This is the 5th birthday that we have celebrated without Scott physically in our lives anymore. We made a fillet mignon dinner with birthday cupcakes for dessert and in 2020 style we zoomed with Ron, Jan, Ben, Laura, Katelyn, and Brooke. In honor of Scott's 48th birthday, we collectively discussed 48 things we'd like to share with him that have happened since his last birthday:
Grammy wants Scott to know that she has 4 wonderful grandchildren that he would be so proud of!
Uncle Robert passed away. He determined that 2020 was a good year to check out.
Paige committed to Moravian college and almost finished her first semester.
Covid 19 happened. We are living through a pandemic. It is crazy, seriously crazy.
We flew to San Diego last December to see the Hawkeyes play in the Holiday Bowl. Paige was sick but they won and it definitely was a trip to remember.
Katelyn says online school has been tough but the teachers have been amazing. School is definitely different this year for everyone.
Grammy says all the kids are growing and adjusting to their new school lives (and Julie too). Scott - you would be proud of the way that we have all adjusted to our new normal..
The Hawks started out disappointedly but they are now playing well! There’s hope!
Paige graduated from high school...on July 9th and socially distranced but it happened!
JJ made the varsity soccer team and that was his first varsity letter. They won today on your birthday, 7-0. And JJ bleached his hair for the team! He is also playing for a club team.
There was a toilet paper shortage this year. Seriously, it was difficult to find toilet paper! And it might happen again. We are stocking up!
Unilever is starting home delivery of ice cream for all of the Unilever brands. Julie has consulted Kate about this and she confirmed it to be true!
Grandma Barbara passed away on the 13th of January and we all flew out to Iowa for the services in the bitter cold. She died quickly on a Sunday afternoon, not long after she had beat Grammy at scrabble just the Thursday morning prior. We wished you could have been there with all of us.
We thought we were going to die on highway 13 in Iowa on that trip when we went to Manchester to see Uncle Bob. Julie ducked to avoid a sheet of ice coming at the windshield and she was driving!
5,000,000 more democrats decided that they should vote this year because it was a bad idea not to vote last time. It worked, Joe Biden is our next president but Trump is still putting up a fight.
Paige turned 18 and was old enough to vote in this election. She learned what the election was about and really got into the democratic process. You’d be proud!
JJ turned 16 and is learning to drive and got his permit (albeit a little bit late). He can’t wait to have his license and is hoping for a car of his own.
For 3 months we had groceries delivered to the house and cleaned them before bringing them inside. The pandemic has caused some crazy new behaviors and routines..
Katelyn’s teacher said she is the happiest student in the class and she is doing so well! And she dyed her hair purple!
Grammy went to Vermont in the pandemic to see Winky and stayed for 3 months when she only thought she’d be gone only a couple of weeks!
Papa Ron still goes to the fitness center 3 days a week and so far he’s not gotten infected with Covid so that’s good!
Paige went into the city for the first time without parents to see BeetleJuice with friends early in the year. She loved it! We hope that we can go back to see broadway shows sometime soon.
JJ coached kids in basketball over the summer to make money and he had fun and enjoyed it.
We took down the playground in the backyard and put in a fire pit. We celebrated Tom’s 50th birthday, Pam and Joann’s birthdays and Michaels birthdays there this fall. It has been a great place to hang with friends and family.
Brooke started Pre-K and she’s learning her letters and can write her own name!
Some of the Spoerls went to Nantucket but some of us didn’t get to go because of Covid. We try to keep that tradition every year and hopefully we will all get to go next year. .
Ron hasn’t been back to NJ since last Christmas! His plan is to get vaccinated to come out to see us this spring. We would all love that.
Paige decided that she doesn’t really like “adulting” and doing things like going to the doctor on her own.
We became closer with our neighbors, the Truskowskis. I think you and Brian would be besties. You would really love them.
Julie isn’t happy with the landscapers and misses you doing the lawn.
Ben switched jobs and got a job where he would have to travel more but hasn’t left the house since because of the pandemic! The new job is a very positive environment and the people are pleasant.
Grammy bought a new computer all by herself. She has learned to zoom and has her own personal zoom account. Everyone is zooming now and we have regular zooms with the extended Spoerl family too.
Ron is 2 years younger than President elect Biden! And most of our friends voted democratic this year!
Paige nannied 3 kids all winter last year and babysat 8 hours a day for kids this summer. She made a lot of money but it was an adjustment.
The giants aren’t doing well but they are still first in NFC east. They beat the Eagles. And the Redskins are now the Washington Football team - haha.
Lucky puppy is hanging in there. Jack feeds him from the table and he loves it. He’s still a good boy.
Laura coached Katelyn’s basketball team and recruited Ben to assist.
Grammy heard from some old friends and they enjoy reminiscing about old times. One was Rich Wagor’s mother and she said when you were playing basketball at the Y when you were little, you picked up the ball and Richie at the same time for the play. They laughed about that.
Paige already changed her major from PT to psychology because PT was too science heavy for her. She may want to be a middle school guidance counselor. Julie keeps telling her that it’s ok to not know what you want to do in life yet.
JJ started virtual college visits. He thinks he wants to go south to a medium sized school. Julie doesn’t want him too far away!
Jack has been living here since quarantine and has cooked many meals for all of us that are restaurant quality. We are spoiled.
Everyone wears a mask in public these days and it’s required by law in most places.. It almost feels like a science fiction movie.
The fundraising teams are still working to raise money to fight cancer - both Voices (now Head for a Cure) and Tom is still leading a Movember team in your memory.
Some things never change and we still have racial and social justice issues. Grammy continues to work for equal rights for everyone and stresses the importance to teach others and raise awareness.
Paige had a rocky start to her freshman year but survived and will make some living changes for second semester. She did make 2 really good new friends and is hopeful about the rest of the year.
JJ took his first SAT test and he used the lucky Iowa hat for the test. He did pretty well so maybe it still has a little luck left in it?.
Scott, you would be so proud of your kids. They are kind, helpful, funny, and overall great people. We continue to stick together, moving forward and enjoying life together.
Happy 48th birthday! Ron donated $148 dollars to the Movember team in honor of your birthday this year. We miss you more than words can express.
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