Thursday, March 11th, 2021
And another beautiful sunny day today with temperatures up to 26C. I am energized by the warm weather. I feel very alive. It is impossible to believe that it will snow next week. I would love to do some work in the garden, though I know it is too early, another month at least. The spring camellias show their first cusps as does my winter clematis. Both should be in full bloom in a week or so. The crocuses and snowdrops which should already be out are a disappointment – like every year my garden is weeks behind everyone else’s. For the first time ever though, I have managed to nurse a Geranium through winter. It is still chilling in the basement, but in three weeks it will be released and the replace the Fir at my entrance. Otherwise it has been a busy day with work which did not stop me from heading to the pool for my daily swim. They let us into the water as soon as the lifeguards are done sanitizing the chairs etc. As a result, I had 38 minutes of pool time rather than 30. It sounds strange to be counting minutes like that, but my ideal pool time is 50 minutes and during summers at the Bethesda outdoor pool I go up to 70 – pure bliss.
I am looking forward to temperatures warm enough for me to return to Lake Arrowhead on weekends for uninhibited, untimed swimming. Today it feels as if this is just around the corner, when of course I know it is not. Me and the other bubble mum are plotting for a Memorial Day weekend getaway, including dinner at the “Little Inn” the only three-star restaurant in the area. This would be our treat to celebrate our girls’ graduation. Hard to imagine that the girls will finish high school in less than three months.
Today EM received her first rejection from a university, sadly this was one of her top choices, the University College of Amsterdam. She is a little sad, but not overly upset as she has been accepted by Michigan State, Oregon State, Penn State, IE Madrid, Tilburg University College and Jacobs University. Responses from Trinity College, University of Amsterdam- her first choice - and University of Uitrecht are still outstanding, so it is not as if she did not have choices.
So far IE Madrid is her favorite as she likes the program. I am all for it! But it is her future, so her choice. I am just not terribly keen on any of the US universities. I so wish I could discuss options with my brilliant friend, but he has been MIA since November and I know will not resurface until we have all had out shots, which I put somewhere around May, by which point in time the decision will have been made.
New infections are up with 60k reported over the past twenty-four hours. In light of this reopening beginning in many States seems premature. Even States with cautious regimes such as Maryland, DC and Virginia are allowing 50% of pretty much everything. Surely, we can wait another two months until not 20 but 50% of our populations have received their first shot at least.
A new level of insanity is emerging in Texas where bars are hosting “mask off“ parties. These have the potential to become superspreader events. How irresponsible can one get? We need to maintain discipline until everyone has had their shot. This is so close, do not mess it up now!
With its latest order of the JNJ vaccine the US has secured enough supplies to vaccinate its entire population twice over. Meanwhile poor countries do not have this access leaving the virus to spread and mutate with mutants likely finding their way back to the USA. At least the Biden administration sees this risk and is willing to help with the global effort.
All in all, while we remain very careful and mostly locked up, I see light at the end of the tunnel and am planning accordingly.