desires and consequences

we wanted COVID lockdowns to end...

Certainly along major portions of the eastern seaboard the weather this long weekend is glorious (apparently the southeast excepted due to Nicole hitting Florida and points north). People see this bonus ‘outdoor’ weekend as a draw to get out their fishing rods, attend the Navy-Notre Dame game in Baltimore, or collect the leaves which are weighing down the remaining green spots in their yards.

Many people clearly want to travel as well. But, that is no longer a pleasant experience for many of us as we have raised our expectations while not our willingness to recognise everyone else raised expectations as well. Planes are jammed as people rush to recoup the time they lost doing distant things during the pandemic. Parking lots are full as they arrive at the airport. TSA lines for screening are extended. Queues for food options are astronomically long. Waiting areas at the gate are crowded and lots of flights seem late. Everything is more expensive as well as we all know. Oh, and someone likely cut you off as your drove to the airport or train station.

This is ‘actions causing consequences’ at its best. People have apparently synchronised their travel plans without capacities returning to the full level of pre-pandemic levels. Everything thus seems stressed, physically and mentally. Frustration results and grumbling abounds.

We will work through this but it will take a longer while than we expected. In the meantime, enjoy your days off, slow down slightly to lower your stress, and realise how lucky we are that we no longer face the daunting COVID environment we did a mere 24 months ago. FIN