As we were going through photos for the fall post, I realized that we’d missed a few gems from the November/December timeframe. Because my personal quirks make it impossible for me to tolerate leaving a gap like that unfilled, we’ve put together a collection of odds and ends covering the second half of November and the first half of December.

As it turns out, quite a bit happened during that time. In November, Julie and Julia flew down to Los Angeles to visit colleges (and do a bit of sightseeing while they were there), including Scripps and Occidental, and William finally got his second dose of the COVID vaccine.

In December, Julia played the role of Lloyd in the UPA production of Noises Off. As it turns out, she didn’t get a role in the spring play, so this was her high school drama swan song. I’m told that opening night was a little bit bumpy—apparently there was quite a bit of improvisation—but by the time I saw it Saturday morning, things had settled down quite a bit, and it was a delight to see her on stage.

The next week, Joe performed in the winter band concert. Because of the pandemic, the performance was held outdoors in the early evening. As you can see from the photos, this made for a somewhat chilly experience for the audience, particularly as the evening wore on. Of course, Joe, flaunting his teenage metabolism, sat on stage in short sleeves, seemingly unaffected. He’s happy and proud that he’s been getting a chance to play the first chair parts of during these shows; it’s a testament to the hard work he’s put in during practice and his weekly lessons.

Finally, Joe passed the written driver’s test and picked up his learner’s permit. He is strongly motivated by his goal of being the first among his group of friends to get a license. Unfortunately, actual driving lessons have been on hold, first because of the holidays and later because of the Omicron surge, which saw case rates jump more than tenfold here in the Bay Area. He’s eager to get started again once things settle down. Our numbers seem to be falling just as quickly as they rose last month, so we’re looking forward to returning to a more relaxed posture in a week or two.

Gallery: Late 2021 Odds and Ends