As word of the coronavirus spread, many of us “oldies but goodies” felt compelled to quarantine with the grandangels. Family time continues to be the silver lining in this particular cloud. Forced to find joy in the “social distancing”, we did just that in the fields of bluebonnets that cover Austin in spring. Laura has documented the girls every year in the nearby flora and fauna. She is an extraordinary photographer, and has provided beautiful memories of so many special moments for friends and family. These pictures will be the most special, as they record a year that will be etched in the memory of the world. These times brought a special appreciation for this beautiful part of Texas where my granddaughters are blossoming. They need look no further than their own backyard.

The trampoline was invaluable in that whenever they had their fill of DisneyPlus, the boundless energy that all children need to exhaust played out for hours in their backyard. Then it was time to relax and let Mamou push them on the swing. Mama Laura had more educational plans in mind, though. Since a large area of the backyard is to be taken up by a pool, the vegetable garden had to be created in pots. We ordered large terra cotta pots from Home Depot for curbside pickup, along with soil, fertilizer, and plants. The girls are now watching tomatoes, peppers, and squash entertain the birds, to say nothing of the resident racoon:)

When Austinites were assured that school was going to close for the foreseeable future, Laura had a plan. Soon school supplies arrived at the front door, a curriculum was developed, and backyard play slowed to recess time only. All the extracurriculars the girls take for granted are now provided via Zoom, which is apparently something like Facetime, only includes an entire class joining in on their computers. The piano teacher, Life Kido guy, ballet instructor, hip hop lady, and even Aunt Katie teaching her yoga, all came into our living room on Laura’s oversized monitor. It was fascinating for Mamou to watch. These memories will be so special for the girls one day as they look back on the time America shut down to fight a battle to save many lives, and reconnect with family in very special ways.