Quarantined Together
Grandma and Grandson Had a Grand Time!
BY LINDA SAVAD
Last March, 2020, my grandson,
Jordan, came to visit me.
It was shortly after the start
of the pandemic.
My grandson, who attends
Florida Tech in Melbourne, Florida,
had gone on a trip to Amsterdam.
When he returned from his trip he
was going to his home in New York
City. I didn’t think it wise for him
to go to New York--New York had
the highest number of cases in the
US at the time, so I suggested he
come to Florida and stay with me
at my condo in Delray Beach. He
agreed with this plan.
When the people in my condo
heard that my grandson was coming
from Amsterdam to stay with me,
they were very upset. They didn’t
want someone coming from Europe
to come to their condo. They made
life very difficult for me (as if the
pandemic wasn’t enough). No visitors
were being admitted through
the gate. They said I would have to
go out of the community and bring
my grandson in.
So I set this up with my grandson.
His plane was due to arrive in Ft.
Lauderdale at 11:00 pm.
He was going to Uber to Delray
and I was going to pick him up in
front of Nino’s Restaurant on Jog
Road, in the parking lot. I had taken
him to Nino’s for dinner on a subsequent
visit, so I figured that would
be a good pick up spot since Nino’s
is five minutes from my house in
Huntington Lakes.
I told Jordan to call me when
he was 10 minutes away. I went
to Nino’s parking lot at 11:45 and
waited for him. Driving there, it felt
like the middle of the night. Not a
sole to be seen, parking lot empty,
Publix closed, Nino’s closed. I waited
10 minutes, no Jordan. I waited
20 minutes, no Jordan. After 30
minutes I figured our plan was not
working. I called him on my handy
cell phone, but the call wouldn’t go
through. So I texted him and said,
“Where are you”? At the same time
he texted me and said, “Grandma,
where are you”? I texted back “I’m
at Nino’s waiting for you.” He texted
back, “I’m at Nino’s waiting for you,
grandma.”
Did you know there are two
Nino’s? One in Delray and one
in Boca? I didn’t! He was about
40 minutes south of me. Thank
goodness for Google Maps!
About an hour later I found this
boy with a backpack and bouquet
of tulips in this big, dark, empty
parking lot. How could he come
from Amsterdam without bringing
grandma tulips?
We had to quarantine for 14
days. We couldn’t shop or go to the
Linda and her grandson, Jordan
incinerator or mail room. Someone
picked up our garbage outside our
door, shopped for our groceries
and left them at our door, and put
my mail in a plastic bag and left it
on the doorknob.
Jordan ended up staying with
me for three weeks. We had three
meals a day together, we had
Happy Hour every day on my sun
porch, and then after dinner we
watched TV or played backgammon
(which he taught me) or had
many meaningful conversations.
He learned things about me, and
I learned things about him that I
never knew. One evening, while
sitting on the sun porch, Jordan
and I saw an incredible sight. A
UFO flashed through the sky at
an unbelievable speed. It was
magnificent. If we hadn’t both seen
it I would not believe it.
I drew up a menu and every day
I would give Jordan his choice for
dinner. It was fun cooking for him.
As a matter of fact one night he
cooked for me. He made spaghetti
carbonara and I must say it was
delicious and nice to be served for
a change. We both enjoy cooking
and good food.
It was a tough coronavirus time,
but it turned out to be a very rewarding
situation. When he did leave,
he returned to Florida Tech where
he will be a senior in September. I
missed him terribly and will always
treasure our many hours together.
Here’s an exercise we did: Make
a list of 10 happy things in your life
today during this pandemic. My list
was as follows:
1. My family are all OK
2. I tested negative for corona
19 virus
3. I had my grandson with me
4. Have someone to cook for
5. Nice refurbished home
6. Enjoy cooking
7. Have lots of good friends to
talk with
8. Have enough to eat
9. I enjoy my knitting
10. Sometimes I am so busy, I
don’t even have enough time to
make all my calls
To all, stay well and safe. ~ Linda
Better Times are Coming
BY BUD BANK
March 17 was St. Patrick’s Day, and
on that day we are all Irish. To our Irish
residents, we are all your brothers and
sisters. In fact on March 17, I change my
name from Bud Bank to Bud O’Bank.
I walk the arcade a couple of times a
day, I try to get out every day, I’m on the
elevator going up and down, I’m on the
garage elevator and I talk to everyone.
My question to everyone is, “Did you
get the vaccine?” I get two different
answers: “Yes I got it,” or “I have an
appointment.”
I went to Aqueduct Racetrack and got my two
shots. It was a 20 minute car ride, parking was
Photo courtesy of NY governor’s office
wonderful, the people were wonderful, I didn’t
feel a thing and I feel great getting both shots. I feel
more confident around people
and I did not have any pain or
side effects.
In a short time, everything
will be open. To all the ladies
of North shore Towers, the
card games will start, the sun
is coming out and better times
are coming.
Please have patience and everyone, take care
of yourselves. ~ Bud
32 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ April 2021