15

When we were in Oklahoma City a couple of weeks ago, we bought Emilio new soccer cleats, new tennis shoes, and a new backpack for his birthday. This morning, he started the day with powdered doughnuts, and headed to school.

Shortly after 1 pm, he learned that one of his teammates on the 9th grade basketball team had tested positive for Covid-19, and Emilio and every other member of the basketball team was sent home with instructions not to return to school until November 30th. Emilio was really looking forward to playing two U19 soccer games this weekend, but now his soccer season may be over. He was also looking forward to particiapting in the academic team's "Math Meet" on the 19th, but that, too, may be out the window.

When I got home, I took him to the Urgent Care clinic to get a test, but they told us they are not taking walk-in appointments anymore. We got on their waitlist, but we later learned that they don't recommend that we come in until Saturday at the earliest.

I later took Emilio for his first driving lesson in the parking lot of "The Refuge" church.

When we got back to the house, Emilio agreed to pose for the birthday portraits in this post, and he spent most of the rest of the afternoon upstairs.

I picked up yellow rice and pizza for him from the Asian Buffet, and later I got him a Brownie Sundae from Braum's. When he came down to eat it on the back porch, we sang "Happy Birthday" to him and he blew out the candles, that were placed in the pear cake Aunt Carolyn had sent him, along with a card and a couple of Jacksons, that he was thrilled to receive. He was also delighted by the maroon, zippered hoodie and Luka Doncic t-shirt that Mom and Dad sent him.

His spirits are undimmed, and he is looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.