Thanksgiving 2020

 

In the spirit of giving thanks the following are a few things for which I am thankful during our first, and hopefully last, Covid-Thanksgiving:

 

1.   Thankful that my parents have been patient and understanding with our decreased visitations. Our pre-Covid biweekly family dinners are joyous memories. Reflecting back after eight months of Shelter In Place those Sunday get togethers seem wonderfully gluttonous in the free interaction with loved ones outside our quarantine pod. I’m eager to have them restored.

 

2.   Life has taken on a much slower, relaxing pace for which I’m thankful. Life pre-Covid often came with a hectic schedule. I didn’t recognize it as such because I had become inured to it as just the normal pace of life. I’d like pre-Covid life to be restored, the non-viral aspect of it, but the pace of it I will work to slow down.

 

3.   The bonus year we got with [the boy]. It’s important he be on his own to stretch out his own budding independence, but that will be postponed for at least one year. The cancellation of his on-campus college experience is a bummer, though not from his perspective, he didn’t enjoy the on-campus experience despite the importance I’ve allocated to it. All that aside, I’m thankful we gained this bonus time with him.

 

4.   I’m thankful for the summer of [my daughter]. [The boy’s] older, he’s not a minor, and had been allowed more autonomy than his sister. He spends much of his time self-sequestered in his room with virtual college. But since the earliest days of Shelter In Place and throughout the summer [my daughter] was downstairs with me and [Wife Klem] playing out the routine of our days. It was a fun time imbibing of a larger dose of her and better understanding what she is gong through at her age. Or maybe I’m just thinking back with rosy-lensed goggles.

 

5.   I’m thankful for eBooks. My age-compromised eyeballs have come to the point where reading comfortably is like balancing a matrix of variables including adequate lighting and font size. EBooks satisfy all the thresholds. I started e-reading during this Covid summer when the hectic pace of pre-Covid life sloughed away to a relaxed pace. I’d spent many warm evenings on the patio reading and the eBooks made it easier than engaging physical books. 

 

6.   This downtime of Shelter In Place has allowed me the luxury of slowing down and reevaluating what’s important. Reestablishing my life priorities of family and a peaceful, happy, fulfilling existence.

 

7.   I’m thankful for the crystal clear line of demarcation the Covid months has allowed me to delineate between people who are important to me and those who are extraneous. 

 

8.   During this year of so much Covid-related economic wreckage, illness and employment distress my immediate family is merely inconvenienced, but not rendered incapacitated by the virus. For this I am thankful.

 

9.   I’m thankful for online delivery services and those essential workers making it possible. This took some getting used to, the large scale delivery of an entire Target or Costco order being delivered directly to the home rather than the sporting effort of hunting down each item in the store like some king of unenticing treasure hunt. But holy smokes, being allowed to obtain all the desired items without having to engage the parking lot, bumping around the aisles with the masses, and the lines at the check-out, I’m not sure I’ll ever go back to such drudgery.

 

10.Thankful that after eight months of close confinement we all still like each other, [Wife Klem], me and the kids. At least as far as I know.

 

 

I look forward to a joyful, socially distanced Christmas and a New Year with uncertain possibilities. This uncertainty allows room for optimism. I’m hoping for health and a better time in 2021, even though this would lead to a return of the crummy southern California traffic.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Klem

 

 

The COVID Chronicle, November 1-15, 2020

 

November 1 [Sunday]

I enjoyed an IHOP Sunday with Emmett, blueberry pancakes for everyone. The reason for today’s visit is harvest day for his persimmon tree! We socially distanced our outdoor dining and masked up when not eating or climbing trees. I climbed into that thing and rendered is darn near fruitless. The effort was not fruitless, but bountiful. The haul was grandiose and my take was generous. 

 

[Wife Klem] is concerned about Tuesday night’s Election violence and initiated conversation about improvised weapons. Holy Toledo, I love this woman. My weapon of choice is the drywall nail remover. A wonderful bar of metal with handy rubber grip and a dangerous curved claw on one end.

