Today, tomorrow and the day after

While writing this post, I’m sitting at one of the only open bars at Pearson International airport in Toronto having a coffee before my flight to Amsterdam. All stores are closed, and apart from a Tim Horton’s and this bar, the situation here is pretty much abandoned. A few weeks ago I also had a ticket to fly back to Amsterdam but then decided to turn around minutes before dropping my bags. The situation then felt more severe than it does now, and I didn’t want to take any chances. This time I had to take a leap of faith (that’s what it feels like) and fly back to the Netherlands. I need to be with my children for some time, see them in real life, talk with them, walk with them, dine with them - after a mandatory period of self-isolation. Unfortunately I don’t yet know when I can return to Canada to see my partner, but I consider myself lucky having a job, being healthy and being able to be in touch with her, even if only remotely for some time.

There’s hardly any people around me at the airport, and while on the phone with my partner, we heard children playing behind me. When I looked I saw two very young kids, a boy and a girl, running around waving their arms and acting silly, the way only kids can. It was a weird sight in this almost ’28 days later-esque’ airport.

With the whole world at an almost complete standstill, it’s crazy to look back to only 2 months ago, when travel was still an everyday activity, and things we always took for granted are now a cause for concern and can even lead to severe illness, sometimes, and actually even too often, with fatal consequences. Going on a walk, meeting with friends, having a nice dinner at a restaurant, none of that is to be taken for granted anymore. Certainly not now.

As so many people, I also read tons of information about the pandemic and the effects on our planet and everyone around us. What I don’t want to do, is try and predict the future or bore people with my opinions, or complain about the (perceived) lack of results of trying to find a vaccine. I’m a man of science, data and facts. And even without all the facts on the table, and so much uncertainty revolving around all of us, I do sincerely believe in the brainpower, creativity, resilience and analysis of those people who are skilled at the science behind this (or any other) deadly malady. I also don’t want to politicize the current situation, point fingers or blame people for what’s happening to everyone here on earth. It’s this sheer stupidity of people dividing rather than uniting, spreading hate, ignorance and possible violence that I absolutely fear. It fears me more than any virus ever will or any virus ever can.

So without predictions, I do have hopes for the future and only have to look behind me and see these two beautiful kids, running around waving their arms and acting silly, the way only kids can. These children are my hope.

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay strong, and as always - be kind!

(This is as close as I get to other people...)

Arjen