Every year when a holiday like Memorial Day comes around, I post a reflection of its meaning and while I have never served, I know many who have and appreciate their service and sacrifice. 
Even though summer is still a few weeks away, Memorial Day is known as the unofficial start of summer in the United States. That is exciting given the past 15 months we have had here and around the world. Covid has taken its toll on many and while we remember the true meaning of Memorial Day and those who have fallen serving our country to keep our country free, we need to remember the sacrifices of all the frontline workers trying to save others, many who have lost their lives during this pandemic that has taken the lives of thousands of people here and around the world.
We need to remember the doctors, nurses, paramedics, police and firefighters that have died in the line of service during this crisis. We should remember other frontline workers who were there for us when we needed them and lost their lives due the effects of Covid. Many have served others to make sure we were able to survive. This is something with all the chaos in the world we should keep in mind. Memorial Day is to remember those who have served and sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, so when you are enjoying your barbeque and grilling outdoors on this Memorial Day, please remember the freedoms we have and how lucky we are given the sacrifices made by many others. Without their sacrifices, we may not have the freedoms we have. 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!
As an aside, my next blog will be sent from Croatia next Monday!!!

Last week, I wrote about packing and unpacking and that is still an ongoing thing. Maybe 85% packed for my future move and for the trip. In both cases, it is like a new experience, both necessary and at the same time exciting. With the travel time approaching, so the anticipation builds, but perhaps a bit of anxiety as well. 
Anticipation is defined as a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action, or perhaps, more appropriately, in my case, the act of looking forward especially…. I am definitely looking forward as my departure from my current residence is in a little over a week and my departure for Europe is in less than 2 weeks. 
In normal times or BC (Before Covid), I would be on track and perhaps already fully prepared, so the anxiety, which is always present may not be as prominent. It is tempering the anticipation, which I suppose is normal. When in the past I have traveled, I felt like I was on autopilot. I knew the ropes being on the road for many months in any given year. I knew what I was doing. Now however, I feel like I have to re-learn some of the old skills and again and prepare for the new. Don’t get me wrong. I am truly excited for this new chapter of my life and sharing it with the world. I feel good that I have to go back to square one in a way. I know what my clients will feel when they first travel again, some familiarity, new unknowns. In the end there will be a balance between anticipation and anxiety, but everything will work itself out. This I know!!! What do you think? 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!

Mother’s Day was yesterday, and Father’s Day is in June and while I am neither to kids of my own, I have been an integral part of many kid’s lives over the past 35 years or so as an educator. First, as an ESL volunteer, para-professional and classroom teacher in New York City back in the mid to late 80’s, as a special education teacher here in Minnesota in the early to mid - 90’s and since 2006, working in childcare in one of the local school districts, where one of my first students is now my multi – media specialist and much more as we work through this pandemic. As an aside, I also helped raise my ex’s two kids and was there to support them from early childhood into adulthood. 
I am not looking for accolades or any honorable mention, but simply reflecting on the fact, especially during this Covid crisis, how important mothers and mother figures have been in helping to navigate and facilitate these volatile waters in the schools in which I work and continue to do so. I very much respect all who have been there throughout, mothers and mother figures who continue to nuture and help us all get through this crisis, including many of my colleagues. We will all have to deal with this for some time to come and knowing there are those out there willing to help, giving us hope that we will make it through, with their tireless effort, no amount of thanks is enough, so here’s a shout out to all those who have been there for us. Thank you. You are truly appreciated!!!
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Your support of this small business is truly appreciated!!!

I have been reading articles in the last week or so, on the travel current state of affairs and frankly, it annoys me that, while under the guise of protecting the population, the US State Department makes most of the world, a travel alert of the highest caliber and realistically, they don’t give “real” reasons why and yes, there are exceptions. So why are a majority at a level 4 threat and others at level 3. They claim they have changed to reflect the CDC, but the CDC says that those who are fully vaccinated are safe to travel. So, if we travel overseas as a fully vaccinated traveler, to a country that is currently allowing Americans in, still, when returning home, must have a Covid test with a negative result. 
In my opinion, there are countries that need to be avoided due to the potential for terrorism and where Covid is out of control like India or Brazil. Even in The Netherlands, when I read the threat level was raised to 4, it noted the potential for violence due to demonstrations, but also Covid. In these cases, it makes sense to raise the threat level, but to raise the level to the highest level or second highest level for most of the world, having a broad brushstroke is irresponsible. All of this is very confusing to the traveling public and therefore more challenging to the professional travel advisor to sort through all the details, albeit worthwhile to assure, that the client makes the best decision for themselves, based on accurate and more importantly detailed information, not just a blanket statement. 
More and more countries are opening with certain restrictions, be it a negative Covid test, being fully vaccinated or having recovered from Covid. Even the European Union as a bloc is in the process of opening by summer with any luck and cooperation. Yet, our own government is telling us not to travel overseas to almost anywhere with their travel alerts. These actions will add more issue to an industry that has been devastated by the pandemic, through no fault of our own, with little government assistance over the past year plus. By the way, thank you to the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) of which I am a member for their commentary on these government actions and continuing to promote what the travel advisor does and the value by helping sift through this crisis and making sure that their valued clients are taken care of. 
I want to promote travel and I want to travel again and believe we can do it safely. We need to move forward and not stagnate. Travel is a major part of the US economy and the longer these rules are in place, the longer it is going to take to recover. Lives and livelihoods have been catastrophically affected. I want everyone to be safe, but I also want Americans to be able to make up their own minds and not be controlled by the action of the government, so please give complete and accurate information, not just a headline. 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Your support of this small business is truly appreciated!!!