We are finally here, the one year marker we, or at least I, never thought would come.
I do realize I missed the true anniversary and it was last week. Yes, I am still working on self motivation, that was also an issue in my last post…shall we move on?
The day the world halted after Trump’s announcement on March 11th, I can remember, truly like it was yesterday. I work for a travel company and within 48 hours of the announcement we returned 99 percent of our travelers on the road; so it was an insane and unprecedented time at work…I couldn’t not use the most common word of 2020. I can remember the feeling of anticipation and adrenaline racing through my body as we prepared the lists of the groups’ locations and determined closest airports for their quick departures. I remember feeling my heart beat at a pace that was unfamiliar as the night crept into the next day as we worked in the excels. I remember anxiously playing with my hair; pulling the strands from root to tip. I remember it was 1:55 am on the 12th in Zurich, and I got into bed and thought maybe it won’t happen, maybe I won’t get a call, maybe I will get to sleep. At 2:05 am the call came in and what we thought could never be a possibility was now our reality. I remember starting the call chain and getting teams in action. I remember thinking, shoot it is 4 am and I have nervous-no-sleep-sweat going on, and I need to get back into the office ASAP, do I have time to shower in-between calls? I remember how the water felt in that rushed shower and how I needed the temperature to be colder than normal. I remember that dark power walk into the office while on the phone with my sister. Through heavy breathing, I shared the anticipation for the day that was to come; both of us not understanding what the announcement meant and trying not to selfishly focus on that fact that this could impact me and my ability to be allowed to come home. Now a year later, those emotions are still fresh and I wonder if they will ever dissipate.
That following week, Zurich locked down, but I was still keeping my positivity and blinders up and foolishly booked a flight to Canada for a few weeks later in April. To nobody’s surprise those flights were canceled a few days later.
The reality of this lasting longer than a few months was not even the tiniest thought of something that I needed to accept. And now a year later my world is still not even close to being back to normal or the “new normal.” Living in Zurich we are still in a lockdown that compares to March 2020 and working for a travel company, we currently have zero travelers on the road, which in normal times does not exist in any of the 365 days of the calendar; let alone during spring break time.
When you hit an anniversary it is a time to feel nostalgic and reminisce. When I look back there isn’t one emotion that takes over my memories of this year, but instead the word that keeps popping up that I can’t ignore is perspective. This year gave me time to have perspective on: work, family, friends, living abroad, living alone, my passions, my hobbies, health, and of course travel.
I would say that travel is a part of who I am, hence the title of this blog, The Pilot’s Daughter, and that of course changed. I was still able to travel but what that meant and how that looked was different for me this past year. For 1) far less travel and 2) the travel I did experience was more quality time with people versus quantity of places and/or people. The international travel experience, that I had just become accustomed too, as traveling for work frequently was a new acquaintance of mine, was changed. I love lounges, I mean who doesn’t, but I have to say I love them I think a little bit more than the average visitor. Free food and free drinks, is truly the way to my heart. My “new lounge lover” was not there for my first trip home to America. What instead greeted me was, three legs each way, with a 12 hour layover on the way back, and almost completely shut down airports.
The flight experience was different. Wearing a mask for about 20 hours taught me that travel breath is a real thing. This is a positive and a draw back of the mask; you no longer need to have gum while traveling to protect others, but you are not protected from yourself. The flight was empty and we were served food and drinks, but no alcohol. On the plus side though, they didn’t want to share cans so everyone was given a full can of their beverage choice. This was a major win in my book.
These trips home to family during quarantine were some of the most special moments I have had with them in a very long time. It was uninterrupted bonding time. You were not distracted by conflicting plans or by new or old favorite restaurant temptations. No drinks at the bar or the must-do-happy-hour calling your name. Instead front and center was the couch, wine or a cocktail and a good quality chat. The ones where you continue to share feelings, stories, and get more intimate since you have, or feel like, all the time in the world. The kind of time that just allows you to open up, and be present. This was something, we rarely made time for before this year.
When checking in for my flight back to Zurich, halfway through the process at the kiosk, it kicked me out and the entire machine started blinking. I thought, this is it, I can’t go back home. I quickly learned I was being dramatic. I have permission to enter Switzerland as a US citizen since I am a permit holder, so I learned I just have to show my permit card in order to “override” the no Americans allowed rule; but it still scares people when they see the US passport. I watched people get denied while checking in, at the gate and even at customs. I will say it is such a strange feeling to travel and have a fear of not being allowed to enter. This is not something I have experienced before.
We are here, a year and a week into the pandemic and I am still thinking about perspective. I sat on FaceTime two days ago and watched my sister get her first shot of her COVID-19 vaccine. That is the new moment I won’t forget.
