Wow, ok, so I've been more or less gone since last November. I tried to be here for Lumi, but missed a few days and could not get out many gifts thanks to the laaaaag. For the first time ever in my almost 11 years as a member, I missed the new year, Keel Hauliday, Subeta's birthday, Survival, the Masquerade, and Vesnali.

Why? Because I got married on April 7th during the height of the Corona Virus pandemic here in my area. Thanks to Covid-19, our venue closed, our reception was canceled, no family members were able to attend (including my daughter, who was my maid of honor) and we had a total of 8 people at our wedding, including our family of three, the officiating pastor and his wife, and the photographer. So only two guests. We live streamed the wedding over Facebook for our family to watch. Nevertheless, it was beautiful and joyous and I do not regret it for a moment. We intend to have a "white wedding" sometime in the next year to celebrate with our friends and family once they can be with us in person.

Right before our wedding, my school district shut down and went through major pains as we prepared to teach all students "distantly". I teach children with emotional disabilities, so I'm sure you can imagine how well that went. So here I am, finally on summer vacation, still reeling from the last 6 months and wondering, like all of us, what our world will look like once the dust clears.

I sincerely hope that each and every one of you is healthy, safe, and happy and I very much look forward to catching up.

It's wonderful you got married but sad that so much had to be canceled. Next year you can celebrate with friends and family.This Corona virus will mean a lot of changes in the next few years but we will all take things one day at a time and we WILL get through this. Hugs

Yes, we will. Between the virus and the Black Lives Matter movement, I think the US will look quite different five years from now. I'm sure that the rest of the world will, too.

I am sure if will look a lot different in 5 years and hopefully it will be better!

Congrats on your wedding, I wish you much happiness. Sad that this covid-19 pandemic hit and things had to be reworked.

Oh my God, have I missed you! MEGAHUGS Congratulations and welcome back! <3<3<3

Wow. Congrats on your wedding. That’s always a blessing. Sorry to hear everything you went through with and being a teacher on top of that. I hope you enjoy your summer!!

Thank you! It's ok. It will all work out. How have you been?

Awwww HUGS I've missed you, too! Thank you! Are things going better for you now? I really hope so.

Thank you! I really don't have room to complain. We are healthy, my husband and I are both working, and we have one another. So far, summer vacation has been busy, but good. How are you?

I wish I could say "yes", but I can't. :(

Well shoot. You know I'm here if you want to talk. You can send me an sMail or I can give you my Skype info if you prefer something more active.

I've been okay. Last few months have been tough. My father past in March and I take care of my Aunt who has Dementia so it is stressful at times because she doesn't understand. Hoping the next few months to a year get better.:)

I’ve been furloughed since April 3rd. Getting unemployment. Hope to get called back to work when things get better and pray for a vaccine to help us all. Just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary yesterday. Here’s to wonderful years with you and your husband.

Oh hon, I'm sorry about your father. My prayers will be with you and I am here if you ever need someone to talk to. Dementia is so difficult. My great grandmother thought she was a little girl for the last several years of her life. She lived to be 102! It takes true patience to care for someone that suffers from it. Hang in there and make sure to take time for self care. hugs

I am sorry that you've been without work for that long. If President Trump cuts federal funding to the education system, I may be facing a similar situation. Congratulations on your anniversary, though! Wow, 30 years. That's fantastic! Has the way that you feel for your husband changed over the decades or does it still feel the way it did in the first year? Just curious.

Thanks you She thinks my younger sister is her sister and I have plenty of family around. My brother lives right next door and he helps a lot. We are waiting until my sister comes home to have the service, if she can though with this covid, my province has very strict regulations and aren't letting a whole bunch of people in. Though it can be worst and once my sister moves home in October. I'll have more help as well. :)

For me it has changed. There are ebbs and flows. Highs and lows. But we are in it together. But it’s always nice when he comes home after work. And I know he loves and supports me.

Welcome back and congratulations on the wedding! I'm glad you could make it work despite Covid! And it will be nice to have the celebrations at another time, in happier circumstances. My partner's brother had to cancel his wedding (they live in another country and wanted to travel to ours to marry but it was not possible...). But other than that, we were super lucky regarding the whole situation. I'm still doing home office very often and I enjoy it way too much :D (I have two teachers in my family though, they were also rather stressed out.)

It sounds like things have been a nonstop whirlwind - glad you get at least a teensy break during summer. Hopefully fall planning for 'distance' learning will allow for things to be a bit easier. I'm sure your white wedding will be lovely, even though it has to wait until next year. Something to look forward too amid all this chaos, and you're still married in the mean time! ^_^

Happy 30th anniversary!

Thank you sweetie!! Wild ride!!

Well, I'm glad that you have support. That's really good. My grandmother is at the point where she shouldn't be living alone anymore and it's a matter of great contention in the family, because of course she wants to stay in her home. I wish that we had some unity on the subject.

That sounds a lot like how Jeff's parents describe their relationship. They've been together 38 years and they do ok. You rarely see them get upset with each other and they have each other's backs, but they aren't nearly as affectionate or tender as Jeff and I.

Thank you! I'm glad that things are going ok for you. We almost postponed the wedding, but at the end of the day we were ready to be married and it wasn't about the wedding ceremony. It was about us.

Yes, exactly. And we are happily so. No cold feet for either of us. We almost just walked into the justice of the peace to get married on the spot! Well, except for all courts closing and what not.... And as for planning, yes, must planning will be had. I'm going to check my work email tomorrow for the first time since school let out. I likely have hundreds. I heard that we might be delaying the start of the year a couple of weeks. Which, honestly, I am also very ok with.

What I love about my husband is when we are walking on the sidewalk, he always takes the curbside. So he's always placing himself on the outside and makes me feel safe and secure. Even my son does that because I told him that it shows you care for someone. Crossing a crosswalk, he takes the position closest to the car. He's done this forever. Still in love with him, that's for sure. :)