First week in Melrose
Week Ten May 18 – 27, 2020
Wednesday was our first day in Melrose. It is so different to be here and not set foot in Rebecca’s house. We have decided her family will use the sunroom and we will use the basement for now. So here we are and how is this new social distancing in Melrose going to work?
Mid-morning Grandpa asked Griffin if he would like to go for a walk with us and Doby (our grand-dog). Griffin is wonderful at Social Distancing. He wore his mask and walked on the other side of the street most of the time. He is very conscious of keeping his distance. At lunch time we asked Esme and Griffin if they would like to have a picnic in the backyard. Yes!! So, they went and got their food and we got ours and we sat on opposite sides of the back yard. After we ate Grandpa and Griffin played kick ball not touching the ball. Esme did cartwheels. It was fun to all be together in the back yard even if we cannot hug.
Thursday, Bonnie and her boys came over and did their schoolwork in our back yard. Bonnie’s family was on one side of the yard and Esme on the other side. Griffin was inside. They worked until noon time. I am thinking it might have been this day that Grandpa helped Griffin with his schoolwork. Griffin was at the table on the sunroom that is outside our door and Grandpa sat inside the door.
Friday, we ordered a pizza and went to pick up everyone’s. As I walked inside with my mask on, I noticed the tables were all stacked against the counter so no one could get near it. The guy behind the counter asked my name, where the car was and told me to go back to the car and he would bring it out. We had a fun time visiting with Bonnie, Tim and their boys. The kids were on separate blankets that were at least 6 feet apart. After the pizza the Moms took their own computers and started a movie for the kids to watch. It took a few times, but they managed to get the computers starting at the same time.
Bonnie was a teacher and she has been helping Esme and Griffin. She does some Zoom sessions and has put together packets for them. She also takes them for hikes and bicycle rides. I am not sure if that may have just started last week. I have been crocheting a blanket for their family and was able to give it to them that night.
Saturday we went to Hampton Beach area in NH and met Jeff for my much needed lobster roll and then Jon’s ice cream. The place is now operating as it normally does. You order, pick it up and the picnic tables are now available to eat at. The tables are being cleaned immediately after people leave them. It was very pleasant to sit by the ocean, eat favorite foods and visit. We had also visited Jeff on Thursday in our back yard when he brought Jon his new computer. Yes, he did finally have to give up and get a new one.
We have taken walks with the grandkids, Doby and by ourselves. We visited with Mark, our nephew, wife and kids a couple of times. They were playing in their front yard about 5 blocks away from our house.
The social distancing is working alright with the grandkids. Actually, it is not as bad as I thought it would be. We just can not be in each other’s houses and can’t hug but we can chat with each other from our door or in the back yard. Jon has helped the kids with some of their schoolwork by taking a picture of their computer screens with his telephoto lens from our door. He can then read the screen and help them. We have been able to have more time with them than I thought.