COVID-19: The Journey. Chapter 6, The House is Clean

Steve and I at lunch, outdoors, in Clinton, Iowa

August -- yet another month of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic -- featured a quick trip to see our baby granddaughter, but most days were at home.

Recall that after our family matriarch, Carol Baker, passed away in May, the Bakers have seen each other on a regular, ongoing basis. This was a silver lining to what was a sad occasion.

We try to see baby Myla Adelyn about once a month, and in August, it was for four days and included an outing to Saylorville Lake. We pack a bunch of face masks for such trips and use them, faithfully.

We returned home to host three of my girlfriends from Tipton, Iowa: They came out to float on our small pontoon boat, and later, to have lunch. I don't usually pilot the boat and had trouble with lotus plants in the water, but we paddled our way out of the muck. Lunch was outdoors, on the deck.

The next week had another family gathering, to say goodbye to granddaughter Hailey Hansen, who started at the University of Northern Iowa this year. I also attended our neighborhood Book Club; we sat at proper social distances on the grass, bug spray at the ready. On the weekend I missed helping at a golf tournament in Tipton, for the first time in 18 years, while Steve safely golfed.

The next week featured a session hosted by the North Scott School District. I am a substitute teacher in the district and attended the meeting to learn about changes that were made because of COVID-19.  I was happy to hear about the district's approach, but felt 1-on-1, face-to-face, teaching is too difficult, these days. I do love to substitute teach, however, and reluctantly went on the "inactive" list. For now, anyway.

The Baker family later that week came out to help Steve dismantle our boat dock, an arduous task. This was accomplished prior to a large project in which our lake will be dredged. I again took out the pontoon boat, this time with Steve's daughters, and that actually was the last time we had the boat out for a social occasion.

The week of Aug. 23 began with a neighborhood meeting in our front driveway. This is a large, shaded area, and many neighbors came to discuss various issues facing our association (for example, the dredging project). I'm the president this year which is why the meeting was at our house. Folks sat at proper social distances from one another.

One Monday, Aug. 24, we went to Princeton, Iowa, to arrange the purchase of a new dock for our property. The owners of the company were away, and a local restaurant was closed, so we drove all the way north to the Candlelight restaurant in Clinton and had lunch. The photo, above, is of us eating outdoors. Later that week we attended the first football game for Steve's grandson, Brady Hansen. Masks were worn at Brady Street Stadium, and we sat in one of the rows that were open to the public.

I cleaned the whole 3-story house thoroughly at least twice in August. COVID-19 is a huge incentive for keeping the home clean and tidy.