By Scott Shephard

Katie, Brian, Glenyce J, Irene B and Maggie are spending the week with us. We have all been exceptionally careful about COVID-19 contact and that’s why we feel safe doing this. And, because the Minneapolis-St. Paul schools are doing distance learning, our granddaughters can do school here wherever they go with the right technology and a wifi connection.

Both Glenny and Ibby are enrolled in the Jie Ming Mandarin (Chinese) immersion school, which is part of the public school system in St. Paul. Glenny is a 2nd grader and Irene is in kindergarten and their school day is a combination of activities, exercises and live classes. Given that the work is presented and submitted in Mandarin, I’m not much help.

Clearly, both girls are missing an important social aspect of “real school,” though I’m thinking that even before COVID there was home schooling, which seems to prepare young people well enough for the “real” world. But otherwise, life goes on.

It is obvious though, that this kind of schooling wouldn’t work if there wasn’t at least one parent (and the occasional grandparent) to help and supervise. Back in Minnesota Katie and Brian juggle handling school kids, their own jobs (which they do from home) and catering the the needs of a baby (aka Maggie). That’s a lot.

We all look forward to the time when COVID is tamed and normal life returns. To help get us there, wash your hands, social distance and be loving and respectful enough to wear a mask when you mix with others. You could kill someone if you don’t.

Canon 5DIII