Family Day is funny this year. Because most of the days in the last year have been family days...the five of us together because there isn't anywhere else to go. Thanks, Covid (which I mean both sarcastically and seriously...because a lot of it has been a complete gift. But also, it's covid, so a total bummer, too).
Family Day gifted us a nice sleep in and the fun of a free Monday. After a lazy breakfast of eggs Benny and time for everyone to do their own thing for a few hours (homework, work, reading), we headed out for some time in the freezing cold. A quick Blizzard stop (red velvet and oreo) and then off to Wreck Beach.
There was a bit of conversation on the way to the beach about how a nude beach translates into February weather. Will there be nudie people down there, or not? Just as we were parking, an unusual, but jolly fellow crossed the street in front of us. He was grooving along to his own little beat, wearing a funky little outfit of layers and colours, while snacking on a box of triscuts. I don't know if he noticed us staring, but he grinned at us (somewhat menacingly) through the windshield and tossed a triscut on at our car (?!). So...he'd be the kind of guy to get naked on a cold beach. We really hoped THAT scene wouldn't be a part of our family day...
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| On our way down the stairs... |
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| Maybe Finny looks a little cold...? |
Down on the beach, it was freezing. There were people SWIMMING. I mean, they had a nice beach fire going. But, really??
On our way home, we stopped by Mum and Dad's to pick up Valentine's gifts. It still doesn't feel normal to hang out on the front step. I miss Sunday dinners and hanging out in the den or the kitchen. It will feel so good to be back inside home and hugging Mum and Dad. In the mean time, more front porch conversations. And if look closely in the picture below, you can see that Finny asked Lukey to hug her at Gram's height and she closed her eyes to imagine it was a Gram hug. I had to laugh, but it is also pretty sad.
Mum sent the kids home with photo albums full of pictures from her collection. All three kids were happy/sad flipping through the books. There is an odd feeling in all of us. Time is standing still (it is a real life Groundhog Day) but it is also passing so quickly. It's like no time since Molly was in Grade 12 and Lukey was just starting high school. Covid has stretched out and now Molly's solidly a university student and it feels like Finny is closing on the end of high school. No basketball season, but Lukey has grown almost 6 inches in the last year. It's all so odd...
We ended the night with a booked swim in our strata pool. What's a booked swim in our own complex pool, you ask? Again, Covid. It has been closed for eleven months. And now we have to book it. And pay $5.
I had missed the hot tub, though. And that beach was cold. So I was looking forward to a nice soak. Until we got into the pool room. And I put my toe in the "hot" tub. It. Was. Cold.
Bummed. So, so bummed. Eric and the kids played for a bit and then we headed home. But I took a small detour. On our way out, I slow motioned bailed HARD into the bushes outside the pool door. Lukey and Finny were simultaneously completely entertained and horrified. I hurt my hand, my toe, my leg. It was also really, really ugly.
So, yep. Bad pool trip for sure.
