What is normal...now

Most of 2021 had me like everyone else in the world, homebound.  While I dreamed of getting on a plane and seeing friends and family COVID dictated that I remain steadfast in my mitigation routines, limiting contact with family and friends and simply being still...at home.  I began my long, never ending relationship with Zoom and soon mastered the art of Half dress ( nice top and pj bottoms!). 

As my routine, lack of personal contact with anyone outside of my familiar pod, being vaccinated and boosted, I felt I had EARNED the right to travel. So when I had the opportunity to visit Merida Mexico in October with family and friends who were equally vaccinated I jumped (actually ran like a mad woman).  Being outside of my state, again, getting on a plan, again, and seeing another perspective other than my home country, I was punch drunk happy.  

Visiting the beautiful locations, climbing deep into a cenote, eating exotic foods and touring, with only my travel pod, I felt as safe as possible.  During the visit, we did a tour to Chichen Itza, and  we learned how this advanced culture which was full of laughter, education, people, families disappeared.  While some think it was a plague or war, our tour guide said it was much more simpler, they left.  According to our guide, this beautiful place was one of several residential locations this race of people lived in.  Because of drought, which they could not control and the younger generation seeking a different life, the elders could no longer sustain the land and the younger people no longer wished to be “of the the land”.  With both wanted different things, it was simply abandoned.  How could they give up, how could they not want to preserve something so precious as their history and legacy? 

Look at us, now in the 2nd year of a pandemic and we still have not come together as a species to preserve our way of life.  This is not about race, or proximity or political affiliation, it is about the species and our survival.  So many feel that their rights are being violated if they are forced because they don’t know what is in the vaccine.  Is that the real reason or is it because you don’t want someone to tell you what to do?  Others feel that by not taking the vaccination they are putting others at jeopardy.  You have two opposing sides who don’t want to come together for the betterment of the species.  What is next for us?  So far, with over 1 million people or more loss, what is the tipping point when we say lets come together for OUR survival.  

Right now, there is mask fatigue, there is an overwhelming sense of sheer exhaustion of having to wear protective gear to go to the grocery story, see a movie or get on a plane.  Travel among  many actives has taken a substantial hit.  

Airlines are reducing routes, those that are still open are having staffing shortages.  Cities, counties, states, countries are closing then reopening, then closing again based on the spike or reduction of COVID numbers.  You must wear a mask indoor in restaurants in Chicago, but not in Wisconsin.  Mask mandates in Indiana but not in Texas.  Lately these United States are not so united and it is wearing on everyone.  

I no longer know what NORMAL looks like and  like many I am so confused.  Can I travel to Italy, should I travel to Italy, Are they open now, will they be open in 6, 8 or 10 months.  If I can’t get there what is plan B.  How much is the air fare going to cost, why are prices so expensive, why is my normal 9 hour direct flight no longer available.  Why must I have 1,2, or 3 layovers?

Travel troubles come in so many ways, tempers are shorter, fights on planes and airports.  Because of the uptick of COVID, now you can have over 1500 cancellations, so even if you get there, can you get back?  The days of simply booking a trip, waiting for it come, getting on a plane...may be gone and gone forever. 

If we can’t come together to combat COVID, and do this for the species, will we simply give up and abandon our way of travel or something more precious, our way of life.  

​Safe travels.

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