All the deltas

 noun: delta; plural noun: deltas

1. 1.

   the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet ( Δ, δ ), transliterated as ‘d’.

   • the fourth in a series of items, categories, etc.

     modifier noun: delta
     ASTRONOMY

     the fourth (usually fourth brightest) star in a constellation.

     noun: Delta ("Delta Cephei")
2. 2.

   a code word representing the letter D, used in radio communication.
3. 3.

   a difference between two things or values.

   "there's a delta between perception and reality"

It was definitely a summer of Delta around here.

There is of course Delta, the variant of the Coronavirus (which is raging locally. One of my FM patients died in the ICU this week and some vaccinated medical staff have tested positive). There is also the fact that the ongoing pandemic forced (for us; many are not acting this way) to scale back and still be cautious surrounding the things we looked forward to being fully open/available once we were vaccinated, which is our more meaningful delta (the stark difference between our expectations and reality).  We did have a brief glimpse of "normal summer"-- a vacation in SoCal and to New Mexico, and one birthday party with friends. It feels like a distant memory(/dream).

Iver just went back to school for the school year a week ago in first grade. He is given marks daily on (+) for "good job" on a skill (like respecting our and others' bodies, doing our best work, following directions, listening, etc.).  The less favorable "mark" is a "delta," which means "something that needs needs changing/improvement" (he's quite the rule-follower and has only gotten pluses so far). 

It's definitely feeling like fall around here-- cooler nights, foggier and cooler mornings, even though I still haven't seen rain.  I feel a change in the area. 

 Good bye, summer (of Delta and watermelon)... 

... and here's to fall Deltas (involving a change in a season... to, with hope, take us out of this Delta wave. A Delta from Delta?!).