Visitation

We finally got word that we can visit Mom! It’s not going to be simple, but we are determined to make this work.

Actually, the visitation terms sound like they’re straight out of a horror movie.

Come alone. Wear a mask. Stand at a distance. Do not touch.

This in addition to having our temperature taken and signing a form that states that to the best of our knowledge, we are not affected with corona or other illnesses. Plus, the visit will be limited to 45 minutes and it will take place in an outside space that has a plastic barrier between us and our loved one.

I made the first appointment for my dad as we are not allowed (yet) to visit together. We’re wondering if Mom will even recognize him behind his face mask. The staff in her facility all wear masks, so the chances are high. Or, if she doesn’t, she’ll hopefully recognize him as someone she trusts and will talk and sing with him.

I’ve seen some innovative corona-related devices on line recently. One in particular is a large hanging plastic sheet with arm holes on both sides so that two people can hug without touching each other. We need this. I desperately want to hug Mom.

Israel is actually at the forefront of coronavirus scientific breakthroughs. This past week it was announced that the Israel Institute for Biological Research has isolated a key coronavirus antibody that successfully neutralized aggressive coronavirus in lab tests. In addition, several Israelis are involved in a cancer drug called selinexor. It is being evaluated in a global randomized clinical trial for hospitalized patients with severe coronavirus including in the US and Israel. This drug has previously been approved at higher doses by the FDA for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, say Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc., developer of the drug.

Everywhere I look there are signs that life is returning to normal. Ant yet the disease is still with us. It is hard to know how to move forward from here, especially if you are older or have an underlying medical condition. The country is opening quickly, including schools, kindergartens, malls and most stores, but people are still getting sick. My sense is that going out should be avoided unless necessary. And if we do go out, it absolutely must be with masks and gloves. We’ll only see the effects of this policy of normalization in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, we are gearing up to see Mom. My appointment isn’t until next week, so I’ll have to rely on my dad to bring me back information on how this visit goes. I am being patient. There is a time for everything, and everything in its time.

On the home front, we are still doing a lot of cooking. And my penchant for sweet things is not waning. My sister-in-law sent me a recipe for cinnamon buns. How could I not try them?

Sweet Cinnamon Buns

I made this a non-dairy recipe so that my dad could eat it as he’s lactose intolerant. I don’t think it suffered by the substitutions.

Group 1:

1 Tbsp yeast

1 Tbsp sugar

½ cup warm water

Group 2:

½ cup almond milk

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup margarine

1 tsp salt

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups flour

Group 3:

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup margarine, melted

1 cup pecans, chopped and divided

Group 4:

¾ cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp cinnamon

¼ cup margarine, melted

Directions:

Proof yeast in a large bowl by dissolving yeast in sugar and warm water. Let stand until yeast begins to bubble up (about 5 minutes). In a microwave safe container, melt 1/4 cup margarine in almond milk and stir in sugar. When cool, mix with yeast mixture and then add eggs, salt and flour (a little at a time) to form a supple dough. Continue kneading until dough is smooth and elastic. Oil surface of dough and cover. Let rise for an hour. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt ½ cup margarine then stir in sugar and ½ cup chopped pecans and set aside. Combine remaining pecans, cinnamon and sugar and set aside. Melt remaining 1/4 cup margarine and set aside. Preheat oven to 375° F / 190° C. Remove dough to a floured surface and roll out flat. Brush with melted margarine taking care to brush the edges of the dough. Spread on then press into dough the cinnamon, sugar, pecan mixture. Pour Group 3 ingredients—sugar, margarine and pecans—into a large round baking pan covered with baking paper. Slice dough into small strips (and maybe halve them depending on how long they are) and roll each individually. Place each rolled strip into pan. Repeat until all dough is rolled. Let rise for ½ hour. Brush top with remaining melted margarine and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool then invert onto a serving platter. Eat!

#dessert #cinnamonbuns #visits #corona