But how else was I going to get to the summer cabin in the small town of Rangeley in western Maine where my husband and I have spent the last 25 years? My husband was driving up earlier with a packed car — and I tend to commute back and forth from Washington, DC. So a number of flights in my future.

Already, my husband is sending me daily reminders of all the precautions I need to make both on board and in the Uber to the airport: multiple masks, don’t touch anything; take a lifetime supply of handi-wipes; don’t touch anything; wash your hands constantly; don’t touch anything. I’m feeling over-whelmed; also cautious but confident. Until I read another article about the potential dangers of contracting the virus in flight.

So I’m in the Uber and I want to ask the driver if he’s been to any restaurants, marched in a protest or knows anyone with the virus. I’m pretty sure those are all inappropriate questions unless I’m screening someone at a doctor’s office. I sit back — and then forward — and try not to touch anything.

Ashrin has to prove to the Uber Powers-That-Be that he actually has a mask on before we can begin our journey. Big Brother is watching our face coverings unless, of course, you’re at some packed indoor political rally in which case no one cares. And, of course, I’m worried I didn’t leave early enough. After all, it can take hours now to get through an airport. Yup, I should have left the night before.

Once at the airport — with multiple hours to spare before my flight — I now have to worry about whether or not I should risk going to the bathroom.  So I unsheath my sword in the form of the first of the 27 Purell sanitizers in my purse and brave the airport ladies’ room. I emerge seemingly unscathed.

I’m used to being in a supermarket with a few other masked shoppers, but walking the concourse among a seeming multitude of masks feels like an alien experience — as well as an experience among aliens. I don’t know whether to feel relieved — or appalled…   I am in a ghost town — empty check-in counters, empty security lines, empty restaurants, empty escalators — and yet still all I see are masks — and I know the virus lurks around every empty corner.

At the gate, all the masked marauders are attempting some sort of social distancing as I look for an empty row of seats to sit in. I feel uneasy and depressed as to what really is in store for our world in both the short- and long-term. I am angry at the random person not wearing a mask as if he were intentionally, selfishly, perversely trying to make a personal statement by risking the health of the rest of us. I look around to see if anyone else shares my dismay but all I see is a sea of eyes — and I haven’t yet learned how to read eyes.

I am flying Southwest, my favorite airline — and instead of the usual line-up of 60 passengers on both sides of the stanchion, they board 10 folks at a time at 6-foot intervals, all middle seats remaining empty unless occupied by family members. Okay, that’s reassuring.

On board, everyone is masked and cleaning every surface in sight — sometimes extending to their fellow passengers…  Across the aisle sits a man encased in what appears to be a full-body condom. I notice one or two goggles, and now fearing I will contract the virus through my eyes, as has been reported, I look down at my book and remain there, except that I can’t see any of the words because my glasses keep fogging up due to the mask.

I had read some articles about flights in which flight attendants were notoriously missing, abandoning the passengers in their care, which taps into former abandonment issues. Probably true for half the plane; abandonment issues are very pervasive. Also abandoned are my four free drink coupons wasting away in my carry-on. But no, this is Southwest Airlines, so yes there are flight attendants. I feel relieved but still bemoan the fact that my drink coupons are going to remain unredeemed.

In the middle of the usual safety briefing, I realize how surprised I am it isn’t on Zoom. I didn’t think there was anything that wasn’t on Zoom. I’m assuming that if there’s an emergency and the oxygen masks lower, you should probably remove your virus mask before attaching. These are things we didn’t have to worry about in the Before Times.

Upon arrival in Portland, I stay in my seat even while everyone else is retrieving their bags. Have they never heard of social distancing? Once outside and heading to my husband’s car, I can’t get my mask off fast enough. Breathing in the cool Maine air is like an elixir. Knowing that the state is very serious about its restrictions, I was not surprised to see a moose wearing a mask. Okay, so it was a large statue in the airport — but the message was clear.

