"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." T.S. Eliot
Yesterday, I had my first post-vaccine lunch with friends, who have also completed their vaccination process. We live in different cities and have several years of history of meeting up half-way, whenever I am in the Los Angeles area. It has been a long time, well over a year, since I have driven the one and a half hour route to the mid-point city. I have only rarely driven outside the immediate neighborhood during the strict stay-at-home orders in LA County. Now I had to think in the way of "travel" that once was second nature to me, but had become a shadowy memory in the daily pressures of a Pandemic household. I rummaged through boxes and found a small travel bag for my spare mask, hand sanitizer, paper towels, phone charger, etc. I slowly reviewed the route on the computer, which involved shifting exits for I-210, Hwy. 57, Hwy. 71, Hwy. 91 to I-15. (Southern California commutes simply can't be compared to New Mexico. ) I watched with wonder my clouded process of organizing what I needed. Then there was the challenging chore of finding something appropriate to wear...my daily crocs and jeans did not seem "special" enough for this journey...
I write all this just to make the point that as restrictions lift, the transition zone is not automatic. We have all been jolted into new routines and demands. Vaccination, as the public health officials frequently remind us, means some recovered freedom, but also the continued responsibility of self-protection and community protection of the unvaccinated.
The drive itself was strange, alternating between surreal and familiar. There was plenty of California traffic, but still, less than previous years. Our favorite comfortable restaurant was gone, but we found a perfect outdoor dining, mask promoting spot. These are friends whose spiritual journeys intertwine with mine. Reconnecting was immediate, giving a solid spiritual perspective to our Pandemic experiences. We laughed a lot, even as we exchanged the deeper issues of our lives. It was so natural. Yet, I watched my own uncertainty flare as we tried to keep the health protocols in place while exploring new places. Constant vigilance seems the new natural too. In the late afternoon, we discovered the perfect bakery--all protocols in place and heavenly treats as well! I drove those winding freeways home, renewed in spirit, ready to begin again. (Susan Nettleton)