April 12

Last night after a yummy dinner of pork medallions and wild rice with nuts & cranberries, and a side of wilted spinach, we decided to go to the French Quarter for life changing, Mickey shaped, beignets.  Rob had never been and was a little hesitant to make the trip over, he agreed but I could tell he wasn't excited. He is rarely excited about our love for all things Disney. (which is fair as I am never excited about his love for all things fishing).  Anyway we went, we waited in line, then we sat down and...his life was changed.  In deed it was light, fluffy, delicious, warm, melt in your mouth goodness, that he "wouldn't mind going back for again". 

We got to talk to Ethan.  Spain is wonderful and he loves it.  He loves the food and told us last night that he now eats tomatoes, olives and mushrooms (the only 3 things he refused to eat as a boy).  He has a new companion who he likes.  He said this week they've been enjoying the least religious religious ceremony ever witnessed in his 20 years.  It's called semana santa (I think) and it is basically a parade, with a band, and people carrying a large float with religious symbols on it, and dressing up like "the penitent" (picture purple robed klan members).   They walk down the streets solemnly and the tourists gather round.  After we talked Jenna and I were chatting on the phone about how it would be so cool to write a book about all the different kinds of Easter celebrations around the world. ...and even  more cool to participate in them, with a local guide!  She remembered when she was in Romania for Easter and a  celebration that she went to.  Everyone flooded the streets, so many people, everyone had a candle and they walked towards the little church in the square.  The crowd parted and the local "bishop/pope/father" (we don't know who) walked through with a big candle.  When he got to the steps of the church he turned and lit the candles of the people near him, and they lit the people near them, and so on and so forth.  The square was filled with light and she said it was quite moving and very lovely.  

 Today is a testing day.  That is both quiet and boring.  The kids test, we watch.  My back is hurting a little more than usual today so I keep standing up like an old lady.

I'm thinking about giving up on all internet.  Every day the news is bad bad bad.  This morning I was greeted with scenes of Shang hi and the poor people who are being quarantined there.  They can not leave their apartments are are running low on food and necessities.  The hazmat clad quarantine enforcers roam the streets and there was a video of one of them chasing down a dog and killing it because the dog's owner had covid.  What??? It was so upsetting. I literally just pray that God will send His Son back in power and glory and right all these wrongs!