read a Thanksgiving psalm, Psalm 100, and Alex's dad read the same psalm in Spanish.  Jim gave a grace but only in English he said!  I was gratified to hear that the older cousins all remembered when it was their turn to be the family psalm reader.  At this point, there are still two younger ones to await their turns.  May we be blessed to hear that offering in future years.

The Conways and Princeton VKs headed home after dinner.   Jim and I spent the night at the Harvest Inn in Pinebush, a seven mile country ride from Dan and Alex's home but not as far on dark roads as home would have been.  

We arrived home before noon today after easy travel.  We are very happy to be home for a while now after travel to Texas and New York in the last week. 

SBL in San Antonio

Christmas on the 
Riverwalk

I was very hesitant to go with Jim to his annual Society of Biblical Literature convention this year.  Travel in a time of Covid had me very anxious.  Wearing a mask for hours in the airport and plane would be uncomfortable.  But Jim wanted me to go with him so I did. Fortunately our nonstop flight to Texas went very smoothly.  I wore a less effective mask but more comfortable than the usual KN95 one. 

We changed our flight home to a day earlier hoping to avoid the worst of the Thanksgiving traffic.  We are awake early and ready to go in a few hours.

The best part of being here was having meals with friends--former students and even friends from Jim's seminary days in Grand Rapids.  The worst part was trying to find healthy food in a "food desert" in a tourist downtown area.  We wanted some fruit for lunch--not a meal, just a snack.  We walked all over the area, even following our apple map for "groceries near me" but found nothing.  Sodas, coffee, even liquor--but no fruit.  We will try to eat better when we get home again!

Jim gave his presidential address to a good audience who chuckled at the appropriate places even while fully masked.  He ran the SBL business meeting from his laptop in our hotel room at 7:30 am yesterday.  At least I was dressed and out of sight in the bed across the room.  That went well without any technological problems.  There never are very many in attendance but those that were voted after unmuting.  He read the "necrology" and the list of awards.

I am contemplating how when you meet with friends you take on their joys and sorrows.  I am sad to hear of illnesses and deaths in families.  Covid has isolated us from others in so many ways.  I am thankful for the renewed connections of  the last few days.  

Once again, we will be glad to be home in our own apartment and in our own routines.  I hope that will be by suppertime tonight.

-------------After a long day of travel and a hectic Newark airport, we are glad to be home. I think this will be my last SBL convention unless it is a train ride away. -----------

Jim was given this obelisk to commemorate his year as president of the SBL. Naturally enough, it raised questions at the TSA checkpoint when it showed up in his suitcase. ---------------- One more addition to this blog. Jim got an email this morning (November 24) saying that his biography of RH CHarles--the subject of his presidential address--was accepted for publication by Oxford University Press!

Covid is Still with us

I just answered a text from Montgomery Internal Medicine in preparation for a routine appointment, labs, and a flu shot tomorrow morning. One question was "Have you been in contact with anyone in the last seven days who tested positive for Covid?" I could answer "No" and thus was given a "green pass" to show at the door tomorrow. However if they had asked the same question with eight days I would have had to say "Yes." Our grand-daughter's boyfriend tested positive for Covid this week. He is not very sick fortunately and is trying to isolate under the circumstances. We had dinner with him and our son's family a week ago. So Covid has reached our inner circle of family and friends.

 Yesterday I went to our grand-daughter's Princeton Ballet performance. We wore masks when we entered the student center. We were not asked to show proof of vaccination. It was lovely to see her dance in a live performance. A week or so ago I watched our grandson's college choir in a taped performance. That was also lovely to watch but was not even in front of a live audience at his school in Troy, New York.

 On Wednesday this week, Jim gave his Society of Biblical Literature presidential address in front of a mostly student audience at Princeton Seminary so it could be videotaped for those who were not attending the annual meeeting. He will give it again live next Saturday in San Antonio. The audience was all masked and it is assumed vaccinated if they were seminary students. We joined a group for pizza and drinks at the home of one of the professors afterwards--a rare social occasion for us.

 We continue to wear masks when we shop for groceries or go into CVS for prescriptions. I am hesitating to fly with Jim to San Antonio this week but don't want to waste a very expensive plane ticket. He would like me to accompany him and it is easier to travel with a partner. The weather will be mild and the riverwalk is lovely.  However I am dreading hours of mask wearing in airports and planes and really hoping travel will be smooth. Stories of fewer TSA agents are not encouraging. I am not really fearful of contacting Covid or if we do, getting very ill as we are vaccinated and even have our boosters. Plus we will try to eat outside and packed receptions at the convention are not taking place. I would avoid those anyway.

 So this is a blog written when there really is nothing to blog about but I wanted to record the fact that Covid is still a part of our lives.

Aging Bodies and Doctors (snd Dentists)

Good news 
celebration

We made it through seven weeks in South Bend without needing medical assistance.  During the last week there, Jim sadly felt a crown getting loose in his mouth.  In the middle of one night, he dreamt it came off.   It did, but at least not during that night.  He didn't swallow it and put it in a baggie in his briefcase.  So that was our one emergency.

He called Dr. Brummell, our dentist, on Friday on our way home from South Bend and got an appointment that next Monday--after the wedding party.  Unfortunately, there was more to be done that just gluing the crown back on.  So he has seen an oral surgeon for a consultation and will have work done next week. Then back to our dentist for a bridge because there are too many problems for any other treatment.  We are outliving our teeth.

Between the two of us, I counted twelve medical or dental appointments between the time we came home and before we leave for San Antonio in late November for Jim's annual convention.  They are all grouped in a short time because of our being gone for those two months.   I need to be thankful for doctors and dentists but I dread each appointment lest we find more problems and need more referrals.  Some of them are routine--a mammogram, six month dental cleanings, an eye exam (which is never routine for Jim), bone density xray for Jim (because of his RA which is in remission however).  

