While we have enjoyed time exploring Alaska, the west coast, and Newfoundland this spring and summer, fall usually brings us closer to our roots for more family time. This year's family time took a twist when we got the call that Denisa's Mother, Betty, had been exposed to Covid. She was visiting a friend from college, who didn't know she had been exposed several days before. Sure enough, Betty eventually started feeling bad and tested positive herself. She's already had two vaccine shots, so we were hoping that her case would be light. She ended up in the hospital when her oxygen level dropped a little, and a couple days on oxygen were enough. But she was weak from the virus, and couldn't care for herself. It's an interesting problem when one isn't sick enough for the hospital, but still needs help, but they are contagious with the dreaded Corona virus. We were glad that the hospital in Beaver offers respite care, where she could get help until her ten days (the CDC's definition of being contagious) were over. We drove to pick her up at the hospital the day she was released. After being in isolation for ten days, she was happy to be outside. Still very weak, she was glad to be back home and around people again. This 91-year-old had survived Covid 19! We didn't take any pictures at the time, but we'll include one from later to report that she is doing better.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Autumn Brings Care-Giving Family Time
Sunday, November 28, 2021
On a scale of 1 to 10, you're a 13.1!
When we were planning our trip to Newfoundland, the return flight had to get us back to Oklahoma City for a very important event. We drove in last night so we could be here to see the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. This race memorializes the 168 people that died in the Murrah Building bombing in April, 1995. It's usually ran in April, but the race was cancelled in 2020 and and postponed until the autumn in 2021. While the last race had 24,000 runners, this year was limited to a mere 12,000. You can see runners filling the width of the street for as far as you can see in the picture below.
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Newfoundland Summary - A Unique Place and the Unique Things We Noticed During our Holiday
When we visit a place that is new to us, we often notice things that are unique to that location. After two and a half weeks on the unique island of Newfoundland, Canada, we made a list of things that are different here.
After driving across the entire province, the highest speed limit we remember seeing posted was 100. If you think that is fast, remember that is 100 KILOMETERS per hour, which is about 62 MILES per hour. But the thing that is unique to Newfoundland is that everyone drives considerably faster than the posted speed limit. If it is 100, the main flow of traffic seems to be 120, and if it is 50 then everyone is driving 70. In all our miles traveled, we never saw a single traffic stop and very few police vehicles, even though everyone is breaking the speed limits. Fuel isn't cheap here. We consistently saw gasoline selling for around $1.559 per liter. That would be $5.91 per gallon. Ouch!
Sunday, November 21, 2021
Newfoundland - Saying Good-Bye to Newfoundland
After two and half weeks, we're sad to say that it's time to leave the beautiful island of Newfoundland. The last couple days were filled with more fun memories made in the house where we spent much of that time. It has a three-story glass view out the back windows.