Flexi-Friends

Like most of the mid-Atlantic region, we have been dealing with smoke and poor air quality for the past few days. Thankfully nobody in our home has active breathing issues but even healthy it has been difficult being outside. We have kept our windows closed and our air purifiers running on high but I can still smell the smoke in our home. I can only imagine the severity in areas that are not canopied by trees. 

Even Friend seemed content to spend the day inside, lounging on the bed and snoozing with Scott. Summer vacation is in full swing with long naps and late night movies monopolizing the itinerary. The temperatures have been unseasonably cool so it feels more like they are home for a short school break. Once the heat rolls into the area I hope it starts to feel more like summer. Between the cool temperatures and the smoke-filled skies, so far vacation has been anti-climactic.  

The smoke is going to continue to lift and the thermometer is supposed to rise of the weekend. Robby is making his flea market debut with Flexi-Friends tomorrow morning. He and Scott will wake at 5 to drive to the market (which is about 45 minutes away) and to get set up before the 6:30 opening. We were cautioned to arrive early to set up and prepare for the early-bird bargain shoppers. 

Rob has been working nonstop designing and printing his little flexible toys. Priced to sell at $5 and $10, I hope that he is successful!  Please wish him luck with his venture.

 

Smoky

 The Canadian wildfire smoke has blown into our area, forcing us inside yet again because of poor air quality. The skies, which should be a crystal blue, have turned an ominous martian orange with a smoky haze that looks like a curse hovering over the area. We put our air purifier outside to get a reading on air quality and the display immediately shot up to the danger zone. This is our first experience dealing with air quality issues and I find it surreal.  

Timmy is less than enthusiastic about being forced indoors. He tried yesterday and we discovered that even wearing a mask wasn't enough to thwart coughing and wheezing when he tried to ride his scooter. Today will be spent inside building a rocket with Scott. 

Hopefully this smoke clears soon. Even staying inside, it makes you feel icky.

Grit

We have been attending the World War II Weekend for a decade and the magic still shines for Robby. I enjoy the experience but, if I were to be completely honest, looking at war machines is not among my favorite activities. However, spending time with Robby does top my list, so I focus more on the company than on the environment.  

 

In order to keep things exciting I have tiptoed into historical reenacting. This year, I decided to portray Virginia Hall. She has an amazing story and I was excited to share it.

 

Virginia was an American from Baltimore who ended up in Lyon, France during the occupation. Often referred to as a 'woman of no importance' because she was an amputee, she had a fierce spirit and more courage than I can fathom. She became entwined with the Resistance through her work with the State Department. 

 

She quickly excelled in her work with the Resistance, smuggling supplies and documents in her prosthesis and masterminding numerous sabotage and rescue missions. The forged documents that she transported within her prosthesis are credited with rescuing more than 150 families. She was also skilled at derailing trains and assuming identities. She became one of the most prolific spies, working with several cells and juggling multiple personas daily. 

 

Her exploits drew the attention of the Gestapo in Lyon, with the "Butcher of Lyon" vowing retribution when she was caught. (This dude was a hard-core sadist known for his horrific torture methods that he joyfully utilized against captured Resistance members.) 

 

With the Gestapo and Nazis on her trail, Virginia narrowly escaped to Spain near the war's end by walking for 50 days over the snow-capped Pyrenees on a 1930s era prosthesis. Talk about a hard core woman!

 

This woman lived during a time when individuals with disabilities were belittled and demeaned. She used these perceptions to her advantage and completely turned the tables on societal expectations. This woman had grit!

 

 

Back to the 1940s

 Another WWII Weekend has come and gone. It is hard to believe that this is was our 10th show. Robby has certainly changed over the past decade, but his love of this event has never waned. It was odd glancing him watching the reenactments. I saw the same glint in his eyes that shone when he was at 7. Sigh. He is growing up way too quickly!

While Scott, Robby and I were at the event, Timmy was hanging out with my mom and his cousin Jared. I was worried about his staying behind because it is only six weeks after my Mom's surgery, but she was getting around great and Timmy really did not want to go to the show. It turns out that my worrying was not necessary. Everybody came through the weekend unscathed and happy - albeit tired. 

Timmy spent his weekend reading books about space, playing with Friend and hanging out with his cousin Jared. Timmy has always looked up to Jared and delighted with the one-on-one attention. He was especially excited when Jared helped Timmy to forge his own coin. Talk about exciting! He is so lucky to have such wonderful cousins to support and love him.  

Yesterday afternoon we left the Reading event, picked up Timmy and Friend from my Mom's house and headed back to Virginia. We were all tired from the sun and the activities. This morning everybody is still sleeping because they are on summer vacation. I woke early to take advantage of the quiet hours to work.  

Welcome to summer!