Counting my blessings

Better yet, enumerating and expanding upon them.

Blessings timeline

· February 2018: Put 601 Oak Farm Court up for sale. Sell in March. Agree to close and then rent back 601 Oak Farm for 1-23 June, to let Gaby get home from UCLA. Search numerous temporary (2018-2019) living options; after looking at about twelve places, we choose our original 1995 Baltimore residence in Towson.

· 25 June 2018: Move from 601 Oak Farm to Versailles apartments in Towson.

· 30 Aug 2018: Signed initial separation agreement, to teach through June 2020, get one year ‘severance pay’ as a sabbatical in 2020-21 that would end in retirement.

· 14 Feb 2019: Loyola accepts me into the two-year buyout plan, effective with a 30 June 2019 departure. Start had search for our next permanent home.

· April 2019: Contract to build N9378 Touchdown, Break ground 21 May.

· September 2019: Pack, vacation in Edinburgh and London. Jane accepted Cristo Rey job, receives Betty from Abe and Jane, place to stay with Ted and Ruth.

· 4 October 2019: Take possession of Touchdown home.

Blessings along the way

· Deciding to leave Loyola early, Loyola agreeing, then revising to better, earlier, two-year buy out.

· Sale of Oak Farm at record per square foot sales price.

· Allocation of retirement funds to stocks, cash and fixed, across Baird and TIAA.

· Riding out sixteen months in Versailles, 23 June 2018 to 4 October 2019.

· Choosing to move to Appleton.

· Walking, walking, walking…up to 120 miles a month.

· Great value for the dollar in Touchdown home, with key upgraded amenities, including granite, water softener, master shower, high-level HVAC and more.

· Wonderful UCLA parents’ weekend, staying at Luskin, January 2020.

· Dena manages smooth transition to working from home, 17 March 2020.

· Gaby (17 March) and Jane (late March) being able to come home, each spending eight to twelve weeks with us.

· Hank’s online presence, with daily Mass, psalms.

· Fr Carl confessions and more.

· Holy rosary on YouTube.

· Jane and Abe accessible, safe, fully resourced for pandemic.

· Extended Lorenzi and Qastin family – brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces and nephews doing well.

· No shortage of basic supplies during pandemic.

· Strong internet signal, good streaming services. Zoom, Facetime.

· Lorenzi family Zoom, including crossword puzzles.

· All three vehicles serviced, sound, safe.

· Sufficient resources to last indefinitely.

· Gaby gets and keeps a remote internship, plus housing allowance. And she is not trapped or confined in New York City!

· Gaby safe at Strathmore, 2020.

· Great price, easy deal, discounted car insurance for Gaby RAV4 in Los Angeles, May 2020.

· Jane Milwaukee re-entry June 2020.

· Warm spring 2020, sufficient rain.

· Sod over seed, June 2020.