Halfway Across the Country, Family Adventures and Scenic Memories

My parents had been staying with my sister and brother-in-law in their home, helping keep each other safe during the very early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unsure of what to do during such an unprecedented time, they opted to stay put as mandatory lockdowns and widespread travel restrictions were put in place. Here in Queens, NY, things were looking even worse as our hospitals were extremely overwhelmed, and millions of people losing their jobs. Much of the early pandemic (and perhaps what remains still too) is marked by confusion, fear, and a desperation to understand the virus that had taken over so much of our daily lives. However, mom and dad had only packed and prepared to be away from home for about a three-week stay, and after six months my dad was running out of insulin and it was time to return back home.