End of Summer 2020

Hello again.  Quite the unique summer.  I'm sure the kids will look by at 2020 with wonderment sometime in the future....imagine what they will tell their kids.

We managed pretty well.  Despite lost opportunities of internships, summer jobs, summer swim meets, we were able to get away on a few trips and spend time as a family.

I will start with the end of the summer.  All 3 kids went back to school in vastly different ways.

Madi started her last semester at Liberty University.  She is living in an off campus apartment for the first time.  It is a nice location and a good situation for her. 

Andrew began his adventure at Virginia Military Institute.  We took him down for matriculation.  As of the writing of this email he survived the administrative week, hell week, and started classes.  Here are some pictures of his adventure so far.

Abby began her last day of elementary school....5th grade!! She is headed back 4 days a week to start.  Her class is small due to options for online learning and she has to wear a mask all day.  An auspicious start, but we are grateful that she can be in person....at least for now.

Our school year ended online.  In June, our pool did figure out a way to open using the Pennsylvania rules.  As tradition, we went the first day and Abby got in, despite the cold water.

In June, we took our family trip to Williamsburg.  It was different from all other years for multiple reasons.  First, it was the first without my Pop.  That created some sadness.  Second, the traditional places were not open, we had to wear masks, and we ate all meals in.  We did visit the beach a few times.  Third, it never rained so much during this week since I can remember going.  It was still good to be with family and get away.

In July, we also had a chance to go to Myrtle Beach and stay in a friend's condo and enjoy take out food and the beach.  That we a good time and the weather was better.

Madi spent the summer working remotely for Hope and Help Intl.  An organization run by my brother and sister in-law.  She also went back to Mr G's - where she worked in high school - for a few hours.  

Andrew spent the summer running and getting ready to go to VMI. He had a really good college running summer - he followed a good plan from his college coach.  Figuring out all the prerequisites VMI paperwork and the specific packing list took some attention.  He turned 19 on July 26.  We had a low key gathering for his birhday.

Abby swam alot at the pool.  She was able to attend swim practice at the Y as part of her Sharks club team...no meets though.  It was still good for development.  She read alot of Harry Potter - also good.  We did take a hike near the end of the summer to our favorite place, Cunningham Falls.  It was a good hike, good weather, and the water was low enough that we were able to climb and get some pics.

We did get family pictures taken this summer.  We have not received them yet.  Here is a link to some pics in the meantime. It is us despite the butchering of our last name ;)

Family Picture Link

Rebekah continued to work her business in this new environment.  I was able to work 4-5 weeks at the Pentagon, mostly remote.

All in all, not a bad summer.  Tried to remember that, despite the limited environment and annoyance of the pandemic, it was nice to have everyone around this summer.....probably the last summer for that.

It is a blessing that Madi, Andrew, and Abby could all start school in limited capacity.  Praying that it continues.  

Not sure what the next post will look like.  Hopefully some pics from Madi's last semester.  Very few pics from Andrew at VMI probably as we may not see him very much.  Hopefully, we will continue to find activities with Abby and hopefully she can swim in some capacity this fall.

Hope this post finds you well.  Hoping that things become more normal moving forward.  Until next time...

Spring 2020

Hello.

It was a tough spring for the Hirneisen Family.  Not long after Abby's Birthday, my Pop passed away suddenly due to complications during emergency heart surgery at a hospital between Greencastle and Geneva college where my brother and parents were traveling to see my niece play her final basketball game.  This was very sad and very shocking.  It was a trial, for my Mom and us, going through the process of finances and other administrative processes.  This was then complicated by the shut down due to the virus.  My Mom and family are managing, but I will forever miss my Pop and my kids will miss Gramps.

https://www.zimmermanfh.com/obituary/DouglassDoug-Hirneisen

During this time, Abby was finishing up her swim season.  It was fun to see her finish up well, develop, and get faster....and stronger! :)

We did get out skiing one time at Ski Liberty.  It was fun and Abby did well.

Abby did her best to make it through the shut down.  Initially, when the weather wasn't nice, she took up art everyday.  She got pretty good at it.

She was a pretty consistent reader of Harry Potter and running a mile on treadmill as part of her day in addition to her zoom meetings and assignments.

Andrew spent the winter training and running indoor track meets.  It was a good experience.  Unfortunately, I was not able to get any action shots.  Here he is getting ready.

The high school was nice enough to host us to do our signing for college running at the high school.  

Andrew was one of the unfortunate 2020 class who missed out on alot this spring.  He missed many traditional events.  He missed his senior track season that he worked so hard to prepare for.  He kept up with his studies and AP classes from home.  There were some down times, but he persevered.  

We did go out on the first day they opened golf courses in May to break things up.

Andrew did have a modified graduation where at least he could dress up and we could celebrate him getting his diploma.  We tried our best to make it special....

(more pics to come as we get any official ones)

Madi was in DC for the semester with an internship through the National Journalism Center and at the Washington Times.  She really did well and enjoyed living in DC....before she had to move home to finish her internship from home.  

One of her first front page articles at the Washington Times discussed the spring breakers in March.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/19/spring-breakers-ignore-coronavirus-social-distanci/

The story got 1300 retweets and got picked up by a syndicated radio show out of San Francisco - the Chip Franklin Show.   Madi was on with the host to discuss the article and her views as a college student.  It was a great opportunity and fun. 

https://omny.fm/shows/the-chip-franklin-show/march-20-2020-social-distancing-and-gen-z-w-madiso

She lived in DC right by the Supreme Court building and with a view of the Capitol.  

She had a press pass to Congress and the Pentagon and got many cool assignments that resulted in being published many times - google her!  She met many new people and contacts while there.

She was fortunate to still have opportunities while working from home, but it wasn't the same....

Madi finished out her semester well.  She turned 21 on May 18.  Rebekah took her and my nieces to Myrtle Beach for a short trip to celebrate.

We did celebrate a modified Easter at our house complete with the traditional egg hunt with my Mom.

We are headed for an uncertain summer.....Andrew was planning on going to VMI for a summer session that was cancelled, Madi had her summer internship with Compassion International in Colorado cancelled, and Abby had her summer swim season cancelled.  All pretty disappointing. 

I hope you all are well and coping during this time.  Not sure what the summer blog post will look like, but I hope that the science continues to help us understand the transmission and progresses with treatments to the point where people can maintain some practical activities until we get a vaccine....

Until next time....