Day One Hundred Fifty-Two

Phipps has absolutely taken the lead in the contest to win over the girls. They both REALLY like spending a few hours wandering around there, which works out well as Phipps continues to do a great job of ensuring visitor and employee safety.

Frankly, they've always liked Phipps. But, I strongly suspect that in the past, it had as much to do with the other things we did while we were there as it did with Phipps itself. For years, we've had a little Oakland routine - Phipps, Carnegie Library, Waffallonia, and Dippy. Sadly, Wafflallonia left us a year or so ago, but we managed to make do with the remaining fun stops.

And then came COVID.

The library was one of our last stops before quarantine, and HOOBOY do the girls miss it. A trip to Phipps means a trip to stare at the not-open library. For what it's worth, the books are the cherry on top of the library. The girls are there for the actual building, the atmosphere, and the sense of wonder. Walking through the doors of the Carnegie Library is walking through the doors of possibility. Will you end up finding a compelling mystery? A romantic love story? A wonderful adventure? Anything could happen.

They miss it. A lot.

We all miss Waffalonia. I know there is a location on Murray Ave, but the Oakland one had a very special place in our hearts. It was part of the whole big adventure. We've since decided bubble tea from Fuku will help fill that void, but it's not the same.

And then there is Dippy. We have been to Oakland twice since COVID started and not visited Dippy because could we not touch stuff, Mila? I knew she couldn't keep her hands to herself. Besides, it's just a giant dinosaur statue. It's not THAT great.

Mila hugged Dippy. It looked like something out of a sappy Hallmark movie. She ran to him in slow motion, with her arms held wide open. She gave him the biggest hug ever as a grin spread across her mask-covered face. And then she ran a few laps around him before settling in for more dinosaur hugs.

Sooo apparently I was right and Mila can't keep her hands to herself, but also I probably need to let her see her favorite giant dinosaur more often because that sort of reunion is pretty darn crazy. Who would have guessed that a global pandemic would make Mila miss a statue more than anything?