IT Can't Wait

IT was quite irresponsible. Two kids in college. A couple of trips already on the calendar that were going to chew up pretty much all of my available vacation time for the year (and a chunk of savings). And yet, there IT was…a deal too good to ignore.

My wife and I were halfway through a bottle of Cabernet on a cold December night. We had just come through a very difficult few months. And there IT was. IT was just daring us to not take advantage. A trip to Barcelona. 4 days, 3 nights – Airfare (direct out of JFK), hotel, breakfast, and transfers – For a price that looked like a mere flight to Florida in February.

IT seemed too good to be true. Gotta be a bunch of hidden fees. The hotel must be rat-infested in the “bad” section….on and on we opined about IT. We continued to research, and the bottle continued to empty. Airline? – American – CHECK – Hotel? – Excellent ratings and 10 minutes from the Gothic Section or Segrada Familia – Hidden Fees? – NONE.

Bottle emptied – Courage full…We bought the tickets for the first week in February.

We ordered up some gear for our trip. We were watching the news – Something weird going on in China. Glad that we aren’t going anywhere near there we thought to ourselves. As our travel date approached, the news out of China was pretty bad. The timing was concerning because of the Chinese New Year. and all of the travel that occurs worldwide as a result of the holiday.

Just as we were getting a little more concerned we had heard that China had greatly curtailed travel to other parts of the world. We didn’t know what this virus was, but we knew that we wanted to keep far away.

The Redeye flight was actually not as awful as one would have thought given the cost. We touched down in Barcelona to a nearly deserted airport. Only one other flight. From Shanghai!

This would be my first real “gut-check” regarding Covid-19. Every single passenger on the other jet was wearing a face mask. Every single airport employee was wearing a mask and surgical gloves. The concept of “Social Distancing” had not even been talked about at this point. What had we gotten ourselves into???

Covid-19 is the sledgehammer of enlightenment on the thumbtack of complacency.

Well, the short answer is that we had gotten ourselves into a wonderful four-day escape! Beautiful weather. Fantastic Food and drink. And the sights, oh my! (No, don’t worry, I’m not going to break into my Snapfish Account and share hundreds of photos with you!). The point is one we’ve heard most of our lives, and Covid-19 is like the sledgehammer of enlightenment on the thumbtack of complacency.

Those two other “big trips” I had planned? Gone – Poof…just like that. And, who knows when the next one will be. But, that quick trip to Barcelona? IT will help to keep the travel bug satiated until the next opportunity.

There is no good segue for this, but as I was putting this together, I learned of the sudden passing of my former neighbor. I knew George for a quarter of a century. Truly a salt-of-the-earth type of guy. He WOULD give you the shirt off his back. Covid-19 didn’t get him. He passed away unexpectedly at just 66 years old. He was just getting ready to retire. He was preparing to do whatever IT was that he planned for in retirement.

So, don’t wait. PLEASE DON’T WAIT! As soon as the world gets back to some type of normal and you are able to do whatever your IT is. Do IT. Nike’s right – Just do IT. Until then be safe and be well.