Monday Musings // We Got Out!

Friends, an earth-shattering event has occurred! 

THE SENECHALS LEFT THEIR HOUSE AND MINGLED WITH OTHER HUMANITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER SEVEN MONTHS. 

After my bout of influenza in late 2019 + Ruby's birth at the end of January, my family decided to do what we've done with every winter baby: self-quarantine ourselves. Full corona lockdown hardly affected us as we were already nestled deep inside our "cave." Of course, a few changes took place eventually, like having livestream church services become the norm, and Dad doing all our grocery shopping. 

Even when things in our state commenced to open up again, my family stayed wary. Bringing a nasty bug into a home with eight kids and a sweet new baby was far from desirable.

So, in the times we needed to get away, Mom has taken a few of us with her on drives or possibly on an outing to the river. I also started walking, then jogging, on a regular basis. Connor (my awesome big bro) and I often biked to our neighborhood pool, circled the parking lot, and headed home without stepping a foot near the water. And perhaps it was insanity that drove me to picking wildflowers on the side of the road? ;D (to read about that adventure, click HERE.)

Meanwhile, the seasons slipped away. As the cold edge of autumn began to seep into the air, we started to lose hope of ever taking part in civilization again.

But finally, FINALLY, it happened. On Friday, September 18, Dad loaded the eight oldest kids (including me) in the van, and we broke from our secluded bubble to head in for our appointments at the dentist's office. I don't think it had ever been so exciting to go to the dentist before, and wearing masks for the very first time was certainly an experience! 

All you can see of this cutie are her big brown eyes.