Life has risk, Kelly Ripa

I heard it again.

Kelly Ripa (Live with Kelly and Ryan) is not willing to take the risk to see her or her husband's parents during this dangerous time. (It's Bob's favorite show and he never misses). Life comes at you fast, Kelly. It's been a year today since our 50 year old son (your age) had surgery for glioblastoma and about 6 months since he died. We are your parents age. Is this worth it? Not seeing them to protect them? Is Covid19 their only risk? No heart disease or cancer or falls? If one were to pass from H1N1 or a stroke, you could say, "At least it wasn't Covid?"

This summer of the pandemic and lockdowns:

1. We came early (end of May) and stayed late (mid-October) at our vacation home in Lakeside on Lake Erie. From purple iris to changing maples. It helped with grief, our health, and our happiness even with extreme cutbacks in activities.

2. We watched our neighbors at Lakeside handle this pandemic three ways.

a. Stayed home in Arizona, or New York or Florida where they went nowhere either due to governor lockdown or their own fears for their health.

b. Stayed inside their cottages in Lakeside leaving only long enough to feed the feral cats and go to Walmart for groceries.

c. Were outside attending events, visiting with friends, shopping at Walmart and Bassetts and Erie Rd Market, eating in local restaurants, and taking long walks (most people have dogs, we don't).

3. We've watched more TV than usual, but have enjoyed the porch for reading and chatting with friends and strangers through the screen. I've made frequent use of the "Little Free Library" on our street, found 3 keepers, and donated 5-6 titles.

4. We've done less entertaining, but

a. Celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary in a neighbor's yard, with prepackaged snacks, masks, social distancing, and 25 guests.

b. We invited a widower to have dinner with us--probably our only dinner guest, which is a cut back, but certainly important for him.

c. A neighbor who didn't have TV came over 2 nights to watch the RNC national convention in August.

d. We rented a cottage across the street and enjoyed the company of my husband's siblings who are also aging, and we don't see them often.

e. We rented a 6 seat golf cart to tour the town with our relatives, and a neighbor took our whole group on a wonderful sail boat ride.

  

f. We invited friends to have ice cream with us on our porch.

g. We hosted a niece and nephew for a week in our cottage.

5. The Chautauqua programs were limited, however,

a. We attended church most Sundays because Lakeside has a nice park, a gazebo with benches, responsible volunteers, preachers and musicians. Hymn singing and communion in pre-packaged cups.

   

b. I attended talks and lectures I would have skipped any other season, and enjoyed them all--especially being out and about and seeing people. Although everything was also available on-line, I only saw 2 such events. Some of the usual Chautauqua fare was only virtual--I skipped those.

c. We enjoyed many music programs in many genres--symphony, concert band, reenactment, jazz, blues, funk--almost all local (northern Ohio) and all as happy to see us as we were to see them.

   

5. We’ve eaten in several local restaurants, most inside.

a. The Patio in Lakeside, usually twice a week, for Sunday breakfast and mid-week perch. Inside, tables spaced and removed.

b. Marblehead Galley for prime rib, outside on deck.

c. Big Boppers for breakfast inside (very windy that day, and there is plenty of outdoor seating).

d. Crosswinds, inside, newly decorated, acrylic panels  between booths.

e. Tin Goose, small airport, inside.

f. Wednesday night picnic in Perry Park, Lakeside.

g. Hotel Lakeside, reservations, week-ends, Chef Stacy.

I walk 4-5 miles a day, but yesterday had to drive to Sandusky for new shoes to protect my feet. On this morning's walk I saw incredible beauty along the lakefront including two islands, pleasure boats, and freighters. The leaves are starting to turn, there are flowers I've never seen in the summer, and there seem to be so many construction projects, including several new homes. Somebody around here is living, and I'm one of them. Tomorrow might be too late.

                                                 Photo by Beth Sibbring, October 5, 2020