November 5, 2020
Dear family and friends:
Wayne and I have been thinking so much about you and miss being able to visit in person. We are both staying mentally and physically healthy and hope you are too.
Our year started out quite well. I went to Florida during the first week in March to visit my Aunt LaRue who had moved to an assisted living facility in Florida. I took disinfectant wipes along to wipe down the airline seat and motel room, but had no problems or issues. We had a good visit and I took her to some doctor appointments and to get her taxes done.
By the last week in March, Wayne was off work and stayed at home for 3 months before returning to work on an every-other-week schedule for 2 months. He has now returned to work every day since the beginning of September. We felt very blessed because he was paid his full pay when he was not working.
In the meantime, I continued to work two days a week as a bookkeeper at a small dental practice in Walkersville. I also continued my duties as financial secretary at Graceham Moravian Church.
While Wayne was off work, we reorganized our downstairs office/sewing room. It had been a year since Wayne’s stroke and this was the first that he had tried to negotiate the steps in our house, but he had no problems. We updated some computers with new hardware and added some new hardware to the sound system. Wayne has since been spending time writing Bible studies and I have been doing some sewing. I made masks at first with materials that I already had on hand and then worked on other small projects.
We spent extra time marveling at God’s creations. We noticed the blooming trees and flowers more than usual in the spring, and we watched the birds make their nests and watched the chipmunk and squirrels fight over the sunflower seeds and nuts that we put out for them.
We also worked outside creating some deer-proof cages to plant peas and squash, repaired a patio screen door, (one day to repair, two days to figure out how to get the screen doors and storm doors back on the tracks!), refinished the park bench on our front porch, installed several ceiling light fixtures, and I refinished our Redwood furniture on the back porch and made a corn hole game set.
In general, we have been respectful of the COVID-19 virus and followed required protocols, but we did not allow fear of the virus to consume or control our lives. We made our necessary trips to Walmart or Home Depot and just washed our hands when we returned.
We were disappointed to not to be able to gather for Easter, but each of us visited Mom individually over that weekend. We did gather for a small family meal with Mom for Mother’s Day. We decided to gather with more of the extended family for outside picnics for Memorial Day at Ernie and Judy’s house, a Father’s Day picnic at David and Rhonda’s house, and a July picnic at our house.
I did plant a garden at Ernie’s house this year so I have been busy canning.
Feeling that I wanted to do something positive to help meet some of the needs created by the virus, during the summer, I decided to donate blood to the Red Cross. So far I have donated twice, and plan to donate again soon.
We did not see Addison much this summer but we have had a few good outings. He is beginning middle school, has grown quite a bit and is maturing into a responsible young gentleman! Alan’s daughter spent a year in foster care but was returned to her mother late this summer. Alan lived in Frederick but drove to Chambersburg once or twice a week to visit Awen at the Child Services building and completed the requirements of parental training. Alan now is getting Awen on the weekends. Alan and his girlfriend just purchased a small home in Hagerstown and have moved. Alan and Kristen manage a shop in Frederick.
I went to Chambersburg several times with Alan to visit before the pandemic hit, and we have seen Awen a couple of times when Alan has been picking her up on the weekends. She is a very bright, active, precocious first-grader.
Jon was furloughed from his job as a dealer at Charles Town Casino when the virus forced the closure of the business. He just returned to work this fall once they opened up and their clientele returned.
We look forward to seeing all of you when the risks have diminished.
Even though our family Thanksgiving and Christmas plans have not been finalized, we WILL celebrate Mom’s 90th birthday this Christmas. We invite you to send a card or call her, and we will let you know the details of a virtual birthday celebration at a future date.
Love and hugs to all,
Wayne and Joy Perry