Merry Christmas to all my Friends and Family.
2020 started with me watching TV and kissing my cats at midnight. The next day I returned to work at the tax place. Killed my fish Achilles Jr while changing its water. I realized later his tank heater was turned off and holding tank water was too warm for him to handle. Heartbroken with a side of guilt. Soon after Leda Jr died. We had such cold temperatures outside that the ferrets and cats refused to go play in the snow. Soon, my lone Beta male fish Aeneas Jr started lying on the rocks. Thinking he was dying I got a male and female fish to put in my empty tanks named Perseus and Andromeda. Two days later, Aeneas Jr perked up watching a new female Beta next door. Amazing how one little fish can change another just by being there.
Ordered the traditional Heart Pizza and brownies to be delivered to Mom on Valentine's Day since I had to work all day. Celebrated ferret Boromir's 3rd Birthday. Sister celebrated her 51st birthday without me since I was working. Our Mom told me all about their restaurant dinner. Celebrated ferret Luthien's 4th Birthday. The Corona Virus arrived in my state and the governor shut down non-essential businesses, organizations, and medical procedures. Next, the St. Patrick's Day parade was cancelled in Des Moines. Mayor of Des Moines and Governor of Iowa declared State of Emergency: So, people were required to stay home, work from home, and only go out for necessities. Places everywhere closed and essential workers pertaining to manufacturing, food, and medical can be open. I did taxes, which is required by the government, so I was considered an essential worker. Mom got trapped in her senior living center not letting them leave so sister had to bring groceries to the receptionist at the entrance. Mom suffered with the center’s gym, pool, and hair salon closed, plus activities canceled and dinner was delivered to their apartments. I asked relatives to call her, so she had someone to talk to. We discovered when they finally let her leave how all the sitting alone in her apartment affected her health.
April 15 the tax sites closed except our year around locations. Sure, they could have kept them open until July 15, but most people had already filed their taxes to make the decision to close the other offices on schedule. I was suddenly unemployed and quarantined. For Easter, I delivered dinner to my Mom since she couldn’t visit us. Spent the holiday alone with my pets eating ham and bunny cake. Spent my quarantine months writing on my stories. Nearly finished another novel about the Civil War era. I got a job interview and received the rejection the next day. Sitting at home, I decided to share my recipes on social media and made various Youtube videos on various topics. Pruned my rose brushes and my only joy (besides my pets) was watching all my flowers grow this spring and summer.
Enjoyed looking at photos of my great-niece's 1st Birthday Party in their living room since they can't go anywhere. She was born on Star Wars Day, so they got a Baby Yoda cake. Mother's Day was traumatic for my Mom since we usually go out to eat. Senior living center finally let them leave the building and I drove up to the front door to have Mom sit in my car for a good half hour showing her photos off my smartphone while holding her gifted flowers and card. Visited my Dad and relatives on Memorial Day with Mom. Visited my Dad on Father’s Day. Lost my female Beta Andromeda. Got a new baby girl named Persephone. Spent the 4th of July at my sister's home cause everything but the fireworks show was canceled. Made smore's over a candle. My male Beta Aeneas Jr died and got a new male fish Ares. Celebrated Mom’s 81st Birthday at my sister’s house.
Visited the local amusement park with sister's family to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. Celebrated my nephew's Sweet 16 at a restaurant with family and met their newly adopted dog. Visited the local living history museum with niece and sister. Left my phone on top of the car so lost the photos and videos I took that day. Next day we had a Derecho, which nobody but meteorologists knew such a term existed. Picture this: I came inside from feeding the birds. Cats had refused to come outside. Next thing I know the front yard pinwheel is spinning like crazy and boom, a huge gust of wind shook the trees. Then pow, the electricity went out and the sirens wailed. Garbage cans fell over with loud thud. Next came the downpour like a hurricane. Electricity flickered back on and off again. After a long wait, the rain moved on and I came outside to take photos with my camera since I left my smartphone on top of my car at the museum. Neighbors were all gazing at the tree that fell on the power line, thus knock out the electricity for the whole block. Plus, it blocked the entire dead-end street so nobody could get in or out. One neighbor wondered if we had a tornado. One house had a gutter come off while another had a tree fall on their garage. Luckily, no damage to my house. Spent the day without electricity and can't call anyone from cordless phones needing power. Ate my Popsicles and ice cream bars, drank the milk before spoiling. Played games alone and read a book when too dark to play games. One good thing was I could see the stars at night from all the neighborhood streetlights out.
Next morning a neighbor wanted to leave so he chain-sawed the tree blocking the street to make room for a car. I drove to the museum to collect my phone that shattered and bought a new one at the mall. Then went to Target for candles and a non-digital phone with a cord that doesn't need electricity (yes, they still make them) so I can call people. Grocery stores and gas stations were sold out of ice to keep food in fridge cool so stored my food at my sister's house who had electricity. 5 days without electricity was endured before the power came back to my block. Ate a lot of crackers and peanut butter sandwiches. Recharged the smartphone in the car at night. Retrieved my food from my sister's house and greeted my brother with his wife visiting my sister this week. On a good note, my marigolds were starting to bud, and miniature roses were still blooming.
After the derecho branches were carried away, I had family over to enjoy grilled food. Got a call for an interview at a hotel as a desk clerk and got hired right before my birthday. Celebrated my 45th Birthday with family at my sister’s house. Lost my Beta fish Perseus and got a new one named Poseidon. Had a phone interview for a payroll job. Got another interview at a car dealership registering license plates. After 3 years of planting morning glory seeds, I finally got one to bloom. Celebrated ferret Eowyn 6th Birthday. Halloween during Covid, I set out candy and stickers inside in a bowl outside. 16 packets disappeared with 4 groups of kids stopping by. No costumes allowed for my new job so wore cat ears with a black mask with embroidered cat face on it. Covered exposed skin with silver and black cream eyeshadow. After Election Day, celebrated cats Bilbo and Misty’s 2nd Birthday. Missed niece's 17th Birthday Party. I got off the overnight shift at 7 AM and slept through the party at home. Visited her the next day to give my gift to her. Spent Thanksgiving Day working to put up the hotel Christmas Tree in the lobby and brought dinner for the coworkers to eat since we can't have a potluck due to Covid. Coworkers enjoyed my homemade food. After work, went over to sister’s place. Took niece and nephew out Black Friday shopping. Intended to stop by my Mom's to put up her Christmas Decorations, but Covid halted those plans when the senior living center stopped allowing visitors. Great-niece celebrated her Fifth Birthday via livestream at home. Took Mom shopping for her grandchildren since we don’t like her driving anymore. Brother and his wife are hosting Christmas Day diner at their new house.
Have a Wonderful New Year. Praying 2021 is much better than 2020.
Jordan
Cats: Bilbo, Misty Ferrets: Eowyn, Luthien, Boromir Beta fish: Persephone, Ares, Poseidon
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