What is the big deal? Well, most likely nothing except a few more aches and pains from my years of adventuring. I know it has been awhile since I last blogged and the reason is… you guessed it… COVID LOCKDOWN.
So when I turned the page on 50+ this last week to 55+ I had to celebrate at home, without a party, and with only the Hubby. Funny thing is, it was one of my best birthdays in recent memory.
There just is something about a card in the old snail mail that puts a smile on my face. This year I got a few from family and friends here in the Netherlands and the one from Canada showed up 4 days after it was mailed!
My youngest son, who is currently deployed with the USAF in Qatar sent me birthday greetings via text and told me to expect flowers too. What did I want he asked? Tulips! He delivered!
My Hubby took the day off of work and went out and got me two bouquets of flowers! Wow, that brighten up the house under lockdown!
But, my day of flower deliveries was not over…
My two step kids and their partners both sent me flowers and those coming from different florist turned out to be so much alike that I placed them together to make a beautiful arrangement. They know me pretty well, my favorite color is purple.
When the last delivery of the day showed up, three bouquets of flowers from one florist I almost thought maybe flowers were a bit much for turning 55, but, I didn’t turn them away as my heart swelled with all the love I was getting from these deliveries. If entering the 55+ club means I get this many flowers in the dead of winter each year, I will take it!
Update on Dutch lockdown:
The lockdown with limited contact restrictions (one person from outside your home visit, per household, per day), work from home as much as possible, restaurants closed, bars closed, all shopping closed except for online with limited scheduled pick ups or delivery. Child care is now open, elementary schools go back to in school learning this week. Curfew is still in effect for now.
They estimate that 25% of all new cases in The Netherlands are of the English variant. They started vaccination of the oldest of the population groups this last week. We will get a letter from the government when our age group is qualified for a vaccine and then it is up to us to make an appointment. We guess that won’t be until sometime in the summer.
The aviation business is hurting here, as it is everywhere. Since that is how we are able to finance our blog and our canoe trips we are unsure how that will effect our future. Hopefully we will be able to bring more content in the coming months.
Until such time we will enjoy the blizzard we are currently experiencing. Then the next week of predicted freezing temperatures.
We would love to hear how things are in your world. Comment below or drop us an email via our contact page. Stay safe.
© The Cedar Journal, 2021, all rights reserved.
The Cedar Journal 
Well, one benefit of advancing to the 55 + club means you should be closer to getting the vaccine if they are doing it by age as they are here in Canada. Happy to hear you were spoiled with flowers for your birthday, we all need a bit of joy these days. X
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Right, a benefit also AARP discounts, if we are able to travel again.😂
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Happy 55th! I hope you don’t suffer too much on account of the freezing cold in your usually mild country.
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It has been a proper blizzard so far. I had to use all my winter tool box (including wrapping citrus trees😳). Crazy weather this year.
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The harsh weather must have reminded you of the winters in the US where you used to live.
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Sure did!
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Happy birthday!!! Enjoy all the flowers!!
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Thanks. I have so many but nice with all this snow.
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Happy Birthday! Welcome to the 55+ Club!
I am so glad to hear that you are dealing well with this pandemic.
Back here in the States we are starting to vaccinate, but the process is slow. I am
hopeful that things will get better. Time will tell.
Wishing you the best for a great 2021!
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Thanks Dan! Any idea if you will do your trip in 2021?
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I am very hopeful and right now the plan is to do the trip this year. As much as I like to plan and prepare for every detail that I can, I acknowledge that there are many things beyond my control, so my plans are always somewhat tentative and fluid. All that being said, I think my trip will take place this year. I am looking at a departure date anywhere from mid May to mid June and I am preparing for some cold temperatures during the first couple of weeks of the trip.
Thanks for asking. What are your paddling plans for this year looking like?
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Well, I hope to see your trip report this year. Always sucks putting things off when it out of our control.
We aren’t making many plans just yet and I think most paddle trips will again be here close to home this year. We also kicked around a bicycle trip but that really depends on the virus. Camping here is very regulated and last year very crowded due to lack of other options.
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Happy birthday! Thanks for sharing your glorious bouquets!
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Thanks Kathleen!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Your home must smell like a florist with all those pretty gifts. If it makes you feel any better it is currently -12F here with a windchill of -22F. The furry children have decided there is no way they are going out in that and promised to hold if for the next couple of days ha! Lockdowns are starting to lift here – Iowa just lifted all their restrictions (masks, gatherings sizes, restaurants opening etc.) last night which will decimate IL businesses on the border if they do not reciprocate. Stay safe!
