I had this crazy idea that this year we would leave Josie for a holiday in Miami while we slipped home to spend Christmas with family. It was a costly venture but seemed worthwhile. Michael and Becca stayed East in anticipation of a Charlottesville gathering. We managed the journey to Miami, the marina, the flights. Carol arranged tickets and events and food. It was a complex plan, destined for some glitches.
We made a quick trip to Machipongo to get credit card and driver’s license replacements that had arrived by mail. We had word that my old wallet had been found at a campground 40 miles from where it was lost in St. Augustine. The park ranger mailed it to us. Everything was there except the story of its travels. We picked Michael and Becca up on the 21st, planning to head to Charlottesville on the 22nd. We rented a car for the one way trip as theirs would be full for the trip back to Montana.
Michael had a cold but was feeling a bit better when he arrived. He tested for flu and covid and was negative. The next morning, however, he felt very bad with fever and worsening cough. A second test confirmed Flu A. We decided to stay in Machipongo at least until Michael felt better. We adjusted car and hotel reservations on a daily basis, still hopeful that we could see family outdoors at some point.
By Christmas Eve, Michael seemed to be improving and the rest of us were holding strong. We decided to have a nice quiet Christmas at home. We decorated a bit and cut a small tree from the woods. Becca baked her family cookies and we had a lovely pasta dinner.
Michael continued to improve. We had a nice Christmas morning and packed for the trip to Charlottesville. We arrived in the evening. We arranged to see Carol, Jeff and Trey in the morning in the hotel lobby then joined Jer for his morning walk. Both visits worked great. We even managed to see Ashlyn on her way to the train.
Michael , Becca and Banks departed, and we headed out to see Hanna, Miles, Lady and Amy. We saw the new house and had a lovely outdoor visit around the fire pit. Later in the afternoon, we had a nice visit with Jer, Austin, Jeff, Marcela, John, and Beate .
It was not the Christmas I envisioned but other than Michael feeling bad, it was wonderful. We had a great visit with Michael and Becca and Banks and got to see all of our family. Just hearing the stories and the usual banter, photographing the heron at the lake in two places, and reconnecting, however briefly, was what I needed this Christmas.
We returned to Miami to find Josie safe in her slip. On the 28th, we provisioned and planned. The plan was to stay in Miami for New Years, but a weather opportunity for crossing presented itself and we decided to go.