I am road tripping during a pandemic, and unlike being at home in my cozy cocoon, the road trip has made me more aware of the pandemic's rage because we can't travel with the ease that we're accustom to. Yet, it is good to get away from home and see what's happening in a variety of areas.
What did I notice?
People are wearing masks. People do care about staying safe during this pandemic despite the President's lack of intelligence or responsibility with regard to this raging pandemic.
Businesses are using creativity. Businesses that are staying open, are following pandemic guidelines and working with creativity.
Restaurants are suffering. It's difficult to see restaurants suffering. They too are making efforts to be creative, but it's clearly not easy.
People are getting outdoors. Nature trails, parks, and other outdoor spaces are packed. This is good.
Young people are feeling the loss. Just to view young people's faces clearly point to the loss they are experiencing. Social distancing is not natural for young people, so this is tough.
Children face diverse circumstances. For some children, the pandemic has meant more meaningful time with family members who are home and have more time to uplift famiy time. This is positive for young children. While walking by a neighborhood park, I saw so many happy children. Obviously there are many children who are suffering too due to loss of family income, lack of access to healthy foods, inability to attend schools in person, and family illnesses. I do think that one silver lining of this pandemic is to rethink family life in the United States, and to figure out ways that we can rebuild communities after the pandemic to salvage the silver linings from the pandemic while restoring long held traditions that we miss so much during the pandemic limitations.
The pandemic has challenges all of us. It's good to leave home here and there to get a broader look at what's happeneing, but when you do leave, you have to use pandemic precautions in order to stay safe which means it will take extra planning and prep to travel safely.