Rescue Mission: Traveling in the Age of Covid-19

I am writing this from the porch of my grandparent’s vacant condo in Southern Arizona. Yesterday my mother and I drove down from Colorado to come and move them back to Michigan. The whole family agreed that while we have absolutely no idea what really is best right now since this is not my grandparent’s full-time residence and it is an elderly community, that it would be best to get them away from an area that could be overwhelmed and burdened by a sudden influx of patients needing care.

At first, I was scared to travel. As the news began to get worse, I wasn’t sure if that was really in anyone’s best interest but since no one could fly as we are avoiding the airports the best course of action was to drive down and shuttle them back the entire distance by car.

It was such a bizarre experience driving that long way and not feeling safe to stop at any public place. When we had to get gas we wrapped disinfectant wipes around the gas pump handles. If we had to go pee, we just went on the side of the road 🤦🏽‍♀️‍‍‍. When we arrived I didn't hug my grandparents and I kept a safe distance for the rest of the time. That was the first time in my life that I've never given them a hello or goodbye hug and, given the situation, that's all I wanted to do.

My mother took off with them in their vehicle this morning with all their belongings packed up and their dog comfy on his bed next to grandma in the back seat. I decided to stay behind and truly isolate myself. I went and got lost in the desert this morning, while trying to chase down a stray dog. I collected hollowed out cactus for wedding decor (still looking toward the future). I went to sit in my favorite Spanish mission on the Papago reservation and it was vacant. I haven't been in contact with a single soul all day long and a feeling of peace and calmness has come over me.

I wasn't sure if this is what I needed to do but it somehow feels right. Perhaps it was that my home office back in Colorado has now become a two person space because my fiancé was also not allowed to go to work anymore and is working remotely. Perhaps it was the cold weather and snow that caused moods to altar. Perhaps it's that I had to watch my town seemingly shut down overnight and my loved ones become affected by the loss of income instantly. Perhaps it was that that's where my business is and in these uncertain times I was worried about my own financial future and what that meant for my business and the businesses of my friends. I was supposed to be in Morocco at the end of the month and that was crushing to not be able to travel abroad after so much work to plan it. So many changes in such a short time. The panic and stress was very real the last few days for me and it seems to have subsided for now.

While I don't condone running away from your problems or getting in a car and traveling across the country right now unless you were needed like I was, this little solitude has done my mind some good. So funny how we were all supposed to be Isolated but I never felt more aware of and near other people in my life than I did this last week.

I decided to take this time today before the sun sets and I go out on my photo adventure to photograph the mountains in the Sonoran Desert, to sit down and write my wedding vows. Times like these really make us take stock in who and what we love. I am grateful for so many things and I hope that you all can find some gratitude and peace today and every day going forward.

Please try not to judge others at this time. Everyone is going to experience this a little differently than the next. Please try not to be too scared. please just be safe and smart. I hope to see you and give you all very big hugs as soon as we can ❤️. Love will persevere