He had spent six months poring over travel guides, buying a better map so he could see the smaller places and plot the Trip down to dates and places. He even had a spreadsheet set up which had been shared with family a few people we would visit. This was going to be a trip of a lifetime – first it was three months, then five months, then 8 months! Tickets were bought well in advance with a stop in Hong King to visit family then on to LA and Phoenix and beyond…. She was crazy busy at work – overloaded – often too tired to engage with which hotel we should stay in in the Grand Canyon, should we pay for the Airbnb now because it is a busy time when we will be there. The whole trip didn’t seem very real to her, she hadn’t lived the preparation after all. But then, returning from the annual NZ trip where she rested after such a busy year and enjoyed seeing the special people in their lives, suddenly it was actually happening – no more teaching contracts taken on to occupy her mind, no work since mid-December in fact, getting round to emailing the friends in the US, the people met on line – could we visit, YES came back enthusiastic replies! So the spreadsheet was amended with names and dates and places and she had so much time – what to do? He was working still, just a few days a week but enough to maintain a routine and distract him from the Trip momentarily during the day. He had planned to paint their house in the forest bright red – poinciana red – and February was the time to do it – all sorted, spray gun, paint, drop sheets etc etc. It took about 10 days to re-colour the cottage outside – wielding the never before used spray gun like a light sabre – using gallons of rosy red paint but so quick! Even the march flies didn’t stop progress and they felt proud. Proud of their prowess, he even suggested he might be willing to paint other people’s houses if they wanted him to. But then, the Trip was back on their minds, they had painted the house, now what? They had an extra week they hadn’t planned for before D Day – departure day…
Back in the city, they twiddled their thumbs, he realised he could have worked another week or two cause this waiting to go was testing their state of mind… the endless leading up to the Trip. News from Hong Kong wasn’t promising – no school, staying at home, wearing masks…should they still stay there, would they be allowed to fly to LA after all if they did? A whatsapp call to check – what is it really like, should we still come… Well some things are open, people are wearing masks – out of courtesy – the kids are going stir crazy but they would love to see them still. Hmmm, she felt uncomfortable, concerned, worried, she didn’t want to get stuck at an airport and have to turn back. They agreed to change their flights so they just transited HK instead, surely just a few hours at the airport would be OK?
Preparations were still on track, new suitcases purchased, after all they would be living out of them for 7 months – a bright green one and a red one sitting in the spare room, little piles growing on the spare bed, warmer clothes for winter, enough medications for 7 months away – she had visited two chemists to get what she needed – convincing herself as she explained to the dispenser that yes its only like the flu, they were just as likely to get it there as they would here, so why not?
Then the email came, we are really sorry and we want to see you but we are worried – we are in our 70’s and have some medical issues, we don’t feel comfortable with you staying with us in our house …on your first night in the states. Huuuh, well they reasoned they could understand, yes, that is fine, they understood, they would change their plans and yes the car if purchased could still be delivered there for pick up….. more emails to the next in line people to stay with…plans had changed, could we come earlier?? Her friend was then in the air on her way back from a conference that she was due to be the keynote speaker at that had been cancelled – a long trip for nothing… no response came for a day or so….. then it was the guy who was organising their car purchase via Montana. The emails had been encouraging, yes, they could buy a car via the auto auction and it would be ready for them on the day they arrived…… then a suggestion a few days later…shall we skype? OK, good idea. I am nervous about carrying the purchase debt in case you don’t come, he said…. Oh no they replied, we can forward the money, we are coming. The news wasn’t good, the virus was spreading, the government was talking about locking down but you could still fly to the US…perhaps it was more than just the flu. They sat down in the lounge the afternoon sun streaming in and talked. He still wanted to go, she was worried about getting sick in the US. What if they went and bought a car and then found themselves strangers in a small town – ostracised, or sick. You read too many books he said. They backed and forthed and she became convinced, no she did not want to go after all….. he finally agreed, knew she wouldn’t change her mind. Decision made, not going. What then? What will they do instead? Their heads were empty, like someone had died, not functioning, strangely calm….