Pandemic, Week 19 (Corn Fest-ish)

A Wall of Moms, a Wall of Veterans, Dads with Leaf Blowers, and the Mayor of Portland were participating in peaceful protests when they were gassed by federal agents in order to "protect federal property." The Chinese Consulate in Houston was given 72 hours to close after the U.S. accused it of economic espionage; China retaliated by ordering the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu closed. The Nats (minus Juan Soto who tested positive for COVID) faced the Yankees for their opening day as baseball returned (albeit for only a 60 game season). The game included Dr. Anthony Fauci throwing out the first pitch, the players from both teams kneeling before the national anthem, no fans in attendance, and the game ending after six innings due to severe thunderstorms (the Nats lost, 4-1). The President  bragged about his cognitive ability by repeating the following word string twice during an interview, "Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV."

The world hit 16.1 million COVID-19 cases and 645,000 deaths this week – of which 4.3 million cases and 149,000 deaths were from the U.S. In response to recent spikes of cases in Florida, the President decided to cancel the Republican Convention in Jacksonville, having earlier moved it there from Charlotte, NC due to Florida's more liberal opening policies. DC is now mandating a 14-day quarantine (beginning Monday) for people returning to DC from certain hotspots, including Iowa.

Fortunately, we'll be back on Sunday.

For our last week in Iowa, we seemed to spend it finishing projects. Owen had his last "summer intensive" lesson with Ms. Purdie before he starts at Duke Ellington (remotely) August 10th. Work on the zip-line was completed (work on scaffolding for the zip-line is still underway) and all of us plus Grandpa Z got to test it. Nora helped write and record, Mythologia Cataracta (The Myth of the Waterfall), for her latest Camp Shenanigans podcast and also participated in her fifth grade class's book club. Grandpa Fawcett joined us at Grandpa and Grandma Z's towards the end of the week as a precaution while his sister Margie from Florida came to visit.

But the big event this week was Cornfest. It was a stripped down celebration this year, with only 35 people feeling comfortable in gathering together, covered wagon rides limited to family units, the banishment of the food line, masks wearing in the main cabin, and the absence of the corn-eating contest (the plaque will list "COVID" as the winner in 2020). We were a little conflicted in attending (Grandpa and Grandma Z decided to pass), but in the end, we decided to risk it for one more day at the pond, lots of corn, more zip-line runs, and some special time with family before the long drive home. It was a lot of fun.

And hopefully, we all stay healthy.


(To see all of this week's pictures, click here.)