Monday, June 1 through Sunday, June 7:
(Daily Protests continued throughout the first two weeks. The man whose death ignited the protests, was buried on Tuesday, 6/9, but protests continued in many cities across the United States calling for policing reform. Also, the number of cases of coronavirus rose in many states, including Florida.)
There were a lot of firsts this month.
June the first was my 68th birthday. JP and Emma brought over a few birthday presents for me this morning while Kellie was at the doctor’s. In the afternoon, I joined Ruth Baker, her husband, Bill, and some of their friends to celebrate our birthdays. Ruth and I have been celebrating our joint birthday for about 20 years. Lots of food and drinks were enjoyed by all.
6/2, Tuesday – For the first time in 9 weeks, I drove to the church office to input the contributions that have been given over the past couple of months while we had no in-person church services. Regular Sunday morning service is scheduled to begin next Sunday, June 7. Ruth called to let me know that Deborah Ross’s husband, Richard, passed away on Sunday. Since funerals are very limited in size due to coronavirus, she will be having friends and family over to her home for a celebration of life tomorrow afternoon. The North River Care Pregnancy Center called to say that they are ready for me to return to my volunteering. I will start again next Tuesday.
On Wednesday I attended the celebration of life for Richard Ross. When I got home, I had received notification from Makers Air that the Bahamas will be open to international travel on July 1st. I immediately reserved 4 seats on the afternoon flight of 7/24 returning on the morning of 7/27. I also made plans with Rick’s brother, Edward, to come and visit him on June 20th, spending the night.
I went to see my hip surgeon on Thursday for an annual checkup since my last hip replacement revision at the end of February, 2019. He says it looks good and I don’t need to come back to see him again. The weather lady on the morning news said our temperature is going to be below the average of 90 degrees today because we have a 70% chance of rain due to tropical storm Christobal in the gulf (the first time a “C” storm has been named this early in the hurricane season). And, by the way, she says that our average temperature will be at least 90 every day from now through the first week of September. Anyone want to move to Florida?
The governor announced that phase two of his reopening Florida plan will begin Friday, 6/5, with the exception of three counties (Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County and Broward County). Phase two allows, entertainment businesses including movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys and arcades to reopen. Bars will also be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity inside and full capacity outside with social distancing. Customers will only be served if they are seated. In addition, restaurants will be allowed to open bar-top seating with appropriate social distancing. Retail businesses and gyms can operate at full capacity, and personal service businesses, such as tattoo parlors, tanning salons and massage establishments, may reopen.
It has been so hot outside, that Dad and I went to the Lakewood Ranch YMCA for the first time on Friday to work out as the Parrish YMCA has not been reopened. At the current time, the gym equipment is available to members from 8 a.m. to Noon and then from 4:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. We found many of the same machines that we were used to working, but each with just a little difference. We are happy to be able to get back to exercising in an airconditioned facility.
Emma came over early Saturday because she was so excited to tell me that her mother and father took her bowling for the first time ever last night! You can see her and Mommy’s feet in their snazzy bowling shoes below.
6/7, Sunday – Today was the first time that Palm View First Baptist Church has had a live Sunday morning service since March 15th. Dad and I opted not to return to the live services yet as we are both in the high-risk category for the coronavirus. We will wait at least a few more weeks to see if the number of cases in the area rise. The church does seem to be taking every precaution possible including having everyone in attendance sign-in. That way if someone gets sick they will have a list of people to contact to warn.
Monday, June 8 through Sunday, June 14 :
The house cleaners were delayed on Monday, so we didn’t go to the gym. On Tuesday, I returned to my volunteer work at the North River Care Pregnancy Center for the first time since March. Then, I went to Palmetto Dental Center for my semi-annual teeth cleaning. Dentist’s offices in Florida were only allowed to see emergency patients until just recently. JP had an electrician come by on Wednesday to give him an estimate on some outside lighting. While he was here, I had him look at one section of my undercabinet lighting. He says I need a new connector thingamajig and he ordered it. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks, I be able to see what’s in that dark kitchen corner! In the afternoon, Dad and I went to the Y to work out. On Friday, I drove just into Sarasota County to see Dr. Stacy South of Women’s Choice Oncology for a 6-month check-up following my total hysterectomy in 2016 and radiation in 2017. Dr. South says everything continues to look good and I will only have to see her for 2 more years. On the way home I stopped by for a short visit with Ken and Jackie after leaving the doctor’s office. The doctors have told Ken that he has leukemia and that his body cannot tolerate any more medicine. They asked him to let them know when he returns in two weeks if he wants to apply for hospice. When I told our friend Ruth about it, she said that her husband Bill had just started hospice.