 

November 2 [Monday]

I took an elongated lunch to meet with a friend, Tim. We dined outdoors at the El Torito in Westminster, socially distanced and masking up. We’re chums from college and have maintained contact over the decades through marriage, buying of homes, births of kids and balancing work with family. He’s a good man with three piglets, they’re [my kids’] ages. It is refreshing to get together and talk with a chum so freely compared to guarded interaction with extraneous humans. 

 

November 3 [Tuesday]

Election Day! The results coming in late this evening Pacific Time are surprising. Trump’s victory odds were said to be less than 20% with one high poll giving him a 30% chance. Yet, as the results come in it’s very close to 50/50 with a slight lead to Biden. Thankfully the projected protests and violence have been silent. Going to bed without a declaration of victory.

 

November 4 [Wednesday]

Awaiting election results is a bummer for this Conservative. Based on the polling leading up to Election Day I expected Trump to get steamrolled by Biden. By this evening it’s still undecided with Arizona lining up to be Trump’s Waterloo. Meanwhile, word of the long-anticipated rioting and protests start to rise as the final ballot counting winds downs.

         To be clear, President Trump is not my guy. But given the choice between a Trump Administration or a Biden Administration, based on the policies the two administrations would push, I agree vastly more with the Trump Administration. I’d resolved myself to his defeat two weeks ago, but this glimmer of hope to be now on the cusp of snuffing out is a disappointment. Oh well, four years until, hopefully, a Presidential Run by Nikki Haley, former South Carolina Governor and current UN ambassador.

 

November 5 [Thursday]

We have vacation plans for Arizona in the coming weeks to visit [my in-laws]. In our dinner conversation we spoke about traveling for vacation, and also engaging the world to see friends. [My daughter] asked if we’d have to wear masks the whole time or if we can hug [them]. Pertinent question since we’d be staying in their home, and the question remains unanswered. I am prepared to hug and go without masks, but will defer to the preferences of our hosts.

[The boy] spoke freely about his biggest concern about catching Covid, the possibility of permanent brain damage as is rumored to occur in some cases. It’s important the kids interact with the world and their friends, doing it safely, but deciding to entirely refrain due to fears such as this necessitate a careful counsel. Meanwhile, he has a pal from high school who will be visiting from college for Thanksgiving. Some of his friends will be getting together and he is reluctant to join them. He’s 19 years old and has decisions to make for himself.

 

November 6 [Friday]

President-Elect Joe Biden has emerged victorious. I will admittedly miss the Trump years. Not his Tweets or sounds bites, but what his administration accomplished. He did not behave or speak like other politicians because decades of elected office and political-speak was not his background. I liked that he didn’t treat politics as if he were walking on sacred hallowed ground. He didn’t know the bureaucratic secret handshakes or kabuki dances. Yes, he spoke in an uncouth manner as if he never outgrew his adolescent temperament. But I prefer judging people based on what they do rather than what they say. Politicians speak in grandiose terms, then often falling on flaccid promises. I’ll miss the following:

 

•  Deregulation easing small business owners’ burden in conducting business. Small business is an integral source of jobs in America and an important part of the U.S. economy.
• He stands with Hong Kong’s freedom from China. There are many large businesses siding with China by virtue of their conspicuous silence. [The NBA is one blatant example from earlier this summer]. They are standing by their money source, the vast market of China rather than nobly standing for Hong Kong’s autonomy.
• Being a world leader in decreased CO2 emissions on the strength of fracking during the Trump years. A cleaner fuel source than oil and more reliable than renewables.
• Energy independence, again with the natural gas from fracking.
• Peace agreements between Israel and three former adversaries, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. The normalizing of trade and interactions of countries in the Middle East is a major move toward stabilizing that region. Yes, long ways to go yet before peace breaks out in the Middle East, but positive developments.
• Bringing into the open and challenging China’s pervasive and nefarious business practice of stealing technology. 

Peace to you, President Trump. Welcome aboard, President-Elect Joe Biden. I’m hoping you make an effort at a magnanimous entry and I’ll do my darndest to refrain from denigrating remarks.