Others are routine but don't feel routine, like Jim's six month follow up for prostate cancer which meant another PSA test this week.  That always makes me so anxious.  Jim is optimistic and I try to be but find myself preparing for the worst.   The results never seem to show up when we expect them.  Again this time, the doctor said they would be there on the portal the next day.  Three days later, Jim finally called the office and they gave him the good news that the numbers were low.  So it will be another six months before he has another "routine" appointment and the anxiety that means.  

It is time to fill my weekly pill container which I do on Sunday mornings.  I tell myself to be thankful for those little pills that help to control blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol.  I am thankful but I also find it an exercise in humility and acceptance of aging.  A while back one of our pastors mentioned the idea of "anticipatory grief" maybe in connection with Covid.  Before I get out of bed, I say "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be grateful for it."  I remind myself to be thankful for each day we are alive and reasonably well instead of worrying about the inevitable time in which we are not.  

So this is not a very upbeat posting but it certainly is a part of our lives right now.  I was home alone this morning because of a bout of stomach flu yesterday.  Jim went to church where he was teaching the adult church school for the first time here in Princeton.   I felt a need to open the Bible and see what the good word for me might be.  That can be risky but if one opens to the Psalms, it will probably be helpful.  I opened the Bible in the middle and there was Psalm 71 which read:   

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent. ...So even to old age and grey hairs, do not forsake me.

So that was God's good word for me today. Even the Psalmist thousands of years ago was anxious enough to ask God for help as I do daily.

Pfizer Booster Shot

Before we even left South Bend, we were getting emails from the New Jersey Department of Health inviting us to sign up for our booster vaccine.  We were past 60 days from our previous two shots and were over 65 so we qualified.  I waited until we got into Princeton and then signed up easily for shots within 5 miles and the next week--not within 50 miles and a few weeks out as we had to do for our earlier shots.

Monday we drove to the Plainsboro CVS and waited in a short line to get our vaccines from a technician behind a curtained section of the store near the pharmacy.  Quick and easy compared to our last sign-up and trip to Rowan College South Jersey.  Typical of shopping in Plainsboro was that we appeared to be the only native English speakers in line.  A daughter-in-law was there to assist her husband's parents with the process.  

However, the follow up was not so easy.  Around 11 pm I started to feel cold.  By midnight I could not get warm.   I found a heating pad and an extra blanket.  Finally when I got out my down bathrobe and wrapped it around me under the covers, I felt warm again.  All day Tuesday I was tired and had no energy.  Food tasted fine but I had little appetite.  By Tuesday evening I felt better.  Jim had no side effects other than a slightly sore arm.  

Last night I slept for hours without any coughing spells like last week or without trying to stay warm.  I feel fine today.  In fact, I keep saying that I feel great!  I'm sure it was just a reaction to the booster shot and I hope a sign that it was effective! 

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.

---------------------

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! 

A Catskills Wedding Party

M

Dan and Alex were married on December 12, 2020 in a Google Meets ceremony. So they have had a wedding and are married for several months.  People were joking about this being the second wedding in a year--but the same marriage. But this time they did have a ceremony complete with a processional, readings, vows and a kiss. Alexandra had a beautiful dress and Dan looked wonderful too in his suit and floral tie that matched the bodice of the wedding dress. 

 Their friends came from as far as Seattle and San Francisco. Many friends and colleagues were there from New York City. A few new friends and neighbors came from Aumick and Decker Roads. I thought it was a special joy that Dan and Alex could introduce their friends to their lovely location at the foot of the Catskill Mountains.

Alex said that she stopped looking at the weather app because the weather was out of her control. It was not warm but it was comfortable enough. There were a few raindrops after the ceremony but not enough to ruin anything. 

 Jim and I walked Dan down the aisle and then he awaited his beautiful bride from under the arbor he and a friend had created for them. Dan had a wonderful smile on his face and for good reason! Their friend Jossie was the mistress of ceremonies. She said a few words about how Dan and Alex wanted to renew their vows in front of friends and family. There were two readings including Shakespeare's 116th sonnet read by Jim. They exchanged rings with their vows, kissed, and it was over. This mother of the groom wiped away a few tears from her eyes! 

 We had cocktails that Dan and Alex specially created for the occasion featuring apple cider and bourbon. Then on to the pizza truck for a choice of unusual pizzas which we ate at tables set up under a big tent. Lindsey and Max, friends of Alex and Dan, gave toasts. Martha, Alex's mother, toasted them with much love for her daughter. Jim and I said a few words about Dan--mostly memories of young Dan--and then we toasted their marriage too with our great happiness on this occasion. 

 And then we danced. What fun to see little Henry (21 months) dancing with great enthusiasm as well as Doris and Hal (neighbors married for 61 years) also dancing looking into each other's eyes. Jim and I even moved our bodies some--especially joining our grandchildren. 

 We didn't stay for s'mores but headed to our motel in Pine Bush before the front desk closed. It was a dark country road ride with many turns but fortunately our Apple Maps cell phone service worked and we did well. To add to a good day, Notre Dame beat Virginia Tech and we were able to watch the Texas A and M Aggies beat Alabama on TV. 

The party continued into Sunday with cider and donuts at Wilklow Orchards.  This was our treat with an open bar for hard cider and dozens of delicious donuts.  Some guests picked apples while they were there.  The grandchildren had fun taking polaroid photos of the guests and putting them in a memory book.

We are so thankful that Dan and Alex found each other and are making a life together. They are both treasures to us and we love them dearly. As we were out on the edge of the dance floor I looked at our offspring and  wondered if we would be able to celebrate more weddings with them.  I hope we can. 

 Probably not for little Henry.  At least we danced with him at this party!