By Shannon Williams
Well I did it !! I got on an airplane after not flying since late February of 2020. Is it different, yes!! But does it still get you into the arms of those you love, YES!! Of course, the biggest change is wearing a mask all of the time. While I have done well with wearing a mask when I go out, I have not been out much, so I was concerned of how I would do wearing a mask most of a day. Like many of you, I have tried several types of face coverings during this past year. I have all kinds, just plain surgical mask, a knock off N 95 (they call it a N90!) ones that you use with a headband, face shields and face shield with eyeglass frames, and a ton of fabric masks. The knock off N95 was the easiest to wear for a long period of time and I think it was due to the cone shape and thus it gives you some room and not on your face. I did like the headband with buttons that I used to get it off my ears. After the first day, it was not an issue and in fact it just became routine. I had planned on wearing a face shield with the mask, but that did not work, it was just more of a pain. I do like the face shields but I kept having to adjust it while I was walking in the airports with my hands full and so I dropped that plan and just wear a good fitting mask.

The airports were packed and lots of small children, I figured now that many grandparents have gotten their vaccine, they want to see their grandchildren and thus lots of young families flying, so lots of little kids and some were unhappy and expressed it on the plane and in the airports. I usually try to avoid traveling during peak vacation times, for many reasons and upset kids is one. I guess it just stresses me out as I had an unhappy child a few times on a plane and there is nothing worse, they are unhappy, everyone is looking at you to stop it, and it just goes on!!

The planes and airports were full!! No more middle seat being held empty!! And they don’t let you drink on the plane, now I am not really a drinker and don’t drink on planes, but many people do and it settles them down. BUT they are not serving any drinks and tell you if you brought one on you cannot drink it. I flew two different airlines and they both, had very limited beverages and they wanted you to hold up your fingers for what you want, and yes, they only had four choices. Snacks were about the same, but they have not been anything special for a few years! The people who work in the airport and related travel business, are happy to be back at work, you can tell it and they tell you. I ended up flying in or out of 5 different airports on two different airlines to get everywhere I need to go. Three of the airports had very limited shops and restaurants that were open. It appeared that some might not being opening back up as they had nothing inside, but a few were just closed and it looked as if they had not been open for a while. But Denver airport was wide open and filled with people!

Hotels are kind of strange, too. I hate not having daily housekeeping!! After a long day working, I really enjoyed coming back to a clean room; so now, I just picked up my own room and exchanged my towels each day. Renting a car was a little different, you don’t see anyone, just show up grab your car and the same when you return it. They put a sticker on your drivers’ door that is supposed to prove it was cleaned and that no one got in there. One of the things that made this trip a little stressful is that a bunch of my travel apps had dropped off my phone. I guess my phone had updated and they did not reappear. So, I was without my biggest helper (my travel apps) during my trip, as I had to download them again, and could not recall many of the passwords. I also found that some gave you the same travel status you had prior to COVID and some acted as if you had dropped off the face of the earth as you had not used them in a year. But all in all, it was not bad. After a year with nothing on my calendar, I am filling up with fun things to do, work trips and things I want to attend. So off I go mask in hand and hitting the road, got to work on those travel apps, so I can use the points and go fun places!!!

I hope that if you are a traveler that you jump back into the travel waters and be safe as you do. Life is just better when you see other places and new things and most of all meet new people and hug those you love that are far away.

[April-19-2021]