It was such a strange time so quiet, so peaceful, death hiding around every corner. I went out for walks daily, looking at a shut down city wondering if the city would ever come back to its vibrant screaming self. Well folks, it has, vibrant and insane as ever. Can’t keep this old gal down.
Thanks for the insightful reminders of that odd time. I was horrified by the news from NYC and concerned for my friends who were there. Meanwhile I was locked down in Hawaii with a garden to hang out in and none of my Vermont friends felt sorry for me. The flight back to Vermont was surreal, masked on a full plane, wandering through Chicago,s Ohare airport, empty, with Burger King the only concession open. So glad to be picked up in Burlington by a friend who kept his windows open and our masks on for the trip back to Hyde Park.
I was changed by getting COVID in Paris. April 2022. People masked up and went out as they chose. We heard "everybody gets it" more than a few times. France kept a complete registry of positive tests. We were fully vaccinated. And our symptoms were light and of short duration. The protocol for getting back in the US gave us two extra weeks in Europe after our 7 day quarantine in a nice Parisian hotel that served us meals. We went to a beer festival with two of Charlie's sons who were based in Madrid and Mastricht at that time.
Insurance reimbursed us almost fully when we got home.
The testing at the airport was a sham. The swab never touched the inside of the nose. They didn't want sick angry people hanging out at the airport.
We felt comfortable acting like the residents of each place we were. We did not complain or judge. And we have good health today and good stories to tell. We think God guided us and blessed us. Not sure why.
You are so right, John. If I had not written this down (I'm not sure why I did, as I've never kept a journal) I would not have remembered much of it. But it is, as always, the photos that remember for me. Actually I was surprised when i reread this for Opposable - it was written contemporaneously - and think back on how truly terrible Covid was for so many people. I think the effects have been incorporated into my view of the world and permanently changed me in small but significant ways. Has anyone written well about this, or is it, as they say, too soon?
It all seems like a dream now
except if I cough ... . But yes, weird, isn't it.
It was such a strange time so quiet, so peaceful, death hiding around every corner. I went out for walks daily, looking at a shut down city wondering if the city would ever come back to its vibrant screaming self. Well folks, it has, vibrant and insane as ever. Can’t keep this old gal down.
Beautifully put.
Thanks for the insightful reminders of that odd time. I was horrified by the news from NYC and concerned for my friends who were there. Meanwhile I was locked down in Hawaii with a garden to hang out in and none of my Vermont friends felt sorry for me. The flight back to Vermont was surreal, masked on a full plane, wandering through Chicago,s Ohare airport, empty, with Burger King the only concession open. So glad to be picked up in Burlington by a friend who kept his windows open and our masks on for the trip back to Hyde Park.
A good friend. and yes, very weird times. but lockdown in hawaii sound not so bad.
I was changed by getting COVID in Paris. April 2022. People masked up and went out as they chose. We heard "everybody gets it" more than a few times. France kept a complete registry of positive tests. We were fully vaccinated. And our symptoms were light and of short duration. The protocol for getting back in the US gave us two extra weeks in Europe after our 7 day quarantine in a nice Parisian hotel that served us meals. We went to a beer festival with two of Charlie's sons who were based in Madrid and Mastricht at that time.
Insurance reimbursed us almost fully when we got home.
The testing at the airport was a sham. The swab never touched the inside of the nose. They didn't want sick angry people hanging out at the airport.
We felt comfortable acting like the residents of each place we were. We did not complain or judge. And we have good health today and good stories to tell. We think God guided us and blessed us. Not sure why.
What a time, what an experience. We are indeed changed. But I think it must be a natural impulse to put it behind and try to be as we once were.
It all fades in a blur but here we are, or at least some of us, and I wonder what we have learned. Thank you for your writing.
You are so right, John. If I had not written this down (I'm not sure why I did, as I've never kept a journal) I would not have remembered much of it. But it is, as always, the photos that remember for me. Actually I was surprised when i reread this for Opposable - it was written contemporaneously - and think back on how truly terrible Covid was for so many people. I think the effects have been incorporated into my view of the world and permanently changed me in small but significant ways. Has anyone written well about this, or is it, as they say, too soon?