Monday, June 22, 2020

Monday, June 22, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2007. Mattie could see these cute bicycles outside our hotel window and he wanted to try it. So we rented one, maybe for an hour! That was MORE than enough for me. My dad snapped this photo before we started pedaling, which was why I was smiling. I can't tell you how difficult it was to get this bicycle to move. It is the front two riders who do all the work, and all I can say is wow! I am not sure what Mattie loved more.... the ride, or hearing my commentary about pedaling.

Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins. 

• number of people diagnosed with the virus: 2,310,786
• number of people who died from the virus: 120,402

Peter was up at 5am again today. He left the hotel and got to my parents house. He met the movers this morning at 8am. Two trucks and six movers. They were incredible and worked like the wind. They literally moved my parents furniture from one house to another in 6 hours! The houses are thirty minutes apart, so truly it was a feat. 

The movers told Peter and I that we did the hard work (breakables, some pieces of furniture, etc) and saved my parents thousands of dollars. 

I moved my parents in 2018, so I feel like I am an expert on how to effectively and efficiently manage a local move. The key is NOT to use boxes. Boxes are a killer because once you pack and unpack them, then you need to break them down and dispose of them! I much prefer using plastic bins. Pack them, unpack them, and then USE the same bins for the next load!

Peter was so impressed with how quickly the movers were getting things wrapped and onto the moving trucks this morning. Literally they had my parents house totally pack and on the truck in 2.5 hours!

This used to be my dad's home office. I showed him this photo today and he had no idea what he was looking at! The cognitive decline in my dad is disheartening! Especially since I saw him in December and he wasn't as profoundly impacted then. I blame the lock down associated with coronavirus. It has had a devastating effect on him, as he wasn't able to leave the house for over three months. Going out every day for lunch (pre-covid-19) was stimulating and normalizing for him. When he was prevented from doing this, he lost his consistent schedule, his social world, and in the process his dementia took over. 

An empty kitchen and family room!

When the 6 guys got to the new house, Peter treated them to lunch. I think they had a great time outside and I am so happy Peter thought to do this! These guys were awesome, moved quickly, diligently and got the job done in one day! 

Peter and I will be digging out over the next couple of days. If this was all we were doing, it would be manageable. But my dad has doctor appointments, in home therapy, and we have to figure out getting support for my mom when I am not around.