Monday, June 15 through Sunday, June 21 :
I watched Emma on Monday from 9:30 to 2:30 so that JP could go riding with his friend and running coach. Emma is getting better riding her bike without training wheels. We spent most of our time together in the pool. Tuesday activities included: garbage, groceries, drug store, car wash, church office, pregnancy center, bank, drug store, cook supper, go to bed.
When we went to the Lakewood Ranch YMCA to work out Wednesday we were pleased to be greeted by the same lady that was the receptionist at the Parrish YMCA. We met up with JP and Emma halfway home where she transferred to our car so her dad could go play golf with his buddies. She came home with us and “hung out” with me until her mom got home around 6 p.m.
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JP invited Dad and I to go with him and Emma on a drive through Myakka State Park to see what kind of wildlife we could find on Thursday. Emma brought binoculars and JP brought his camera with telephoto lens. We were gone about four hours and everyone enjoyed the trip. Among other things we saw a baby gator sunning on a fallen tree and four little piglets rooting along the road. You can click on the pictures to get a better view.
We returned home in time for me to go into Palmetto to attend a board meeting of the North River Care Pregnancy Center.
Dad and I drove over to Ormond Beach Saturday to visit with my brother-in-law, Edward, overnight and belatedly celebrate both his and my birthdays. On the way, we stopped at the cemetery in Daytona Beach (near the airport) where my mother and both of my grandmothers are buried. We discovered that the headstone needs a little cleaning.
We said goodbye to Edward around 9:00 Sunday morning and drove south on A1A to attend the service at the Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church were my niece, Melissa Cambre Frantz, is the assistant minister. After church, we met at the seafood restaurant where her son, Mike, is one of the cooks. We were joined by her father, my brother Rick, for a combination Fathers’ Day and early 90th birthday celebration with Dad. See pictures below.
Monday, June 22 through Tuesday, June 30 :
On Monday 6/22, I talked to Jackie. She and Ken are both sick with temperatures so I cannot go over to visit until that is resolved. Ken was evaluated and accepted in the Hospice (at home) program this afternoon. On Tuesday, I did my volunteer work at the North River Care Pregnancy Center for a few hours before talking Jackie. She said that Ken had a bad night, so the Hospice nurse came over again and doubled his medication. Jackie is now giving him meds every two hours. Also, the nurse told Jackie that she should get tested for coronavirus due to her fever.
Wednesday found me walking in the pool for about an hour this morning (trying to lose some of the 7 pounds I have put on in the last 6 months). Then, I went to the YMCA with Dad in the afternoon. We picked up Emma halfway home so that JP could meet his buddies to play golf before the sunsets.
On Saturday 6/27, the morning news announced more coronavirus cases than ever before (more than 45,000 in the US-almost 9,000 in Florida); Miami announced their beaches will be closed as of July 3; all of Florida bars were closed as of yesterday; Texas also closed bars and reduced restaurants to 50% capacity and Houston’s ICU’s are at 100% capacity.
We watched church on-line Sunday, 6/28 and were back at the “Y” on Monday afternoon.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020, was Dad’s 90th birthday. He and I had a nice supper together then JP, Kellie and Emma came over for birthday cupcakes.
Both my brothers, Rick and Bill, called to wish him a happy birthday and he received some birthday wishes from a few people at church.
At 6:15 this evening, my friend, Ken Sosville, gave up his fight against cancer. We met Ken and Jackie through her sister, Ann Mahoney and her husband, Curt who were our neighbors. We started traveling together just after we got our first boat in the early 90s. Ken and Jackie accompanied us several times to the Bahamas. The picture below was taken on Compass Cay in 2015.
Our journey has been inspired by Joy and Steve Fredrick. You can see more of their story at