MSP – TUS Day 1

Paul and I began our day at the condo, where we finished up the annual preparations we snowbirds make every year when we fly south for the winter. Traditionally, Paul has undertaken those tasks on his own, but I was able to help this year. Many hands make quick work, and we wrapped up in time for a TV dinner before bed.

We spent yesterday at the Minnesota Airstream Park, closing up the gazebo, lot, and back shed. There’s always more to do than you think, but with our recent downsizing (we sold the big lot and have the Classic on consignment), it was a much simpler process this year. I was grateful, especially, because a couple of days ago I tested positive for Covid. Ugh.

I’m pretty sure we got it during last week’s quick trip to Tucson where we got the house ready to go to market (more downsizing – we’ve purchased a place in Diane & Jan’s community “The Highlands”). We thought we were just having horrible allergy responses to the blooming desert from all of the recent (lovely) rainfall. Nope, after our return, I awoke Tuesday morning with a little more of a productive cough than I typically experience. Sure enough, I tested positive. Paul tested the same. Dammit.

We are calling this “Covid Lite“ because, thankfully, the symptoms are not much different than your average cold. For Paul that manifests as a sinus infection; for me, bronchitis. So far so good, but it has meant renewing our acquaintance with social distancing. We’ll plan for outside Happy Hours the first few days of our caravan with Diane and Jan. Already this morning, 48 hours after our initial tests, we tested again and the lines were so faint they were difficult to discern – indicating a much lower viral load. I can’t help but feel fortunate this time.

And there’s much to be fortunate about. Tonight we are camping at Little Swan Lake Winery in Estherville, Iowa. Just a short four hour drive from the Airstream Park, surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills, lies this unassuming farm house and outbuilding that has guest rooms overlooking the lake and a buffalo pen (yes, he also raises 50 buffalo in addition to producing twenty-some wine varietals).

We had a wine tasting with the owner and were all delighted by not only the quality of the wines, but also by his pleasant, calm demeanor, and graceful storytelling. You never know what you’ll find at a Harvest Host, but what a delight Diane found in this one.

Post tasting, purchases in hand (it was that good!), we walked up the drive to our Airstreams, perched atop one of the rolling hills just beyond the hay bails neatly lined up atop the bend of the road. We sat outside to talk smart and enjoy the breeze. Lots of biting and buzzing insects, but the wind carried the majority of them away.

Cheers to being on the road again with our favorite Hookers! After a summer apart, where Paul and I chose, with intention, to enjoy the Minneapolis condo and all that neighborhood offers, it was good to spend time with the lesbians in our shared natural habitat – glamping once more.