On July 1st I was anticipating a month full of weekend activities. These plans would have to defy a phenomenon that had been very prominent since March: postponement. Most of these activities were planned for the outdoors and, because of virus concerns, the groups would be smaller. But still, our weekends were booked through the month.
Before we even got to the first weekend of July, I had literally found a new friend. The cat that would become Waffles, was found at work one morning. He was crying from underneath a section of guiderail. Not entirely sure what do to, we found out that the local animal shelters were all closed until the afternoon. So he came home with me and he’s been there ever since.
Once we actually did hit the first weekend of July things got even more interesting. Fourth of July weekend was supposed to be my second time riding a bike between Pittsburgh and Cumberland, MD. It is 150 miles along the Great Allegheny Passage rail trail. I had completed the trek last October with some friends and this year I was going the opposite direction with my father. We started out at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh and our ride would end with a rescue from an ambulance less than 10 miles into the trip. Somehow my dad caught his bike wheel on the lip of a sidewalk throwing him to the side. It was coincidentally the same spot that an 8” diameter pipe bollard had been installed to deter drivers from driving up on to the sidewalk. When the dust settled, the damage was a broken nose, broken maxilla, broken teeth, a dislocated hand bone – which was protruding from his hand – and some scrapes. So he spent a couple nights in the hospital to ensure no lingering effects from the head injury.
After the bike weekend “fell” apart, one by one each planned event for the month was cancelled. The year had claimed several long anticipated events. In my life at least three or four weddings were cancelled and a trip to Brazil was cancelled. No doubt, millions of people cancelled an untold number of events, trips, and celebrations. Sorry, I misspoke. These activities have all been rescheduled or postponed. Honestly, events getting cancelled or postponed doesn’t really bother me too much, it happens and this year it happened globally on a massive scale. Almost the entire performing arts industry has been shuttered since March. A few artists have been able to put on live performances at drive-in movie theaters but many have explored ways of connecting with fans via the internet. Hopefully, someday everyone who had to reschedule an event that was set for this year will actually see that event take place.
THIS. IS. WAFFLES!