 

November 7 [Saturday]

I put much of my work garb into plastic today. I hadn’t worn any of those trousers or shirts in almost eight months and they’re hanging in the closet getting dusty. With no end on the horizon for Shelter In Place it finally occurred to me to address this sartorial issue. Oh yes, and also, Joe Biden was officially declared President-Elect with Kamala Harris VP-Elect.

 

November 8 [Sunday]

We’ll be vacationing in Arizona at the end of the month to visit [my in-laws]. In preparation for the trip our two-week self-imposed semi-seclusion has commenced. We will venture out for supplies or to the pharmacy post-office to mail EBay sales, but we’ve implemented a tightening of our outings to come clean with reduced virus exposure. Would be a stinker to depart afterwards having dropped the virus on them. So, to avoid that guilt trip, plus we like them, we strive to keep clean.

 

November 11 [Wednesday]

I will say this for Covid, and it may be counter intuitive, but I’ve enjoyed an enhanced quality of life since Shelter In Place. This may sound selfish, since this has certainly not been to the benefit of my kids, but I’ll explain. Shelter In Place has relegated us to a slower pace of life. Frustratingly so at the beginning, but this slow down has allowed me to rethink priorities and the future. This train of thought finally leads me this week to think of my knees. These crummy things have been subpar for two decades or more. Healthy and reliable knees would improve the quality of life. So, if they can be improved by a medical procedure I’m better off getting it done while I’m employed with health insurance rather than waiting until retirement, plus the added years would certainly not benefit the healing process. The doctor appointment has been scheduled with my primary care physician for that first touch. We’ll see what happens next.

 

November 14 [Saturday]

I’ll level with you, I send an email to my mom every evening and have been doing this since the first days of Shelter In Place. The purpose at the onset was to encourage my mom to reduce the number of her retail outings and to wear a mask, back in the days when masking was optional. I wanted her to exercise precautions because my parents are in an at-risk category due to age. The message was issued by regaling her with the precautions that we were taking. I figured the message would be more readily received if posed as ‘This is what we’re doing’ rather than telling her what to do. You know, try to avoid a method that may induce entrenching. So I checked in daily even though, mostly, I’m sure she just wanted to hear about the grandkids.

    In the beginning I figured this confinement living would be going on for a few weeks, a month maybe. Inconceivable this would be going on eight months later. Anyway, I’d been reluctant earlier in the Covid Chronicle to admit to my daily email so as not to be thought a Momma’s Boy. Well, I admit it hear for documentation purposes. Think of me what you will, I’m still gonna send mom my quotidian email.

 

November 15 [Sunday]

I spoke with my dad today and acknowledged the distinct realization that this Covid year has elevated the importance of family. Pre-Covid we had Sunday dinners every two weeks at the Safehouse also joined by [my brother’s family]. Over the years I had allowed it had become routine and I misplaced the connection of why we got together. I will never again take our Sunday dinners for granted. Oh sure, I’ll get my ice cream desserts and a good gorging, but there’ll be no doubt that family is the draw.

 

 

 

The COVID Chronicle, October 16-31, 2020

 

October 18 [Saturday]

A morning walk to the pharmacy post office with [my daughter] to mail EBay sales. I want the kids to get more outdoor exposure, plus I particularly enjoy my one-on-one time with the Boogie. The kids are not going outdoors enough since the inception of Shelter In Place because, naturally, they’re not leaving the premises for school or social engagements. I don’t want them to be afraid to engage the world, but to be aware and safe, then proceed confidently into it when deemed appropriate. Anyway, we stopped at the bakery on the way home for a pumpkin spice latte for [Wife Klem] because she’s been pretty good lately and deserved a fancy coffee.

 

October 19 [Monday]

Covid seems to have induced a unique problem. With the reduced price of college this year because of virtual classes and living at home, instead of incurring the costs of the dorms, [the boy’s] 529 college savings plan is projected to be more than sufficient to get him through graduation. The tuition cost of Cal State Fullerton is considerably less than the cost of dorms and the dining commons, which was $14,500 last year in addition to tuition. There is a trade off. Cost is reduced, but so is the life-learning opportunities gained from living on one’s own. I have resolved myself to enjoy the bonus year with my guy rather than stew in my own juices over the lost life learning.

