Pandemic

The world is closed. This last 10 days or so, 50 million jobs in the global tourism business DISAPPEARED (4.6 million of them in the US); that’s one of every ten jobs and one out of every five NEW jobs (source Peter Greenberg - The Travel Detective). The US has declared  a global Level 4 Health Advisory - DO NOT TRAVEL.  Hell, don’t even go outside.

We don’t know what the future will look like - personally or economically.  Some, but very few, of us will have a part in shaping it; the rest will peek out in a few weeks or months and see a different world, and enter it changed ourselves.  Lots of stress and anxiety. Lots of dread.  But also some silver linings, like less pollution.  Try to find some calm, some reflection or prayer.  Try to pay attention to your neighbor and help where you can.  It’s time given to us to reassess our lives, and our loves.

Travel has always been central to my life.  I imagined as I aged that it might change and slow down, but I didn’t imagine it would stop dead.  I didn’t imagine that my world would become so small that “travel” would mean going downtown - and that I would be afraid to go there!  But I am lucky.  I’ve seen much of the world and have many memories of far-away wonders to sustain me.  And they do.

So when you next get a chance, try to make your world bigger - read, explore, learn, appreciate your loved ones.  We are so fortunate to have the digital world at our fingertips.  Use it to prepare for the real thing and then, when you can, GO.