I nod knowingly to the moose until I remember, according to Maine guidelines, I now have to quarantine for 14 days, just in time for my return trip to Washington, DC. What’s wrong with this picture? Ah, no — that’s right. I was tested for the virus the requisite 72 hours ago. So no worries, I’m negative. Until I realize I could have contracted it on the plane. So I’m still into the “what’s wrong with this picture?” mode as I head off into the sunset toward Rangeley.

Welcome to the New Normal?

The post You’re Gonna Get On a WHAT? Traveling in the Times of a Pandemic appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Start with Laughter

It’s the weekend of Father’s Day and I wish I had more time to write my thoughts but today was especially busy and this is another photo-finish TGIF edition. I’m not going to even have time to edit so please bear with me.

I have avoided getting into Twitter because I knew it would occupy too much of my time if I ever got addicted. One of the headlines accused Twitter of unfair and unbalanced censorship. So this week I decided to check what all the fuss was about. I decided to follow different political persuasions. What I discovered was a large disparity of media coverage. One persuasion talked extensively about CHAZ or CHOP (the so-called autonomous 6-city block zone) and the other persuasion had avoided any mention of it. One persuasion talked about the Rayshard Brooks killing in Atlanta (where a white cop shot a black man running away with the cop’s stolen taser) while the other persuasion defended the police. Both sides talked about defunding the Police but they both had different meanings of the word “defund.” Of course politicians were playing to the cameras by kneeling (or not kneeling), accusing, blaming, sympathizing, ridiculing — leaving the rest of us confused and more and more distant from each other. After almost a week I realized that it’s true — Twitter is everything I want to avoid.

I understand these are all serious topics but I couldn’t help but  laugh at the silliness. I’m hoping both sides can find common ground. May I suggest we start by laughing at the absurdity?

I decided I’d give you a little test. The first video may upset Conservatives and the last joke may upset Liberals. They’re both clever and funny. If you can’t laugh at them, then may I suggest you’re too serious?  Think about it. We need to unite and help each other create a better world. If you can’t even laugh at these jokes, how do you expect to get there?

Keep safe, keep healthy and don’t forget to greet Dad this Sunday. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Video: Asian Son Thinks He’s White

Thanks to Jun of Encino, CA.

It’s a political stand-up comedy. He’s obviously not a fan of Trump so if you are sensitive about this, move on. Otherwise, I think he’s very creative and funny. Lighten up!

Video: Lie Detector Wedding

Thanks to Jun of Encino, CA.

Hope you understand Spanish. Sorry, I couldn’t find an English translation.

Video: Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Video: “Be Thou My Vision” Sung by 300 Irish Churches

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA for sending this strange Father’s Day greeting from a famous Conservative, C’mon, lighten up!

The post Talking Dog appeared first on Traveling Archive.

This week we have a rare contribution from one of my subscribers/friends:

“I dreamed it and couldn’t get it out of my mind, and I swear I was inspired (which is how many of my poems come to me) so I put my dream into verse.” — Lois McKinney

I Had a Dream

(With appreciation for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

I don’t think I will soon forget
A dream I had the other night.
I dreamed I was caring for six little boys.
Three were black and three were white.

The smallest boy kept running off,
With the biggest, happiest grin.
He thought he and I were having a race,
And he was determined to win!

I picked him up by the back of his shirt
And as he squirmed and wiggled,
He became a suitcase as I carried him,
And plopped him on the grass as he giggled!

Then a little black boy fell to the ground.
His white playmate said “You’ll be okay.
Come with me; I have some games
That I think you and I should play.”

The white boy helped his new friend
To sit under a nearby tree,
And then got a pail of water
To wash the injured knee.

The two of them talked and laughed
At riddles, and silly things that rhyme.
It seemed as though these two little boys
Had been good friends for a very long time.

The other four kids found a ball
And tossed it all around.
They’d cheer each boy who caught the ball
Before it hit the ground!

Such sportsmanship warmed my heart.
It made me feel so good
To see that love for everyone
Was something these kids understood.

