A New Reality
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Lest we forget, it was one year ago today the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel Coronavirus-19 a Global Pandemic. How many of us really thought it would last this long? I was an optimist and thought it would soon pass. My pragmatic mate figured it would be months. We were both wrong as this monstrous attack on our health and well-being continues still. The disruption to our lives and livelihoods is immense.
Do you remember where you were or what you were doing when you heard the news. When did you realize how topsy-turvy our lives would become? We were aboard Holland America’s MS Koningsdam, happily cruising the Caribbean Islands. On the 10th of March we were touring Castries, St. Lucia. The next day, the Port of Basseterre in St. Kitts closed to all cruise ships. And so, rather than docking, we spent the day of March 11th at sea. We did dock in Charlotte-Amalie, St. Thomas (a U.S. Territory) on March 12th. It was a somber day as we strolled the town. We had just learned our follow-on cruise to the Southern Caribbean aboard the Celebrity Silhouette was canceled. World-wide, ALL cruises were canceled effective March 15th. As we made plans to get home from our suddenly aborted itinerary, THAT was the moment we knew the world would change.
Today, we like to think that, on a personal basis, we coped with this crisis well. But who knows??? It will take time to sort out the effects of this global catastrophe.
And so, it is with hopeful hearts and sincere well-wishes as we receive our vaccines and begin the return to normalcy that we wish you relief and joy; the contentment of reuniting with friends and family; and the joyful prospect of resuming our lives.
This may be a very unhappy anniversary.
But with the assorted vaccines in increasing production, we can look forward to happy days ahead.
RovingRaconteurs.com 