This week was pivotal in our Covid-19 situation. We had to cancel my step-kids summer visit. They were scheduled to be with us for five weeks, but with the current health situation, the Swedish government extended its recommendations to cancel all non-essential travel until the end of August, and SAS Airlines canceled the flight.

It’s heartbreaking, especially since we have not seen them since last summer. Luckily, within a few days of canceling, we were able to work out an alternative plan. State of the world aside, our new plan is to go to England for their fall break. They will meet us in England, and we can spend time with Dan’s family. We will also have the kids for four weeks in the winter, and ten weeks next summer. It’s difficult to wait to see them, but this new plan is exciting and making us feel optimistic for fun things ahead.

And fun we will have…hopefully we can move our plans from this summer to a future vacation. Our plans for this summer were so epic, that I need to share them with you.

The vacation was going to start with me. I was going to drive our Subaru from Denver to Chicago, with two night-stops along the way. I planned on driving through Nebraska and Iowa, with a stop in Mallard, Iowa, where my maternal side has roots.

Dan was going to fly to meet me in Chicago (he had to work, which is why he couldn’t do the first part of the road trip with me), to pick up Zoe and Felix on a direct flight from Sweden to O’Hare.

1. We were going to spend a few days in Chicago, including the 4th of July.

2. Indianapolis Speedway for NASCAR

3. Kentucky-The National Corvette Museum, The original KFC (and museum), and the Jim Beam Distillery- which apparently is family friendly.

4. Tennessee- Pigeon Forge and Gaitlinberg: which look tacky, touristy, and wonderful. We had planned 2-3 nights here.

5. Georgia - Atlanta, so Zoe could go on a Stranger Things filming locations tour. She’s a huge fan. Felix loves cars- so NASCAR and the Corvette museum were more for him. In Atlanta, we would also go on a CNN Tour and visit the Coke Factory.

6. Alabama - The US Space and Rocket Center

7. Tennessee- Graceland

8. Missouri- St. Louis Arch

9. Kansas- Largest Ball of Twine

10. Home

We were planning to spend one week at home, and then fly to Orlando for ten days of theme parks- Universal and Disney. It was crushing to have to cancel this trip, but luckily we were able to easily get refunds, and we can plan this for a later date. I feel a bit relieved, as I’m not sure that I feel confident that it is a good idea to travel. I’m a firm believer in wearing masks in public, and grateful that the theme parks are enforcing masks, but I also can’t imagine wearing them in the Orlando heat.

This week we completed two more social distancing firsts. We went to an outdoor mall to find a housewarming present. It was a ghost town, very few customers, and some of the stores were closed. The present was for our friend’s Julie and Ryan, who have recently moved to Colorado from Los Angeles. We felt safe enough to visit their new home, which was lovely. It was great to see them, and catch up over homemade pizza and ice cream. As we’ve all been very cautious, we felt that this was low-risk. It was the first time going to a friends house since quarantine.

The cats went to the groomers on Saturday. They are all fluffy and smell nice. I took a picture of a funny sign at the groomers. I’ve had cats my entire life and never groomed them, but this sign makes me reconsider.

We saw a beautiful rainbow on a bike ride.

I took an online course through Colorado State University regarding growing vegetables. It was simply called “Vegetables.” The course was offered for free, but normally costs forty dollars, and is part of a series of gardening courses. If I were to complete all of the courses, I would receive some sort of qualification to be professional gardener. Honestly, the course wasn’t very useful. It took about an hour, and the only information that I can remember is to take a soil sample every year. I certainly don’t feel more qualified to plant vegetables. I passed the quiz at the end and earned a virtual “vegetable” badge.

This evening, I attended an outdoor yoga session in our housing estate. It was hosted on the lawn by our community center. I’ve tried yoga several times, but it’s not an exercise that I love. I prefer pilates. However, it was nice to stretch and look up at the amazing, Colorado clouds. It started raining as I walked back to our house. I met a few new neighbors, who were very nice.

And to end, a picture of Tom with his new toy that we bought at the groomers. Tom and Slinky love this new toy.