(Everybody’s losing
money, it’s acceptable to drink anytime, we’re rarely appropriately dressed, and
nobody has any idea what day it is)
·
Amanda graduated
…and we celebrated with a nice yard sign (that’s the same, right?)
·
Julia got to live
the college dream of drinking with her parents on her 21st birthday!
·
Allison cannot
appropriately express in words how thoroughly she is enjoying the academic
splendor that is Zoom University.
·
Hiked almost
enough to burn off the crazy caused by the pandemic. Almost.
· Matthew finally surpassed Julia and is now 2nd in the Linskey Family height competition (but he still won’t eat vegetables!)
Amanda
– Cal Poly SLO 2020 Graduate (BS Forestry, Biology minor)
Before the forests were all on fire, they were closed
because of Covid. And then
earthquakes. So, nobody was hiring
Forestry graduates.
Forestry grads make excellent Vons grocery store deli
clerks.
“Like two children in the back of a minivan fighting
over a bag of Cheetos.” – Amanda’s
review of the first Presidential debate
Working in the deli has inspired Amanda to apply to the
renowned Exotic Animal and Training Management program at Moorpark College.
Julia
– College Senior (CSU–Long Beach – Nursing)
Escaped the house to do zoom classes from an apartment
in Long Beach and work at a smoothie shop.
She’s the most sane of us all now.
Learned that RuPaul is NOT a drag RACER.
Admitted that she thought “Houston” was the guy
astronauts called with their problems.
“Leg elbow” – the phrase Julia uses when she forgets
the easily forgotten technical term of “knee.”
“My entire childhood is summed up by the sound of a
kickball hitting you on the side of the head.” -Julia’s comment on her graceful
youth
Allison
– College Sophomore (CSU Monterey Bay - Marine Science)
Gets exhausted by taking naps.
Realized after 7 seasons of Letterkenny that it was
based in Canada and NOT Ireland.
Might transfer schools, which still means classes in
her fabulously appointed bedroom/potential Covid isolation room.
“Me: 0 Sesame:
2” - Allison, after her second
“incident” with her dietary archnemesis. And, Kelly learned there is sesame in
breadcrumbs.
Matthew
– High School Sophomore (St. Bonaventure High School)
FINALLY got to take his drivers test…and passed with a
better score than his sisters (and he reminds them every chance he gets).
“Matthew, if your toast isn’t darker than me then it’s
not toast.” (Julia)
“I have to study the Holy Trilogy for my religion
final.” – Matthew during spring final exams in his room
“Your honor, I disagree because that’s stupid.” –
Allison impersonating Matthew if he were to become a lawyer
Bucky
– age 13 ½ - “Wow, how old is your dog?”
Discovered he is a very jealous boy when he had to
share the stage with a shunned and temporarily adopted cliff swallow named
Reginald.
Reginald was number one on his list of “foods that
MUST be tried.” He failed, but not for
lack of trying.
“This dog has had more flavor in his lifetime than a
Medieval English peasant.” (Julia)
Has added mechanical boxes and his own shadow to his
list of “things that must be barked at.”
Has started wearing a light-up collar at night. This is partly so he can be seen, and partly
so he can fulfill his dream of being a disco dog.
We thankfully managed to get
through 2020 with a few adventures, a lot of Netflix, sufficient toilet
paper, and our sanity minimally intact.
Along with everyone else in the
world (except maybe mask manufacturers and Zoom investors), we hope 2021
brings an effective vaccine, a return to school, something that resembles “normal,”
and hopefully a HUGE party! Happy New Year! (It just has to be better than
last year! )
