Tomorrow I take off on a mini trip. Solo. My first one in two years. You could say it's also my first real movement outside of the safe spaces of family and home. Well, there was a night Mineral Point! And now this trip.
So much has changed since my prepandemic travels! Covid has added layers of uncertainty and also layers of needed protection. Who would have thought that the next time I planned to fly anywhere at all I would have to put on a highly protective mask (just cloth wont do for my airline of choice, and I so appreciate that!) from the moment I stepped into the airport until when I alight at my destination. That would be more than a dozen hours. I guess in there there will be some food or beverage option. We'll see how that works.
And who knew that I would struggle to come up with required passes that would give me access to public spaces on my trip (still waiting on my application, which means that I likely wont get it on time and thus will have to go to plan B: find a pharmacy willing to issue me one on the spot). Two years ago such stuff would have been the makings of a sci fi story. No, you can't enter, because you might be carrying a virus that will threaten to destroy us all! Two years ago you could sneeze in public without feeling grossly embarrassed.
The other change is that I am older. I no longer think it's "no big deal" to lose a night of sleep in flight. I no longer sample wines as if they were water, skip meals when I don't feel like sitting down for one. Indeed, I no longer go for hours on end without feeling like sitting down! Who knew that your plans should figure in your age. Two years ago, I gave none of this a second thought.
And I packed differently then. I have always been a light traveler, with only carry-on stuff, no matter how long the trip. But on the returns, I would take a suitcase loaded with gifts and must-haves. Not this time. I'm keeping it light so that I can actually lift the bag into the overhead compartment. At 68, that's not a slam dunker.
In the past, I'd know where I would want to eat. This time I have no idea. Outside, for sure! But will it be easy to accomplish that? I wonder. On this trip, I don't particularly care about making the meals extraordinary. I just want to eat comfortably, safely. Fresh and honest if possible, but hey, I'm not going to go out of my way looking for an ideal. In any case, my view of what is ideal has shifted.
Two years ago the world was as crazy and confusing as it is now, but it was easier to put yourself in a travel bubble where peace reigned and beauty was within reach. Things are different now. And yet, the world beckons. I'm not ready to lose myself in stories of past trips. My head needs new material. So slowly, I'm testing the waters of travel again. Just a little bit at first. See how it goes.
But all that is for tomorrow. Today the skies are gray, the animals are hungry, the air is too warm for the middle of October.
The young family has something on their schedule and so there is no Sunday dinner. Just a quick Sunday visit on my part. Snowdrop has a play date (masks inside, more freedom outside). Sparrow wants to believe that it's also his play date. Sandpiper is just happy with a bigger crowd of young ones.
And then I come home, to review what I should pack for my trip tomorrow.
