by Hope
While we were in Texas, two of my five children were called and told they had been exposed to COVID. Now that was my worst nightmare, especially since we were already taking a calculated risk to visit my parents. While my of the kids took it in stride, the other had a complete meltdown.
The same goes for my siblings that were around during our visit (3 of my 4 siblings came to my parents while we were there.) My sister took it in stride and continued to see us the remainder of our time there while my brothers both disappeared completely. I’m not judging just explaining the differing reactions.
Thankfully we are now well past the 2 week window and neither of my children has shown any symptoms. (Yes, I know they could still be positive and asymptomatic.) But back in Texas, one of my brothers has tested positive. Thankfully, his case seems to be very mild and he hasn’t been bed-ridden, etc. at all. It is a good thing that we have covid testing in dallas, in fact, it’s great that we have them in all states, especially as we are all on the edge of our seats waiting for something to get worse.
Social distancing and enjoying time together. My sister, mom, me and my two daughters hanging at the neighborhood pool in Texas. We tried very hard to maintain social distance, masked in public places and still have a great time together. My mom has Parkinsons so we do have to help her move around, but we took as many precautions as possible.
While I can’t rule out that we brought the exposure with us, I also know that we might not have. He owns several bars in town and they were open and operational until the week we arrived. And he was definitely to exposed to multiple people with COVID.
Thankfully, neither of my parents is exhibiting any symptoms and while I offered to spend our final days in Texas in a hotel or AirBnB, they refused.
Continuing to Prepare
I firmly believe that three of us have already had COVID, back in February. History Buff and I are going to give blood and get tested for anti-bodies this weekend.
As the numbers spike and the worry about schools grows, I continue to prepare for another quarantine period. I am buying a little extra food each week. I am freezing a few gallons of milk. And I plan to make one more Sams Club run in the next couple of weeks to buy a bit more meat. (I’ve gone twice over the last month and meat has been scarce or limited.)
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
