La Quinta, California: You are all invited to My Pity Party... when I last left you, we had finished four days in Eugene for the USA's, where the best-of-the-best Americans (mostly) had earned a ticket to the World Championships in Tokyo in September. Dave and I had enjoyed a busy four days with his roommates, Mary & Steve and Carlos. It is an exhausting ordeal, but only four days.
We landed in Palm Springs Monday (4 August) evening, bailed our car out of long-term parking, and arrived to our house to find Lenny and Leo just arriving from Los Angeles. What? Lucy came home from camp with Influenza-B - and with Leo's Bar Mitzvah on Saturday (9th) - they could not risk Leo contracting anything, so she farmed him out to our house. All well.
We rarely saw Leo Tuesday as he was Facetiming/Zooming either with his friends, or his Hebrew tutor or his Rabbi. He had already had his dress rehearsal, but fine-tuning. Busy boy. I cooked dinner Tuesday, but went to bed early because I was tired. In the middle of the night, I woke with a sore throat. (Mind you, I have not had a sore throat in five years.) At 6a, I took a long-expired COVID test and it was positive. At 7a, when the pharmacy across the street opened, I went (wearing a mask) to buy a current test. Unfortunately, the result was the same. I had COVID - for the first time.
At 7:15a, I knocked on Lenny's door, woke him, and with the door cracked (and wearing a mask) told him he had to get Leo OUTTA HERE NOW. Lenny and Leo headed back to Los Angeles, hoping a four-day-in Influenza-B sister was less likely to contaminate than a current COVID Bubbe. Naturally, a few hours later, DT also tested positive. The next day, our friend Carlos, also tested positive. Mary & Steve remained negative!
Thing is, neither of us felt very bad. It was like a catching a cold? Obviously all our vaccines and 372 boosters worked, because COVID wasn't going to kill us - but it could kill someone else, so we obviously quarantined. Lisa was, to say the least, beside herself. She could do nothing to help us. Leo had been working for over a year for his Big Day. Lisa and Lenny had also been planning everything (service & party) for over a year. Everything was focused on Leo, as it should be. I could hear him reading his Torah portion through his bedroom door Tuesday. I knew he was ready. He would be surrounded by so many of his family and friends, and they would support him. It was just, well, a BIG disappointment for us?
My siblings were attending, and they stepped-up, showed-up and represented us! Here is a photo of our family dinner (with Mary & Steve) on the night before the service. Only two people are missing: me and DT.
The thing that saved the day for Dave and I was the temple streams their Saturday morning service! We were able to watch the entire service, and the special part when our only grandson was called to the Torah!
from my ipad to our smart TV!
Oh we laughed. Oh we cried. It was so beautiful and Leo was so prepared. He read so well, gave such a heartfelt speech and everyone was so impressed with Leo! As a side gig, Leo played his guitar with the temple band during the service!
And then there was a long rest before the Best Bar Mitzvah Party Ever started! My friends and family kept sending us photos of the party. It was Epic! Everyone who loved Leo was there (except us, of course), and Lisa went over-the-top to make sure everyone from age 3 to 73 had a memorable evening.
No need to mention, all 4 of the L's were lifted onto chairs while everyone sang!
We are blessed Leo nor Lenny came down with COVID. He was healthy for his Bar Mitzvah (and Lucy was no longer contagious with Influenza B). Dave and I tested positive for 7 days, but remained quarantined until now. Groceries delivered, just like the old days. All better now.
Yesterday (Monday 18th), Dave had to report for jury duty. He (per usual, if you have ever been called) sat for hours and then was sent home, and will not need to report for another year. Due to this week being up-in-the-air with jury duty looming (I was once called for a month-long trial!), we didn't make any plans. But once he was released - and with an empty calendar - we made plans for a little get-away from the 110-degree heat. Check back for that.
It's not the worst thing that could have happened, but it is close.
Until my next update, I remain, your pitiful correspondent.
Awwwww, so sorry you had to miss Leo’s big event!
Good thing you were able to see the ceremony at least but to bad you missed the big 🎉
Congratulations to Leo!
We both had Covid over July 4th and had to cancel a long planned party and camp out at the beach definitely sucks!
Oh so sorry… what an unbelievable series of events. Life just doesn’t seem fair sometimes but at least they did not get sick! Thank goodness for technology!