Ending the School Year

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers reading this!

Here's another edition to the annals of our family, though I'm not sure there's a whole lot to report. Tennessee may be among the first states to allow businesses to gradually reopen, but that hasn't really changed things much for us. No one, for example, can get an appointment to get their hair cut right now since after two months of hair growth everyone needs it. Ben, I think, is just going to let his grow out.

We celebrated Jenna's 22nd birthday right after I wrote last. That, at least, was pretty normal with a family meal and dessert of her choice. Nolan came and spent the day with her as well.

Speaking of birthdays, Mom will celebrate 92 years on Tuesday. We hope to be able to see her through the window where she is, but have no idea when we will be able to visit her in person. To her credit, she has been upbeat and positive just about every time we've spoken on the phone. I think there have been two occasions where she was not, so that's not bad. I am glad she is not confined to her room as I understand residents in some facilities are.

The 19-20 school year is drawing to a close for most of us. Well, it has ended for Ben when he finished his finals last week. No word on his grades yet. He plans to take a linear algebra course over the summer as well as start a summer job on Tuesday. He will be working at the Marysville Marine warehouse in White House this summer. This facility is a boat part supplier. Given that boating is a natural for social distancing this activity may be one of the least impacted recreational activities of all.

Nate and I have one more week of classes. Nate actually finished his Dual Enrollment US History class last week and came down after the final with a big grin on his face. I know he will be glad to finish the rest of his courses up too. I, for one, am glad to have a break from all the intensive lesson planning. At least I have contingency plans if this ever happens again. I'm actually going to have to start going in to work soon as our students will be turning in their computers and textbooks for the summer.

Jenna is rocking right on in her program. Her second term will end May 21. She's been having to do her clinical work here at home with an instructor watching via Zoom. Vicki and Ben have both been willing patients. We jokingly told Nate he would need to help her with the prostate exam. He was pretty grossed out when we explained what that was, but was halfway willing to do it for his sister (he was going to put it to a coin toss). Union University is currently planning for their nursing students to return to campus for class on July 21.

I want to close by celebrating two milestones that will not get the recognition they deserve now. Had things been normal we would have celebrated Jenna's graduation from Trevecca University last weekend, though a shorter virtual ceremony is scheduled for next Saturday. And this weekend Vicki and the boys were supposed to fly to Orlando to watch our nephew, Zachary, graduate from Full Sail University. I am proud of Zachary for his accomplishment and hope he can find a job quickly in spite of all the current uncertainty.

Joe