​Weathering the Storm with the WP#66

It is amazing how this year is flying by as we are already into May. Not sure why this year, although each year seems to be moving more quickly, but I find myself running out of time with all the irons in the fire right now, work, business, school, and person, but everyone has this, well maybe not school at 60, but that too for me. I remember when I started my class on teaching English as a Foreign Language and I am in the last 2 weeks of the program, and then I have the Practicum of 20 hours and it is nice to know I have some contacts in Italy!!! Oh, and I hope those who celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday, enjoyed the day wherever you were. I, for my part, sent Rosa’s momma a nice Mother’s Day plant; yes, they celebrate Mother’s Day in Italy. 

On other topics of the day and over the past week, I am getting excited about my next move, but I have been asked not to start the countdown, so I guess I will wait, but secretly, I am counting down, 53, 52, 51…... We all like to countdown to special events as they are important markers in our lives, just like making lists of the things we want, need, must do and so forth. It gives us ways to organize our lives and over the next 6 weeks or so, I will be doing that, besides putting together my client’s travel portfolios, and sending out the documents. Yes, if possible, I still do that, and yes, I am also in the 21st century, so the clients will also have an electronic version. Many of my clients still want something tangible for their hard-earned dollars, so I want to make sure they have it. This summer, it will be all electronic, but maybe documents attended to personally. We will see. Returning to Minnesota soon, not in the plans for now, but maybe in the fall. I am not settled here in New Hampshire either but enjoying the temporary digs for now. In 6 to 12 months from now, who knows, but I know where I want to be!!!

I am still as the store and the jetlag, especially earlier this week was intense, but I am getting back into a routine, once again. I know, and I am not looking for sympathy, ha-ha, because I had time with Rosa. She even said though, it was too short a time. I agree. The next few days, away from the store and probably good, since I am amazingly busy with business. Not complaining, just trying the balance life, but we all do. And, yesterday, I had my 2nd booster shot of Moderna, so I am protected again, and besides, the rules say that after 270 days, you need to be boosted to travel to many places. Even if you do not need a negative Covid test. Hear that US Government, Drop the requirement!!! You are hurting my industry and most other destinations have dropped that requirement. I did not want to take a chance since I will be elsewhere this summer. Not letting the kitty out of the burlap, but you probably already guessed or perhaps, I have already shared. The lines get blurred and sometimes I forget, but now I have 3 stickers on my card and a signature for the first booster I received just before Thanksgiving last year, so I am set for now. I truly believe we are out of the pandemic, and this will be endemic, so be prepared, like your flu shot for an annual booster and they figure out how we will live with Covid for the eternity. 
The news of the week includes the craziness that is Ukraine, of course, which I do hope ends soon. I realize I have said this before, and I am sure all agree. I don’t want to see this escalate and I am glad that the world is supporting Ukraine. The more important issues are with the airlines for me and all the crazy schedule changes and cancellations. As I have been in this industry for nearly 25 years, I am used to schedule changes and cancellations, but this year, with airlines not able to retool fast enough, equipment and personnel, it is insane. Hearing that Virgin Atlantic had to return a flight because of a co-pilot that was not prepared or that British Airways has cancelled flights wholesale or United cancelling tons of flights in June to different destinations is a constant headache. Getting everything and everyone back online after the pandemic is seemingly an impossible task. Yes, many aircraft were mothballed, and many employees were furloughed, but it is time to try to move a bit faster in getting back to “normal”, whatever normal is. Those in the ivory towers of these airlines should have been more forward thinking and had to understand that things would get better sooner than later, but they all seem to have been caught off guard. 
Yes, I know there are many who do not want to go back to work, but frankly I have no sympathy for those of you, unless you have a legitimate reason, however that this defined. I worked and found work during the pandemic and did what I had to do. Full disclosure that I did collect unemployment for the first time in my 45-year work life, for 2 whole months. I had to, since both my sources of income were cut off, but I was still looking and as soon as I did find something and did back on the payroll, I stopped collecting. It is time to get my industry up and running fully without all of the barriers and getting back to some semblance of normalcy. 
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!!!