For starters, I have to issue and official Ps and Q correction. In what is probably an indication of how long I’ve been writing this daily blog and how time tends to mash together in these oddball times we’re living in, I realized that I accidentally understated the days in the past two posts. I titled them as Days 224 and 225, when in fact they were Days 234 and 235.
Given, the past week seemed to defy the usual laws of linear time, still I want to correct the record and get back on track here with oh yes, Day 236. We still live very much in the shadow of COVID 19, so the blog goes on.
Anyway, Saturday was Erin’s and my 11th anniversary. We originally planned to have th kids stay the weekend with their grandparents and go out to an outdoor dinner in downtown Denver, but a sudden quarantine changed those plans. It was a little disappointing, but in all honesty, sometimes these things happen for a reason. We wound up having a really fun day as a family.
First of all, Henry succeeded in sleeping through the night again! As I’ve mentioned here, it’s something we’ve been working hard on and he racked up yet another win in that column. Two in a row is honestly beyond any expectations we would have had a few weeks ago, so we are really happy about that.
It was a beautiful, warm autumn day and we decided to take a nice long walk on one of the trails near our place. The fresh air and exercise did us all well.
On the way back, we let the kids hit the playground for a while.
Back home, Erin and I actually were able to enjoy a little anniversary nap while the kids did their own thing for a while. Sounds small, but that is honestly one of the best anniversary gifts we could ask for.
The other anniversary gift we got was having the election finally called, after what seemed like an endless week of uncertainty. Yes, we happen to be among the group of people who were happy with the result and we look forward to new possibilities. Of course, I also recognize there are plenty of people who aren’t celebrating, and I know how that feels too.
I’ve been through plenty of elections, and I always come out with hopes that we can find some common ground and maybe grow together and closer to that “more perfect union.” As disappointed as I was in 2016, I even felt it then. That optimism is often quickly dashed, but I apparently don’t learn my lesson and I find myself hoping once again.
But aside from all that, it is also very noteworthy that we will at last have a woman Vice President of the United States. That alone is exciting, as it will most surely pave the way for more women leaders in our country. We talked to Amelia about the importance of this moment, and she watched her speech with us.
I was texting with a friend, and she shared a memory of when she was little and watched Geraldine Ferraro speak at the DNC back then. Even as a kid, my friend recognized a woman standing out from the usual group of white men, and it inspired her and showed her that women can and should rise to the highest levels. We try our hardest to reinforce this with Amelia, and I hope a moment like this helps illustrate it for her, the same way it did for my friend.
It’s not about politics. This isn’t Team R or Team D. Amelia is 7. I remember my first political memory at age 6 being that I was sad that Ronald Reagan won the election in 1980. Not for any policy reasons, but because the guy named “Jimmy” lost. He had the same name as me and I was bummed.
I related to the guy with the same name as me. It is my hope that Amelia relates to the woman, who was once a little girl like she is now, rising to very top in our country. And I hope it helps her understand that nothing is beyond her reach.
For dinner, we ordered delivery from an Italian restaurant we like and popped a little bubbly. We toasted in the same glasses we toasted with at our wedding.
Here’s to many more years. This has been a weird one, for sure, but I couldn’t have chosen a better person to spend it with.
