Honk, it's my birthday
It’s not exactly the way Anthony Schnable envisioned spending his 10th birthday, but things are anything but normal these days in a coronavirus-filled world.
Anthony and his family practiced social distancing by decorating a golf cart and spending the day camped out at the end of the driveway of their rural Hayfield home. They took turns flashing the honking motion to get passing truckers to honk and other vehicles to toot their horns. A sign on the front of the golf cart encouraged passing vehicles to “Honk 4 my Birthday.”
Joining Anthony were his parents Nancy and Andrew Schnable and his 8-year-old brother Ethan. While getting passing motorists to recognize his birthday, they enjoyed a baseball-themed lunch of hot dogs, chips and a baseball ice cream Dairy Queen cake. Anthony was decked out in his Chicago Cubs jersey in honor of a baseball season that has yet to be.
Asked what he thought about his birthday, Anthony responded, “It’s weird.”
“It’s a different way of celebrating,” acknowledged Anthony’s mom. “You do what you can.”
Added his father Andrew, “I don't think we will do this every year for your birthday.”
As a MnDOT snow plow made its way northbound on Hwy. 56, Nancy asked out loud, “Do you think we can get a snow plow to honk in April?” They all motioned their arms high in the air and within seconds, the snow plow blasted its horn, bringing chuckles and smiles to the faces of Anthony and his brother.
A little while later a semi truck came by and laid on its horn. “That was kind of a wimpy one for a semi,” Nancy commented about the horn. “Some are really big.”
The original plan was for the family to go to Dave & Busters, an arcade in the Twin Cities, for Anthony’s birthday. But once the COVID-19 crisis forced families to stay at home, the Schnables rolled with the punches and came up with a different way to celebrate.
The Schnables hit the end of their driveway around 9 a.m. and planned to stay there until mid-afternoon. At about 1:30 p.m., Anthony, a fourth grader at Hayfield Public Schools, quickly bolted away and ran towards the house remembering he had a conference call for school. “His friends are going to wish him a happy birthday by Zoom,” Nancy said. “It’s hard when you can’t see your friends and celebrate.”
Besides celebrating at the end of the driveway, Anthony also planned a little fishing trip at Clear Lake by Waseca. After all, he was ready to fish upon discovering many fishing lures hanging in the trees outside their house. Family and friends placed them in the trees for his birthday before he got up.
Even though it wasn’t what the family had in mind, Nancy said they had fun with Anthony’s birthday. “You make the best of every situation,” she says. “It’s a big birthday with him turning double digits. This is one to remember, that’s for sure.”
Nancy hopes the stay-at-home restrictions will loosen up by June when both she and her husband have big birthdays. They both turn 40 this year. “We hope we can celebrate,” she said. “If not, you’ll be seeing us at the end of the driveway,” she added.
And, if that happens, the Schnables at least have practiced with one birthday under their belts.
“For now, this is as good as it gets,” Nancy said.