 

October 21 [Wednesday]

My evening walk today was a bit of a bummer. Too crowded. I walked to the Vons shopping center down the street for cereal and Campbell’s chunky soup, they’re both on sale! The park down the street, dubbed Dead Grass Park since when we moved to our present home in 2002,was disappointingly crowded with a soccer scrimmage or practice in session and cars parked across the street at the retail center. This was the busiest pedestrian activity I’d seen since pre-Covid. Disheartening. Walking home I masked up and stepped into the street a few times to circumnavigate fellow walkers. When Covid eventually concludes I will long afterwards think back fondly of the light public traffic during the early days of Shelter In Place, vehicular and pedestrian. But I must prioritize, let’s regain health first, only then will I gripe.

 

October 24 [Saturday]

A Safehouse visit today with [my brother’s] team, plus Uncle Joe. Fun, we remain masked and socially distanced and stayed in the backyard rather than congregating indoors.

         The drive home in the early afternoon, eastbound on the 210 freeway, was unpleasantly clogged. The traffic seems to have regained its pre-Covid status. It was thick with intermittent break lights. We were still moving, no freeway stopping, but tapping of breaks during much of the drive home east of Pasadena. Damn, I very much miss the shockingly diminished traffic of the early-Covid days.

 

October 25 [Sunday]

[Wife Klem] and I voted today, live action, in person. This was taking place at City Hall. We arrived in the morning, there were no crowds, voting stations were ample and there was no rush. A snafu occurred with [Wife Klem’s] ballot. It didn’t print correctly which necessitated that she vote with a Provisional Ballot. So technical issues were in effect. Hoping this gets contained for future voters. Then, because we were alone and the kids at home, we stopped at the bakery for a fancy coffee for [Wife Klem] to celebrate our alone time before going home.

 

October 26 [Monday]

53F this morning in San Dimas. Unless there’s an abrupt reversal in the temperatures, my breakfasts on the patio seem to have concluded for the year. We’ll see what returns first, tolerable morning temperatures in Spring 2021 or a post-Covid existence.

 

October 27 [Tuesday]

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series! They beat the Tampa Bay Rays in six games. The baseball season was played in nearly empty stadiums and the World Series had maybe 25% capacity. No real Covid angle other than I just wanted to document a Dodgers championship in the Covid Chronicle. I grew up in Los Angeles County and remember as a youngster when my dad would occasionally come home from work telling us we were going to the Dodger game that night! My mom also rejoiced, because she was NOT going to the game and would have four hour of peace and quiet to herself with her four boys and daughter out of the house.

         Oh, actually, one Covid note. One of the Dodger players was removed during the game, Justin Turner. We found out afterwards he had a positive Covid test. Weird. What, they tested during the game? Or they knew earlier but wanted his bat in the lineup? I won’t go Columbo, though, I’ll just enjoy the local Championship while the team celebrates with their afflicted teammate.

 

October 29 [Thursday]

The Covid traffic honeymoon has officially concluded. There’s an overlook view on one of my regular evening walks. It overlooks the 71, 10 and 57 freeways interchange. Pre-Covid this merge was heartily congested for the evening traffic commute with brake lights. Since Shelter In Place this merging logjam has been light. Tonight it resembled pre-Covid for the first time since March. It is my preference that the populace was regaining health as heartily as the Southern California traffic.

 

October 30 [Friday]

I took the day off because [my daughter] has it off, plus [the boy] has no college classes Friday. [Wife Klem] scheduled us a morning visit to the Citrus State Park in Riverside, then a walkthrough of the UC Riverside Botanical Garden. It was a nice morning walking around these well-kept landscapes, refreshing time away from our screens. But damn, the traffic stinks. I’ve mentioned before and will whinny down my complaining on this point, but traffic feels at or near pre-Covid levels.