I have not given any updates the past few days because they have flown by! The timing of my trip was not ideal because the kids are in school and everyone seems to have been exposed to COVID. I also have been getting up at 4:30am for an online course for MSF, so I tend to take a nap afterwards and the rest of the day becomes a sleepy shuffle from one meal to the other. I am most anxious about food and heat during my trip, so every meal feels like a last meal. I feel like the Pillsbury Dough-girl right now. Consequently, I consumed all the must-haves, including the Maine potato Holy Donuts that, in my opinion, makes the best donut. It is dense and always has creative flavors. I got some gluten free to take to NC for Nikki, although I know neither of us really needs these treats.

Anyways, I was so worried about exposing other people to COVID and then my mom and I were exposed to someone else! It seems impossible to stay safe. I took a rapid test yesterday and it was negative. I have a PCR test on Friday. I keep testing and keep coming back negative but it feels like a losing battle. I keep hearing everyone around me with COVID. This pandemic is unreal, but I keep thinking of the pandemic in the early 1900s that my grandmother lived through without vaccines. We always feel like things are at their worst in the world, but if we look at our history, we can see such struggles before us.

But I did get to see all my littles! And silliness ensued. It was perfect. My brother keeps pigs, goats, chickens and more, so it is always an adventure when visiting. We did our best with our limited time- they had school and extracurricular activities and we had a day delay waiting for their COVID tests.  But we made it happen. It will be so hard to be away from all these special people but technology really helps make it not seem so difficult. They can still facetime me, text, Instagram or whatever it is the kids are doing these days…

Tonight Nikki and I are having a twin date. We have tickets to see one of our favorite comedians, Tig Notaro in Durham. She canceled some of her shows because of COVID but so far, the show is still on. So my twin Jake, his girlfriend, Stephanie, Nikki and I will have an adult date night.

Tomorrow Nikki, Nina and I head to Asheville for a long weekend in the blue ridge mountains. This trip was delayed from New Year’s when I had a COVID scare and it works out perfectly with my impending departure. I still don’t have my exact departure date but it could be as soon as next week!

I am ready!