Six little boys hadn’t known each others’ names –
Timmy, Ralph, Satchel, Sam, Stu, and Wade –
But later that day they knew all the names
Of the new friends they had made.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful
If assumptions didn’t get in our way,
And we’d think the way the kids did
On that really special day?

We’d judge people by the things they do
And not by the way they look.
If that could happen, all lives would matter,
And prejudice would be a closed book!

Lois McKinney
June, 2020

Thank you Lois for sharing that beautiful poem. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Chuck of Whittier, CA for sharing this joke.

Video: Chinese Social Distancing

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C and Art of Sierra Madre, CA.

Video: Therapeutic Horse

Thanks to Mike of New York City.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA.

Thanks to Ernie of Manila, Philippines.

The post The Fottle appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Random Thoughts Here in the Twilight Zone

Here’s the news from my neck of the woods:

• I guess it was inevitable—people are going stir crazy because of the pandemic lock down. People are posting videos of how they are coping with this “distant” lifestyle (some of them I share below).
• If not for the internet, we would really feel the crunch. A friend of mine who works behind the internet servers says the amount of bandwidth has increased exponentially. There’s a lot of video games, movies and teleconferencing that’s going on.
• My grand kids have been playing among themselves and doing online classes for the last 2 weeks and their school isn’t meeting anymore for the rest of the year. Talk about a major interruption of life.
• As predicted, the grocery stores are starting to fill up their shelves again. You silly hoarders! See the futility of your panic?
• Each day I’m hearing of more people connected to me who have succumbed to the disease. Only the good die young.
• On Monday a young couple was blessed with a miracle baby. Welcome to the world Joelle. Don’t you worry, this pandemic doesn’t happen often.
• This weekend is Palm Sunday but there will be no palm waving in church this year. The giving in some churches has gone down. Let’s pray and do our part for these ministers of the gospel.
• A very good friend in the Nashville area said a man volunteered for a non-profit shelter program. He didn’t know he was contagious and infected over 100 people. Several have died already. You can’t be too careful.
• A friend is glad that annoying telemarketers have not called in days. Even these criminals are unemployed.
• A friend from Australia said Queensland is in lock down from the other states.
• One of my friends in Pasadena, Lori, is a dressmaker for bridal gowns. I encouraged her to use her skills to make face masks. Bless her heart.
• Even though petty crimes have gone up, without their reporters, the news channels have little to say beyond opinions. There are no sports news.
• There is no traffic in the streets of Los Angeles. This is the best time for the MTA (the people who fix our roads) to close down lanes for repairs but they too are staying at home. A wasted opportunity.
• Interestingly, this is the time when all the nations are the most vulnerable yet no one is attacking anyone. Even little Rocket Man. It’s like we’re living in the halftime of this game called life. Everybody’s waiting for the “shoe” to drop. Everybody’s waiting for the real show to begin.

I don’t think anyone knows for sure what to make of all of this but for me this is a time to sit still and reflect. God is giving us this opportunity to stop our regular routines and assess the world and its people. Let’s not waste this “God-given” break to pray and meditate on our role in all of this.

Let’s keep our distance and keep our sanity and hold on to our faith. TGIF people!

Raoul

BTW, (here’s a shameless plug) if you are looking for something to read during your hiatus, a friend just published a book, “Winnie’s Dream.” She started writing this years ago. It’s available in Amazon. I did the layouts and illustrations. It is a masterfully written historic mystery that keeps you wondering until the last word. Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!

“Be still and know that I am God” 

— Psalm 46:10

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA  for sharing this joke.

Video: Corona Les Miz Family

Thanks to Janet of Whittier, CA for this family video. Oh, the things people do when they’re stuck at home.

Video: Cute Chinese Siblings

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA.for this humorous interaction between these 2 children.

Video: Day 6

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for this humorous video of a couple Day 6 in Quarantine.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kewlona, B.C. who sent this image

Thanks to Mike of New York who sent this

The post Clinical History appeared first on Traveling Archive.