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US Thursday COVID UPDATE & Thoughts

“CDC report: dining out increases risk of contracting coronavirus more than other activities”
The Hill

Back before COVID, we ate out once a week. That’s not counting occasional “fast food” dining. Enjoying dinner at one of our favorite restaurants - or trying some place new - was part of our weekly “date night”. Now, we’re together 24/7. At home!!! So I supposed every night is now Date Night at home. These days, even occasional restaurant take-out is also considered a treat.

We recently had a major anniversary. Rather than having the grand celebration that we’d actually been planning for two years, my husband picked up a gourmet dinner (as take-out) from a very high end restaurant; one that has been a favorite of ours for special occasions. The restaurant is open for inside dining.

Nevertheless, we do want to still be around next year; plus ten and twenty and thirty years or more from now. Because of that, 2020 meant a quiet anniversary at home. Same amazing food as the restaurant, but we instead enjoyed it in a safe environment. Hubby was our waiter for the evening. It was a nice anniversary. When all was said & done, I believe that our both being & remaining healthy (which we fortunately continue to have together) is the greatest gift (for any occasion) that anyone could ask for.

Interesting how the CDC has now deemed dining out as being so very dangerous. Frankly, we were tempted. So tempted.

We had originally planned to return to Tahiti; where we went for our honeymoon. However after COVID “lockdown” happened in March, we could see the need to change those travel plans. We decided that celebrating closer to home would be fine during these unsettled times. Even if it meant sacrificing non refundable, trip reservations & giving up a dream we’d had ever since coming home from our honeymoon. We’d at least still be together. That was the most important thing. Even so, I never expected to end up celebrating this big anniversary totally at home. But then, I didn’t expect a lot of what has been happening in America because of the pandemic.

Until Americans stop getting sick & dying from COVID, nothing will return to “normal”. So we just have to deal with things the best we can and stay safe until a good “normal” is someday once again possible. In this way, we’re no different than anyone else. Today, I no longer feel like I need or desire another exotic trip to Tahiti. We had dreamed of returning for this special anniversary, but now that dream is a memory. Our special anniversary has quietly come & gone. We were together & that’s what truly made the day special.

We are the lucky ones. We are together in good health. Now, I just want to go out to dinner in town with my husband and not have to fear for our lives. I just want a normal, everyday life again.

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Today was another cold and wet day. Again, it was just in the 50’s & tempts set another low high. Plus it rained all day again. Not great outdoors photography weather. I had to stand out in the rain to get the above photo.