Irene and I are very lucky
to have each other to lean on; yes, our lives have changed – we have survived
and grown. We acknowledge the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the near chaos
of the national elections, but in the next few paragraphs we choose to focus on
many good experiences of the last half-year. We hope you may enjoy some of these short stories about adventures.
** CLICK on any picture to Enlarge **
Beautiful Formal Gardens
Masked Photographer
We found many places to safely explore where social
distancing and masking were followed. The North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville
spans 65 acres of cultivated gardens, and10 miles of hiking and biking trails. We celebrated our anniversary with a weekend getaway to
Chattanooga. Stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel (the old railroad station)
and explored Rock City and the amazing Ruby Cave.
Rock City Overlook
Ruby Falls Caverns
Elrod Falls is only about a half-hour from our home. A
short trail takes you right up to the pool at the base of the falls.
Apple season in the fall means a visit to the Apple Barn
Winery in Sevierville and a chance to buy fresh fruit right from the orchard,
and of course warm homemade apple pies.
Since March we’ve carefully avoided (and missed) many
favorite restaurants. We’ve actually eaten “out” only 4 times – twice when outside
patio dining was available and socially distanced, and 2 times when the place
was “empty” and we knew and trusted the owners to maintain COVID protocols –
crab legs at Tennessee Jacks and baklava at Red Meze were our rewards for
masking up.
It snowed on Christmas Day – not enough to shovel the
driveway, but Hannah and Serena had a blast running around the yard in the
white stuff. Tennessee does get snow, but except in the mountains, its never more than a dusting.
Irene has been on a leave from Headstart because of the
risks of COVID transmission in preschool. So – she started her own business. Her
new company is registered as a Tennessee LLC and provides commercial and
residential cleaning services. Even if she returns to teaching after
COVID, www.AffordableCleaningTN.comwill continue. And, of course, she is
still creating new art pieces – check out www.DiGrayLady.com.
Steve has converted to 100% virtual teaching Political
Science at Walters State. He’s got quite a sophisticated “teaching station” at
home and has become a “ZOOM expert!” Of course, he’s still involved in many
civic activities – including recently being appointed to the County Election
Commission. He also finally got reconnected to his passion for theatre and
joined the Board of Trustees of www.EncoreTheatricalCompany.com.
Social distancing actually created a whole new “business”
opportunity for Steve. Over the last 3 years he’s tutored English language and
American Integration for 18 international executives and engineers (from
Mexico, India, and Venezuela) and their families who relocated from other
countries to big multi-national manufacturers in Morristown. Since Zoom has
replaced face-to-face for this work, he now has online students from Germany,
Russia, India, and Brazil who have moved to far away US cities.
For Steve’s “milestone” birthday, Irene created this painting
as a gift. The Japanese characters – Nan Ju Go – say “75” – and he actually now
has this design tattooed on his arm.
Our new President has given us renewed hope. Our 245 year
old experiment in democracy does survive. The founders of our country wanted us
to feel strongly about politics so that we could work together and create great
ideas that come out of respect and compromise.
From our Backyard to Yours - Love, Irene & Steve
We ask that all of our friends and acquaintances continue to wear a mask, keep socially distanced, and sanitize hands and surfaces often. We will get through this together.
