Pandemic, Week 25 (Back to School)

This week, The President encouraged people in North Carolina to vote twice, both in person and via mail. When interviewed, Attorney General Bill Barr was unclear if doing so is illegal (it is). A "Patriot Prayer" member participating in a Trump caravan was reportedly killed by a self-described member of "antifa" during a violent skirmish in Portland involving paintballs. The suspect was later killed by U.S. Marshalls. An article in the Atlantic – which was later confirmed by Fox News, the Washington Post and the AP – reported that the President had mocked soldiers killed in battle or wounded. The President also signed a memo to defund "lawless cities" such as New York, Portland, Seattle, and Washington, DC (which is not legal). A George Washington University tenured professor of Africana studies admitted that she had been masquerading as a woman of color for the past ten years. Illusionist David Blaine flew over the Arizona desert while holding 52 balloons.

This week the world hit a total of 27.0 million cases and 882,000 deaths. The U.S. accounted for 6.4 million cases and 193,000 deaths. The Trump administration defended their notification to states to be ready to distribute a vaccine to high-priority groups as early as two days before the election as not being politically motivated. Meanwhile, several major drug makers pledged not to seek government approvals for their vaccines (some of which are currently in large clinical trials) until they have been proven safe and effective.

But while all that was going on, the kids started the 2020-21 school year (remotely) and Nora turned 11. It was big week for the kids – Owen got to go sailing, we had Mom Mom & Grandpa Don over for dinner, the kids met their new teachers and classmates (well, the ones that turned their cameras on), Nora had a birthday (and an epic Facetime with her besties), Owen auditioned for ensembles, Nora attended a club-fair, Owen got to return to a socially-distanced rock-climbing team, and we all got to go over to Aunt Katherine's to play.

It was a really good week for us, filled with lots of cake and treats and only a few technical glitches.

Hopefully our luck holds out.

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