See, the only way I can believe your children are teenagers is by remembering that my own PiBoy is 9 years old, and if he has done it so quickly, then other kids must have gone into that same time machine that made time race for him in such speed.

About my children: well, like I said, PiBoy just turned 9 on the Jewish calendar (y'all know exactly when he'll be 9 in the general calendar, what with being PiBoy and all). He hates school because he thinks it's boring (even though we were thankfully lucky with his teachers, both the wonderful one he had for first and second grade, but also the current one, for third grade). He likes reading, but still doesn't like books with lots of words in each page, so comics are perfect for him. "Bone" is his favorite so far (Yes, only when reading it with him have I realized it was a character in a book, and therefore what's the source for Fone Bone's online name). He loves board games, especially Catan. And he's so good at them, so much so that he doesn't believe me when I say he wins fairly, and I'm not letting him win. He's sensitive and kind and clever and is always good for a laugh (and he's sensitive enough to apologize if he knows that the joke is on you). He likes soccer and wears out his shoes accordingly, and the knees on his pants always rip and are torn, no matter how much I try to patch or sew them. He's the most wonderful boy I could never have imagined, because he's so much more than anything my mind can hold.

PiGirl will turn 7 in a couple of days, and she's in the first grade. She *loves* school, and won't hear anything bad about it from her brother. She just recently realized that if she can read the simple assigments that her teacher gives her in class, then she can practically read everything, and so she immediately looked for books at home and started "swallowing" them. She loves Izadora Moon (I'm not sure if that's how it's spelled in the original English), who is half fairie and half vampire, and the books are pink and black and with glitter. She's fierce and strong and loving, and even though sometimes it seems like that's not the case, she takes things deeply into her little heart. She expresses herself very beautifully and accurately, and it's a delight just hearing her tell what happened to her during the day. She loves moving, even tough she stopped her ballet class because she didn't like the teacher they were assigned this year. She's the most wonderful girl I could never have imagined, because she's so much more than anything my mind can hold.

And this self-quarantine is hard on them. PiGirl drew the virus, and then erased her painting with a black marker, to show how much she hates it. PiBoy asked his father to draw the virus with makeup on his face, and put a "no entrance" sign on it (Purim is the costumes holiday, much like Halloween, but without the scary parts, and with even more food). It's hard for them to be home when I'm also at home, but behind a closed door, and can't be with them, and can't to anything with them. It's hard on me, too. I mean, don't get me wrong - if that's the hardest thing this virus causes, I'm going to be delighted beyond the telling of it. But still.

Dillo got his braces off last week and is really happy to be eating apples again

Oh man, I remember my first post-braces apple. That was the literal best.

The offsite originally planned for today has been turned into a massive conference call and the screen looks like some kind of Brady Bunch/CNN hybrid.

Shir, I'm self-quarantining because of an infected man who returned to Israel on Thursday afternoon, and took the train home. I was also on that train. It was announced Monday morning, so I only started then, which means I still have a week and a half.

I have lots and lots of exams to grade (and I've asked the other lecturers for their exams to grade, too, so that I'll feel like I'm using my time well). I have no idea how we'll catch my students up with all the lost time. I'm going to offer to film myself teaching at least some of it, and wee if it works. We have a system for students who are quarantined, because my own classes are being filmed and some of them are up on YouTube, but not for the surrent case, of me being away from class. We'll see. I'm sure we'll figure something out.

billytea, when you read this and it's your tomorrow - Dungeons and Dragons - how cool! Knowing you, I'm sure you're wonderful at that!

(If PiBoy knew more English and been in a completely different continent, and at least a couple of years older, I'd send him to your D&D game in a heartbeat, knowing he's sure to have a great time!)

sj, what costume did she choose? Is she enjoying the long week of celebrations?

Teppy! Exclamation points!

[Edit: I'm so not used to posting on this laptop. Or at all, in English. It's been forever since I've written anything in English that's not a Google search. Wow.]

I do so love hearing about PiBoy and PiGirl! My heart breaks that you are denied their love and hugs for this period of time.

Oy, Nilly. Time is on your side! May those 10 days pass quickly.

(I keep thinking of Passover and the Seders with Covid19).

NILLY!!!!!! Oh how I love to read your words. You describe things so wonderfully. Your children sound as lovely as their mother.

Aw, PiChildren! They sound wonderful, as of course they were bound to be, but it is so nice to get some details of their wonderfulness!

These kids with the getting older and growing up, I don't know.

Brady Bunch/CNN hybrid

I feel like I have an accurate picture of this in my mind. Yikes

Go, Tep! I will now be imagining your officiant duties always including Fleabag quotes and interpretive dance.

Laura, yes! We've come up with a sequence of hand gestures that we perform one in front of the other when what we really want to do is hug each other but are not allowed to.

And Shir, absolutely. To everybody who tells me how difficult it must be to be self-quarantining suring Purim, I express my gratitude that it's not Pesakh (and, hopefully, that it won't be).

And still, I hope the worst thing this virus does is this quarantine. We'll end up making this the fodder for nostalgic family funny stories, and make a special experience out of this. I do so sincerely hope that it's going to end with that.

I now want video of Teppy officiating with bonus interpretive dance moves.

Ha! No one deserves interpretive dance from me.

MSBELLE! Whenever PiGirl declares her love to pink or glitter or both combined I feel like you somehow know. Like the universe hould somehow update you or something.

Also, you've just recently moved, right? Tell me about your new place!

In fact, everybody - I've skipped so much, I don't really know how any of you are doing. Is it too much meMeME to ask you to tell me how you're doing? I've missed y'all!