THE WALDRONS

Before last year, (we) Keith and Christine had planned an annual week of outdoor activity in July or August. We dropped the kids off with Grandma and Grandpa Waldron and went cycling for a couple of years before spending the next few years in the Adirondacks hiking the high peaks. Last year, Keith changed jobs in July and had no time off from work. This year? COVID. That meant no hotels, nice restaurants, or over-crowded trailheads for us. Grandma and Grandpa still took the kids for a few days, but this time we stayed home and local. Christine has far greater conditioning than Keith this summer, so long mornings spent cycling was out of the question, so we purchased inflatable paddleboards and planned to explore local waters and hike everyday. The first day was spent at Taughannock State Park. The falls were near dry and were only a trickle. Keith […]

Scientists were a bit surprised, it seems, when the comet Neowise was as visible as it was as it passed through our evening skies. That it was visible, even (to the naked eye) was a real treat and something that I wanted to be certain that we took advantage of. I wanted the kids to be able to see and enjoy it and I wanted to photograph it. We could have seen it from anywhere, including from our house, but I was hoping to find a better spot to capture the comet. We needed a view to the Northwest without obstruction from trees or buildings, some other interest in the picture, and as little light as possible, but (around here) it is often difficult to get all of those things at once. The dark skies are in the most rural communities, but they are often wooded. If I avoid the […]

While the kids were with Grandma and Grandpa, Keith and Christine elected to go for a hike in a local forest: Morgan Hill State Forest. Christine is familiar with it by reputation, because a running event is held there every year (well, maybe not this year). The only way to access the trails is through a variety of seasonal roads, most of which are very rough and require time and patience to maneuver through with an automobile. After driving the roads, the Buick now has a rattle at an idle that it didn’t have before. Perhaps it is only a coincidence, but perhaps not. The deer flies were ridiculous and worse than Keith can remember them in decades. They were swarming the car by the dozens and were unrelenting throughout our walk/hike, encouraging us to move briskly and discouraging us from stopping or pausing. The walk took us a little […]

This morning, Keith took Austin and Victoria for breakfast at 0600. The kids are waking up early to go out, because Keith is adamant that he will only allow them to dine indoors if the building is near empty and early it is early enough the business day to know that the air isn’t contaminated. Both Austin and Victoria each ordered their usual from Darlene: he ordered a chocolate chip pancake with crispy bacon, she ordered a belgian waffle (half with strawberries for her, the other half plain for Keith) with crispy bacon and an english muffin. Austin had enough food left over for breakfast on Monday and asked for a box to take his leftovers home with him. Fast forward 10 minutes and he stops in his tracks after taking 3 steps into the door at home. “Aw man …” He had forgotten to bring his leftovers home with […]

We parked across the street in the same spot that I had parked in for years. We walked in the same door. We were greeted by the same friend We sat at the same table. We ordered the same food. The kids woke up before 0600 to get there before anyone else, we wore masks when we walked in and until our food was served, and we couldn’t see Darlene’s smile when we arrived, because she was masked too (although her excitement was palpable, nonetheless). Even still, it was the best breakfast that we’d had in months.

An ongoing photo essay exploring how the life of one family is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the eyes of a socially-distanced father.

Keith continues to go to work as he always has. He just stands a little farther from his patients now. At home, he is staying away from the family and keeping any potential germs to himself. He will sit at the far end of the 8-person table for dinners and sit in a folding chair on the opposite side of the room (away from the rest of the family) to watch family movies or television before bed at night. Otherwise, he is confined to his office, where no one else is allowed. Christine is staying at home. Schools are closed and no families want her to visit for therapy, which is a good thing … she didn’t want to work anyway. She is a full-time mom again. No more spin classes. No more training with her friends. Exercise consists of a run with Adeline, spinning on her cycling trainer in […]