postponement
Well, we got the notice yesterday: Auntie Rose's memorial has been postponed, yet again. It's now moved from this coming Saturday to Saturday, October 2. But, it was made clear in Valerie's email that this time, it's a permanent and final date: whatever the state of COVID is on that date, the memorial will be either in-person or virtual, or maybe a hybrid (that last option is my personal preference), but however it's done, it will be on October 2.
I guess I won't be riding the new Light Rail extension to Northgate that day. I was hoping to as it's the day the extension opens. But I think I can handle going on October 3 instead! I'm still excited about that but obviously Auntie Rose is more important.
I responded to Valerie's email with a pretty lengthy one of my own, telling her my appreciation for both moving the date (because even I had been getting concerned about having a memorial in person, even if it's outside, with what will no doubt be many elderly people, in the middle of the Delta surge) and for improvising and adapting so that we could still regard October 2 as a firm date. I also went ahead and shared with her the link to my 20-minute memorial video of Auntie Rose, which I had originally intended to share online later this week but now will wait until probably October 1. I still haven't heard back from her, which is fine; there's no rush.
This change actually works out well for Shobhit's scheduling needs, as he has a party to attend on Sunday (vaccinated only) with his Project Management classmates, and that was also on the day Laney and I had scheduled for going to Kanaskat-Palmer State Park—scheduled that day because I had previously been unavailable Saturday. So, I texted Laney first to see if she feels she'll be up for the trip to the park in regards to her recovering knee and hip injuries; she seems to feel she will be. And, she was okay with rescheduling the park for Saturday, which Shobhit actually did want to join us for.
So, now Kanaskat-Palmer will be Saturday. Sunday Shobhit has the class party, and he doesn't know if "plus ones" are allowed but if not I might see if Danielle is available to hang out. Plans for the following weekend remain unchanged: Gina's 50th birthday party on September 4 and hanging out with Karen and Dave on their new property.
It's looking like Gina and her friend Jennifer and I are likely going to the Washington State Fair on Wednesday September 22, slightly tentatively. If that pans out then I'll take PTO that day and not work.
As for October 2, Shobhit had wanted to go up to Port Towsnend early and hang around the town for a while before the memorial. I think we'll still just shoot for that plan for October 2, when there's a fair chance the weather will still be pleasant enough—whether the memorial turns out to be virtual or not. I want to go to Auntie Rose's town as part of officially memorializing her regardless, and I think it will be fun to explore with Shobhit. Maybe visit Auntie Rose's grave again.
As for the rest of last night, Shobhit had a practice presentation with a group from his class, during which I wrote my email reply to Valerie and otherwise just sort of hung out. When Shobhit's meeting was done, though, he remains vigilant on getting his Social Review numbers as high as possible, so we went for another walk.
Part of it would qualify as an errand, which I don't count as "socializing" as a rule: we stopped at the Broadway Market QFC so he could buy a lottery ticket. It had been a while since I went in there; they now have individual security cameras at every single one of their self-checkout kiosks. Clearly theft must be a big problem there, which is unsurprising given the location combined with Seattle's ongoing homelessness crisis.
But, then we walked further north on Broadway, until we could turn right and walk in and through Volunteer Park, before walking back home via 15th Avenue. It was actually a rather pleasant walk. Once we got back home, Ivan was just getting ready for work and he left for his graveyard shift shortly after. My understanding is that his next night off is tomorrow, but given his sleeping patterns lately, I have no clue when we'll have a chance to genuinely hang out together again. I mean, it will happen. I just don't know when.
I just finished with my lunch today, hanging out with Tracy out on the patio—she only finally arrived right when my lunch break was starting, and this was my first time seeing her at work (I did see her for the movie on Saturday; "I like Shobhit!" she said today) since, I believe, last Wednesday. She told me all about her vacation that did not go very well with her friend who was having ridiculous family drama, but she also told me she just booked round trip flights to San Francisco for seventy-five dollars. What! I had no idea there were deals that insane right now. She asked if I might want to take an extended weekend with her somewhere, and I said yes. We'll see if and when that pans out. For now, though, I really need to get back to work, which I should have done half an hour ago.
[posted 1:05 pm]