Postcards from the Ledge: Review from the Bunker

Here it is, folks, a look at Year 2020, brought to you by the letters W, T, and F—an exceptionally-rare leap year that had twenty-nine days in February, a hundred days in March, and five years in April. Wearing a mask in public (even into a bank) became the new norm. But we got through it, safe and sound, with stories to tell and blessings to count. Terry started her fourth year as Assistant Principal at Fairmont Elementary here in Yorba Linda. And we were blessed with the addition of another grandchild to the family. I also discovered that I have a long-lost sister. How amazing is that? So without further ado, here are a few snapshots from last year...

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Winter Bliss

Disneyland with grandkids Logan and Hayden. We had them for a few days in January and hit the “Happiest Place on Earth” midweek when there are no crowds.

Everyone is a kid at Disneyland.

Sail-kayaking in Morro Bay with brother Jeff. A sunny, winter weekend on the Central Coast.

This is Kathy, my long-lost sister, whom I met for the very first time in February (and lives just 30 minutes from me!). We have the same biological father, but neither of us knew the other existed—until now. Long story short: My brother, Jeff, gave his daughter, Katelyn, one of those ancestry DNA test kits for Christmas. Katelyn took the test and her results went into the database, where it immediately made a match with Kathy’s DNA results (she had taken the test years earlier). Within a week, I was talking to her on the phone. And not only do I have another sister, but a niece and nephew as well! Sometimes life is stranger than fiction. We started making plans for family get-togethers… and then the pandemic hit.

Life during Lockdown

Who would’ve thought that face masks would become the fashion statement of 2020? For that matter, who would’ve thought you wouldn’t be able to find a roll of TP anywhere in the state?

This is Terry, playing the school mascot, Freddie Falcon, for the weekly videos that I helped her produce for remote-learning classes. In mid-March, her school was shut down for three weeks (an extended “spring break”) so they could develop a platform—from scratch—for online instruction to all students. Three cheers to all the school educators who put in the hard work (and long hours) to make this happen. And special kudos to my wife. She really is amazing.

We rescued a two-year-old doodle (at right) in March so that Toby would have a partner in crime. His name is Wolfgang—aka Dogzilla. He is half standard poodle and half golden retriever. He’s also a professional counter surfer, so don't leave your sandwich unattended on the kitchen counter. Ninja doodle, for sure.

This is Wyatt William Gerold, our fourth grandchild. My daughter, Allie, gave birth to him on April 21st. Even in the middle of a pandemic, life gives blessings.

La Familia

Weekend getaway — Brandon, Allie, and Wyatt in San Diego.

Surf’s up — Randi and Kevin in Laguna Beach.

Our grandson, Noah, had his first birthday in September. How time flies!

Life’s a beach — Doug, Brianna, and Noah at Huntington Beach.

Boondock vacation — Heather, CJ, Logan, and Hayden near Sun Valley, Idaho.

Escape Plan

We did several home projects last year (I mean, what else could you do?). Terry and I work well together—except that we both want to be crew boss and frequently ask each other: “Why are you doing it that way?” One of my pet projects was converting our hot tub into a time machine (photo). The “Year of the Lockdown” was really getting to me, so I needed to find a way out of it.

Rogue River, Oregon — Alas, the time machine didn’t work, so we fled town and camped along the coast of northern California and southern Oregon. We rented a Sprinter camper van. It was only four feet longer than our van, but had a toilet/shower (restrooms in some campgrounds were closed due to COVID, and they wouldn’t take you unless your rig was self-contained).

Redwoods National Park

On the beach near Crescent City.

Clark’s Fork River, Montana — Terry went back to work in the fall with students returning to the classroom on a hybrid schedule. Me? I took the van and headed for Montana and Idaho with der Pudelhund and a mountain bike.

Sagle, Idaho — I stayed a while at my cousin Kathē’s place, deep in the woods of the Idaho panhandle. She and her husband, Tom, were gracious hosts.

On the road to Sun Valley. Mount Borah (12,662 ft) in the distance.

Ketchum, Idaho — Riding the trails with Toby and Sun Valley Rick. I spent four days in this sublime Shangri-la. And it was great catching up with Rick.

Low-Key Holidays