Pandemic, Week 5 (Decidedly Not the Magical World of Harry Potter)

This week the world hit 2.3 million cases and 160,000 deaths from COVID-19 (the U.S. continues to be #1 with 737,000 cases and 39,000 deaths). The President claimed he had total authority over the states to determine when they open up (he doesn't) and then threatened to adjourn Congress in order to push through some stalled nominees (which he does have the authority to do, although no President has ever used it). Despite all efforts to the contrary, Wisconsin elected the democratic challenger to its Supreme Court. 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment. Stimulus checks were supposed to be sent out this week but were delayed in order to print the President's name on them. DC announced that it would continue distance learning for the rest of the school year and that the school year would end three weeks early on May 29th (which did not go over well with Nora though Owen seemed weirdly excited – awe middle school). Several states had protests regarding the stay at home orders which resulted in some zombie like imagery.

We forged on. This week was originally the kids' spring break and was supposed to involve a week-long excursion to Harry Potter World and Star War's Galaxy's Edge. Instead, they stayed home and studied (though they did get to enjoy the Harry Potter luggage tags that Disney sent right before they canceled our trip). Hopefully it works out for next year's spring break.

Thursday was actually Emancipation Day in the District, so the kids had off school. I signed out early so we could at least get in a bike ride together (we missed our family one on Sunday due to Easter). The kids and I toured Capitol Hill and stalked their friends (a few of whom we were able to catch so they could talk from a socially acceptable distance).

Because all the work they're doing this quarter counts as extra credit, Owen has managed to raise his geometry grade to a B. Nora's podcast from last week, The Rumor, is finally up though this week's is delayed because Ms. Shannon wanted to make sure that all the parents were ok with Nora's play, New Death City, which involves "a boy who lives in a city of death and he has a list of 10 things that he wants to do before his time comes" and also a murderer. They were, so look for that posting next week.

In between Allen and I conducted mid-years with our staffs, Nora and I made more ice cream (this time with what was supposed to be a marshmallow swirl and ended up as a mound of frozen marshmallow), we had another Grady Family Zoom, a college roommate call, movie night, game night, and our weekly pub quiz (with Nora coming through in the clutch with the song title, "Cake by the Ocean." We still lost, mind you, but not by as much).

New activities included a virtual Trivial Pursuit game organized by Uncle Pete (who donned a tie and coat, but no pants) circa the 1986 version. This proved extra challenging in that a lot has changed in the 35 years -- world leaders, World Series droughts, prominence of common acronyms... Moreover, Allen and I felt particularly handicapped having not read the 1970s seminal self-help book, the Erroneous Zones, followed professional bowling or been familiar with Hitler's love of numerology. Needless to say, we did not win (though we did have a lot of fun).

John's attempt to go to Costco was foiled again when Allen discovered Insta-cart. Owen and I are practicing a duet. We paid our 2019 federal taxes. And the kids had an animal impression contest (I'm not sure anyone won).



Which is to say, the new normal continues. It's still hard to digest that the kids will be home for school for six more weeks after which they'll graduate from SWS and Stuart without any pomp due to all the circumstance.  To ease the pain, we've promised them a big party once this is all over in order to see all their friends.

Which you are all invited to.

(To see all the pictures from this week, click here.)