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Thanks for the well wishes.
Maybe some doggie sweaters or paw warmers would help.😂🥶
Never can tell where this virus will lead all of us next. I saw the lemon commercial from the Super Bowl and had to laugh. It really feels like we are all still getting pelted by those darn lemons!
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Happy birthday CJ! (your post has only just shown up) Good job you like tulips, you could open your own florists.
Lockdown still going swimmingly over the Nth Sea. We don’t have curfews but everything else is much the same. Sorry you’re getting our version of the virus, just a little Brexit parting gift (joking, or am I?). The vaccine roll out is going great guns, over 12 million so far. I had mine last week as I’m volunteering at the vaccine centre, it was fun today doing car park duty in the gales and sub-zero temps (luckily the snow never quite got here, just a few miles south had plenty).
Enjoy your birthday and flowers.
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B- thanks for the greetings. The flowers have all moved to one room and it does look a bit like a florist shop now as we have had to move trees into our living space as well due to the cold temperatures this week. Almost like a jungle.😂
The variant is one of those gifts that keeps on giving. I think that we all need to worry more about newer ones coming down the line. Mother Nature doesn’t see countries or borders she just wants humans to start acting responsible towards the planet. I huge wake up call for those who are listening.
Good to know your vaccine program is doing so well. Keep safe and be happy the snow missed you, it is causing a real mess here.
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The snow got us overnight, bit white out there right now.
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Hang on it is a real doozy! Just got done watching the local plow guy get stuck for 1/2 hr. A large transport truck stuck for longer. I shoveled for second time from all the drifting snow. Fun for those of us who grew up in a snow climate. Also funny watching everyone get stuck in stuff that for me is nothing.😂 stay safe inside.🥶
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Here in Vermont, it’s snowing regularly, often only a couple of inches, but about boot high last Tuesday, and about 4 – 5 in northern Vermont Friday night. It’s so pretty! I only have to get out of the driveway once a week or so, so it’s not a big deal. Our state is doing really well vaccinating people, limited only by supply. All the health care sector, and all congregate living facilities are done, and they are well into vaccinating the 75+ age group. Of course, without the rest of the country and the world keeping up, it will limit opening things back up.
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Wow! VT has it together. That is the best vaccine news I have heard or seen in the states so far!
Can’t say I mind the snow we got but I know that a blizzard here is very abnormal and that is a bit of a worry as was the drought the last few years. I guess we all need to wait and see.
Keep warm and enjoy the snow there.
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It’s my understanding that several states are doing well with vaccinations – including South Dakota, which didn’t do so well early in the pandemic. Now that more vaccine is coming through, things should pick up. And then there are places like Idaho, with a lot of vaccine resistance, and about 50% of adults say they won’t get vaccinated. Sigh.
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Sigh… I wish I could understand why some people find it so hard to get vaccinated.
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So glad you got such lovely flowers for your birthday! We’re doing okay here, although I’m sure you know that since you have family in town. The healthcare workers have been vaccinated (at least the first shot, although I know of many who have had their second) and my mother’s facility had their first shot the end of January, and so did my husband. I’m not going to be eligible for it until they get to the stage where they open it up to everyone, and who knows when that will be? But I can deal with that, I just want to get as man people vaccinated as possible, as quickly as possible.
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Thanks Ann. Yes, I had heard that St Louis was getting vaccinated. My daughter in law got both shots and now as my son says is “invincible.” I think she is incredible since she has been working on a COVID unit for months now. Hopefully the Spring will bring more normalcy to all of our lives.
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Happy Birthday and so many flowers wow.
Looks like your staying positive which is good.
Summer over here in Australia and things are pretty good at the moment even went snorkelling the other day, sorry to hear your having such bad weather.
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Thanks Chris. Summer sounds nice to me. Hopefully ours will bring a bit more freedom.
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Happy belated birthday, Paula! Thank you for sharing your birthday joy in all those bouquets and how much they meant to you. You are loved deeply. That is clear.
As you likely know, we are in the deep freeze here in Minnesota with brutally cold temps. If those continue as expected, this will be the longest 4-day cold stretch in 27 years. Sigh. I am ready for spring. And ready for COVID to be gone gone gone.
Many more birthdays, my friend! (That’s what we always said in southwestern Minnesota when I was growing up. It was like a birthday blessing.)
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Smile. Nice SWMN saying. I have been keeping an eye on your weather and it seems late and bizarre for such a long cold snap. As with all things, this too shall pass, stay safe and stay healthy!
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