Laowai

We've been cruising along, enjoying our last bits of summer. I was enjoying my garden – picking lots of tomatoes and beans.

Brian and Bea and I went to a concert at Ravinia.

On that same night Claire went to a fun birthday party.

I was feeling very satisfied with my window project. My infrared paint stripper arrived and it does a great job removing all the layers of paint.

We had some friends over for a game night.

And Bea and I took a tour of her school. Here she is in her biology room.

We were finishing up some school shopping and getting ready to go to Colorado for a much needed vacation. And on Tuesday, which was one of the hottest days of this summer, Brian asked Claire to get a sweater for him while he was working. He had a fever! So we went to get him a Covid test on Wednesday and it was positive – a breakthrough case. I think we were shocked because we are all vaccinated (except Claire because she is too young) and we've been wearing our masks indoors. And then we felt angry. All the consequences running through my head were overwhelming. We canceled our vacation, canceled the girls' doctor appointments, canceled piano class and a birthday party for Claire. And now we are staying separate in our house and wearing masks. If by some miracle the girls and I don't already have Covid we are trying to keep from getting it. The doctor recommended we wait a couple days before we get tested. If the girls test positive I don't know if they will be able to attend the first day of school. Brian seems to being doing OK. He is feeling feverish and has a headache. I'm frustrated that it's hard to keep an eye on him because we are trying to keep him locked away in the bedroom. I Facetime him and I deliver trays of food outside his door. But I wish I could go in and put my hand on his forehead and really see how he is looking. In the meantime, Claire is really scared and she will barely come out of her room. It could be much worse – like the poor people dying on the streets in India – but really it is very frustrating and very scary. It feels like even though our family and the people around us have worked hard to do the right things this thing is going to go on without end. Sigh.