Self-Quarantine! And "Saturdays are a Special Day!"

Gary is scheduled for a throat procedure tomorrow afternoon and as part of that we knew that he had to have a Covid-19 test.  He was told that he would be called two days before and told where to go get the test.  We were thinking that meant Saturday for the test.  However on Thursday, they called him and told him to get his test on Friday morning and "self-isolate" in his home until after his procedure on Monday.  (That is why the birthday gathering was changed to the park for Liam and Grandpa couldn't come.)

Gary had asked the doctor a question about colonoscopies and she decided that they could do both at the same time and only add about 15 minutes to the whole process.  The mission department should be proud--they finally got Gary to have a colonoscopy, something I or our family practice doctor never convinced him to do. (In fairest to him, I had a colonoscopy about 8 years ago and I did not make it look fun! That soured him on the whole idea.)  Following Gary's example, I will be getting mine done next month.  Then we can be on the same five year schedule.

He was able to go to a drive-up testing center in Layton and it was pretty quick.  However, the paperwork they gave him at the testing center indicated that he was suppose to self-isolate to one room in his house and stay away from other family members even living in the house.  He waited to come home until we left to go to the park on Friday, then we completely changed clothes and showered when we got home.  He has been staying in his office and sleeping downstairs to follow the guidelines.  It has been very odd.  I miss having him close around.  And it has been a very long time since I slept in my own bed without Gary.  (True to form, I stayed up later reading a book!  Something I regularly did when Gary was on scout camp outs or on business trips.)

We were able to enjoy a quiet Saturday, mostly at home--I had to make a quick run to the store for more liquids for Gary and some medication refills.

We had a major windstorm sweep through the area during the night and littered the backyard with debris from nearby trees.

Then we had our first rainstorm in several weeks--maybe since April.  It has been very dry here.  And our rain chain got some great action.

We got our first official letter from the Church (remember our call came through the missionary portal.)  It was filled with information about preparing for our mission including some websites where we can get more training on different family history websites.  Gary is way ahead of me on this stuff, but that is why we are companions--to help each other.

Mid-afternoon we got to watch my niece, Anna Giberson, get married over YouTube.

I was suppose to be there, along with her family, of course, but due to the pandemic, we all stayed home.  Rick and Linda surprised Anna with cardboard cutout of themselves.

Then Saturday night, Centerpoint Theatre (where Jena attends Friend to Friend and ushers) did a community on-line event called "Reconnect." through YouTube as  well.  It was fun to see some of our friends from the theatre sing songs from past and future musicals.  People are so talented and it was a fun event.

Singing "Impossible Dream" from "Man of Le Mancha"
one of my all-time favorite shows

Shelley is the director of "Friend to Friend" and
we love her.

And a shout-out to technology for allowing us to experience these events!

And the last highlight for the week was me attending Church at our chapel.  (Gary, of course, had to stay home in isolation.)  Our stake started back reduced Sacrament Meetings--in our ward, we are divided into three groups.  We are the A-I group.  Lots of modifications were made to how things were done and it was so quiet with only about 60 people there.  We sat every other row in only family groups.  The sacrament was passed in a specific way.  Everyone observed social distancing and wore masks.  It was a sweet moment to step into the building for the first time since mid-March and although so much of our ward wasn't there, it was nice "to be home." 

And let me point out for those who haven't had this experience yet, singing in a mask is not FUN!  And then because I had a dry throat for allergies, I started coughing during one of the songs---I was a bit embarrassed.  In these days, coughing in public is frowned upon.  Yikes!  At least, no one kicked me out.

Again, despite the pandemic, the riots, the killer wasps, the earthquakes, the politics, etc....... life is so good and we are so blessed.