Destination Portugal: The Beginning

 It had been nearly three long years since my wife Mary and I traveled to Greece. In the next two years, we had planned trips to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Life, as most travelers knew it, had come to a standstill. We were able to take several day trips to nearby state parks to take in the fall foliage or visit the Louisville, Cincinnati, and Columbus zoos. An overnight trip was to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for some Smoky Mountain scenery. Our big journey was a long and memorable weekend at Mackinac Island, Mich., to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. 

Portugal flag

But we still longed to return to Europe. When it appeared that travel to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia wasn't going to happen, we changed our destination plans to Portugal. But we still weren't sure it would happen as strict protocols for international travel were in place because of the pandemic.

We counted down the days to departure in February, knowing that the tour could be canceled at any time. Then we were notified the trip was on, but with conditions. We had to have a negative Covid-19 test within three days of departure and we had to complete locator forms for Portugal.

Arriving in Porto

Our tests were negative, but we had difficulty submitting the required information to the host country. Because of that, our airline wouldn't let us board until it was completed. Without getting into the complicated details, we were fortunate to have a tech-savvy young man at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky., help complete the needed form. We were on our way -- to Chicago, Zurich, and Porto.

We were told the forms would be required at our final stop, but that wasn't the case as we retrieved our luggage and met our attentive guide inside the terminal. Then we were whisked to the hotel to officially begin our Portuguese adventure with fellow travelers and soon-to-be friends.

In the coming days, I'll share something about our various stops in Portugal. I hope you come along for the trip.

Until the next time . . . 

So Long 2021

At my age, I'm not one who wishes my life away, but I must admit that I'm glad  2021 is behind me.

It wasn't a particularly bad eight months of the year for me as a writer because I had two novels published — Make Room for Family on February 1 and Reunion of Familiar Strangers on September 1. I also had several successful book-signing events and the novels have had reasonably well online sales.

However, since September, I've been at a loss for words. And that's not good for a writer. It was my hope to get reenergized in November in the National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, but I produced only 5,000 or so words the first few days before zoning out to an empty wasteland.

Even with this blog,  I only posted three times in the past four months, and this will be the fourth if it sees daylight before midnight. 

My goal is to get refocused and get back to writing beginning Jan. 1. During these semi-barren months, I have been thinking about the sixth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series. I believe I have some ideas to proceed. Only time will tell. 

I confess that I get moody about things swirling around me, such as the seemingly never-ending COVID-19 virus that has affected lives in countless ways. I especially feel for those who have lost loved ones to the deadly disease which has claimed nearly 825,000 lives among the 54 million cases in the U.S. (globally, nearly 5.4 million deaths and almost 283 million cases) And sadly, more will die in the coming months. My unsolicited advice is to be vaccinated, if not for yourself, then for those who care about in your life. At the very least, wear a mask. Their lives may depend on it. 

The political turmoil in the United States hasn't lifted my spirits. I worry that the damage done will take years to repair. I fear the future that my sons, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and others may face as our democracy appears to be on the brink of collapse.

 I hope America will experience a great awakening, a renewed spirit in creating "a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity" before it's too late. 

While I wasn't able to write a lot, I did read a lot. More than 30 books in the Goodreads reading challenge. I plan to do the same in 2022.

You've probably heard the aphorism that "writers write." That's what this writer will be doing in 2022. And a lot of other things in the new normalcy.

I wish you success, health, and happiness as we embark on a new year. 

Until the next time . . .

Sayonara 2020

It's almost over,  2020 that is.

It's the year that will live in infamy around the world as millions of lives have been disrupted, put on hold, or come to a heartbreaking end, by the coronavirus pandemic. In my lifetime, it's difficult to remember any event that has had such a far-reaching effect for such a long time.

I recall the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when it appeared that much of the world was on the brink of nuclear annihilation. There have been other health scares but they didn't reach the proportion and magnitude of the ever-expanding COVID-19 outbreak that promises to be around for the foreseeable future.

Several economic meltdowns impacted many lives but didn't leave thousands dead or massive suffering in their wake. And there have been weather catastrophes, but they've been limited, for the most part, to specific parts of the world. Unless, of course, we view climate change as an Earth-altering phenomenon.

There's been political turmoil that has left people upset, angry, or sad, depending on one's views. Can the new year bring about civility and healing? Or will people wallow in their hate and divisiveness?  

I don't know what 2021 will bring in the coming months. COVID-19 vaccines are being dispersed throughout the world, but with 7 billion inhabitants, that may take a while. I should receive mine in February (I guess age has its privileges in some instances). It brings about a glimmer of hope that life will eventually return to some degree of normalcy.

The past year hasn't been a total wash for me. My wife and I have been relatively healthy (no COVID-19). I've been able to see my sons and their families. I had occasional visits with good friends (keeping a safe distance, of course). I've made a few instate day trips to help satisfy my photography habit. I completed one novel (to be published Feb. 1) and wrote the first draft of another. And I was able to complete some things on my wife's neverending honey-do list.

If things go as planned (do they ever?), my wife and I will travel to eastern Europe this spring, a trip that was postponed in 2020. And if the overall outlook gets even brighter (a hopeless optimist?), we may visit Portugal in the fall.  We're also looking at some domestic trips, perhaps to Washington, D.C., or the far western states. Only time will tell.

I'm also looking forward to extended time with family and friends. A few hugs and shared laughter will serve as a strong tonic to move on with our lives in 2021 and beyond. It'll be nice to return to favorite restaurants and movie theaters, to be among others, if still at a safe distance and probably with masks. I also miss music concerts and theatre productions which I hope will return in the new year. 

I'm ready to put 2020 behind me, much like I do other years, and move ahead on life's journey. How about you?

Until the next time . . .

Show Some Respect and Keep Your Distance

I've been out several times during the pandemic, going to the pharmacy, supermarket, hardware store, or a restaurant's drive-thru or curbside service. 

I always wear a mask. And I try to maintain a safe distance from others when I'm inside a store. Even in my neighborhood, when I take my dogs for a short walk, I keep a respectful space from others that I encounter.

One thing I've noticed in stores is that most people wear a mask and try to maintain the six-foot safe distance from others. But there are a few out who are defiant of these simple measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

I've read and seen on TV and social media that these poor souls feel that it's an infringement of their freedom. Does that freedom include the right to spread germs and endanger the lives of others? 

That's utterly stupid. And, in my opinion, they look stupid in businesses and other public places by not wearing a mask. They stand out like clueless clowns.

When I encounter those ingrates in stores, I don't say a word because I sense they will become unhinged and begin to cry about these "unjust" these safety measures on their shallow lives. They spew enough bombastic rhetoric as it is without compounding it with spraying COVID-19 into the air.  

But I do try to make eye contact, if possible, and go in a different direction. I avoid them, pardon the expression, like the plague. If they're trying to make a statement about their right to spread a silent disease, then I'm doing the same by steering clear of them. And I hope they notice. 

It's a matter of respect. Those who refuse to wear a mask don't respect or care about the well-being of others.  And I refuse to show the unmasked blockheads any respect.

For those who need a refresher on how to protect yourself and others during the pandemic, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines by clicking here.

In the meantime, stay healthy and safe.

Until the next time . . .