Freedom from the Pandemic

 When the pandemic first hit, and I was sheltering-in-place with my husband and kids 24/7, I was tempted to feel trapped. I mean, really – 24/7? It was a lot to take.

Then, I asked myself, “What’s the opportunity here?”

After all, I was working remotely. I didn’t have to commute to the office. I have a WiFi hotspot on my phone, so I can work from anywhere. Likewise, my kids were learning remotely, and they could do that from anywhere as well. We could go anywhere and do anything.

So, my family and dog jumped into our Yukon XL and we set out to explore America – safely and socially distanced, of course.

Road Trip 

Pre-COVID, I had always done a lot of traveling, but most of it was by plane, and it had been a long time since I’d been on a road trip. I have to say: this country is huge! It’s also filled with amazing natural wonders.

We took a month to go from the San Francisco Bay Area to the east coast, traveling first to Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Grand Canyon. 

Then, we traveled north to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Twin Falls, Idaho. We were awe-struck, as each sight was more stunning than the last.

In Zion, the mountains were dramatic and lustrous, launching into the sky in shades of buff, burnt chestnut, ochre, and chocolate. In Bryce, the contrast between the vast azure blue sky against deep sun-bleached canyons made me catch my breath.

Then, we arrived at Yellowstone National Park, one of the highlights of the trip east. The hot springs were stunning for their sheer variety and the brilliant colors shining in their depths.

One day, as we were driving from one place to another, we were stopped by Bison crossing the road. Seriously. Right in front of us. And they were so big and powerful and majestic and beautiful. There were even baby Bison with them.

And can’t you just hear this Elk bugling?

You don’t see that in Redwood City, California.

As we continued to travel east, I loved being able to work or take a meeting while in the car, sometimes even stopping at a hotel for a day if I needed to be sure of my internet connection. My children and I had to fulfill our obligations, after all. But I felt so free.

We arrived on the east coast at Niagara Falls, then made our way south to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where our family rented a house on the beach for two months. I grew up in Charlotte and my family used to rent a house on Myrtle Beach when I was a child, so it brought back wonderful memories. 

I enjoyed getting up at Sunrise and taking my dog for a walk on the beach.

At night, I’d walk the beach with my husband, with no agenda or schedule.

There is nothing that makes me feel more free than the beach life – looking out over the ocean and enjoying the passing of the day and the seasons.

For the most part, we just worked and studied there in Myrtle Beach, only venturing out for day trips once or twice. Over Thanksgiving, we went to Okracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks and had our Thanksgiving celebration at the Okracoke Oyster Company restaurant. Instead of the traditional Thanksgiving fare, we opted for delicious raw oysters as an appetizer and some amazing crab-stuffed flounder for dinner. So good!

The Road Home

As December ended, we headed home, this time taking the southern route through New Orleans, Louisiana, and on to San Antonio, Texas – where we spent Christmas – and finally home.

I feel incredibly grateful for the entire experience. If not for shelter-in-place, and not wanting to fly due to COVID, would we have done this road trip? Doubtful. That would have been a shame because we created memories together that my children can think back on for the rest of their lives.

Was our family lovey-dovey during the entire trip? Umm… that would be a no. We’re a family, after all.

But we did get a bigger world view and saw how vast our nation is. Each day, with each new experience, we expanded our vision of what’s possible, and we shed the illusion of being trapped by the pandemic.

When you think big and go big, the distractions and limitations that come into our daily lives pale in significance. Is shelter-in-place a hassle? Certainly. But through this trip, my family and I got to experience an important life lesson:

“You can suffer from a life experience, or

you can learn from it, move on and thrive.

 The choice of how you react to an experience is yours.”

– Sid Smith

You are free to choose. Choose freedom – safely and socially distanced, of course!