Covid Update 4.0

No, it’s not okay to travel yet.

I know that’s not what you want to hear, believe me. My soul is still screaming about it.

I discovered a week or so ago that a train ticket to New York, a place that I would dearly love to visit, is only $68 US. It made me want to whip out my wallet and purchase tickets for myself, Forest, and Dragon for a weeklong trip to the Big Apple. I wanted to be with them in a pub full of people, or in a theater packed to the brim to see Hamilton. I wanted to go shopping along a busy street, eat some bagels, and hear the sound of life all around me.

Then reality hit me like a ton of bricks and I realised that trip could be years away, if I’m lucky.

Every time I see a Tik Tok of literally anywhere in the UK I want to cry. All of my happy memories are now suddenly a burden and I have visions of never setting foot outside my province again. I worry that I’ll never be able to see the rest of the beautiful planet that I have come to love so much. I worry that what feels like an impending doom to isolation isn’t just a callous daymare but a premonition. I always thought it was my purpose to explore the world; now that’s been ripped from me and I am powerless to take it back.

I have hated nothing more in my life. Nothing.

But I’m staying at home out of hope.

I hope that despite all of the anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers and anti-factsers and the worries that the human mind produces in the late hours of the night, that enough people in the world will collectively decide to do the right thing; stay home, socially distance and wear a mask in public, and vaccinate when the time comes.

It’s a selfish hope. I know. But maybe yours is too; and that’s okay.

Maybe if we all do our part, and if all goes well, one day I can say “Yes, gentle readers. It’s finally safe to travel. I’ll see you out there.”

Until then, wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home if you can, and be safe, gentle readers.