Picked a half gallon of berries. Gave myself plenty of kudos and shall now be known as “Champion Berry Picker of the World.” Did receive the begrudging praise of, “Good job” from the resident farmer to back this claim up.

Received a lengthy lesson during dinner from my father-in-law regarding the merits of various animal sh*t as fertilizer. You know that scene in Forest Gump when Bubba listed the ways shrimp can be used? Yeah, it was like that prompting my mother-in-law to quip, “Good thing we’re done eating.”

Continued to marvel at my mother-in-law’s ability to absolutely nail birthdays as evidenced by the camping themed cake AND matching card she created to celebrate Brian. It had a real campfire on the cake, people!

Left a brewery and saw an incoming customer wearing her N95 mask as a necklace pendant. This was a new one.

Was loudly referred to as “The Wise Ones” by another hiker as we were finishing our hike prior to the heat of the day while they were just starting theirs. Well, duh.

Cried at the dentist during a procedure. Wanted to keep crying when I paid the first half of the bill at checkout. Learned that you don’t get a discount if you cry, but they are extra nice to you after.

Felt immensely proud to have been invited to walk alongside the local library’s bookmobile parade entry in our town’s quintessential festival. Declined because of weather and even this Leslie Knope’s inability to keep a smile on my face for that long.

Managed to capture a photo of a robin and their fledgling preening together on our fence. Decided their expressions fit the current mood of the afternoon.

Received the most brilliant gift courtesy of another Trojan loving relative for the upcoming football season: A USC bottle opener that plays their fight song. Epic.

Overheard at the Eilers:
(After relaying a smattering of bad news and inconveniences)
Me: Agh, God. I’m such a whiner.
Brian: But you’re all mine.

Manifested for multiple loved ones that they don’t get COVID after being exposed. Also manifested that I don’t actually have to do the jury duty service that I just received for the week leading up to our very much needed vacation.

Me? I’m just discreetly taking pictures of my neighbor’s hollyhocks since we inexplicably cannot seem to grow our own.