This past week I time traveled to February 2021. That's at least how it felt in Mexico City, Mexico. The call came abruptly last week - that I needed to travel internationally for work. If I had my way, I would not have left the country in 2021 - while some of my friends have been itching to leave, I've been devoid of that emotion. I'm actually content staying in Los Angeles where things have finally turned in the right direction. But I told myself that this was a "good opportunity" for myself. Go and make an impact. The leadership team will see what you did. So I went and it was everything I expected it to be. When I arrived in Mexico City, the mask mandate was still in effect - temperature checks happened everywhere - in the hotel, in the office building I went to and in some stores. I had to wear a mask nearly every waking moment of the day because the people I needed to meet with were unvaccinated...not my choice but because the government has not expanded eligibility to their age group. It was a stark reminder about how the United States's position differs from the rest of the world. My first morning at breakfast, the man socially distanced from me mentioned he was Europe but had flown to Mexico City so he could get a vaccine in the United States. And when I arrived back in the United States today, literally the first sign I saw was the photo above. Again, I found it ironic because the United States forced me to jump through hoops to emigrate back - get a negative COVID test within 48 hours of arrival only to offer free shots at the airport. We are giving shots away to foreigners but people in our own country don't even want to get vaccinated. What boils my blood is those people unwilling to get shots who mess with my life. So, in summary, COVID messed with my life a lot this week. I have never been so thankful to be back in the United States.
July 2, 2021
This week was watching all the angry hornets fly out of the nest! I was as shocked as any one as the events at the Capital unfolded. It will take time to quiet the buzzing...I believe the nest was kicked one too many times and the swarm that’s been building for awhile was unleashed. I have friends who have been glued to their TVs... I chose not to take that route for my own sanity...when you are shown something a number of times the theory goes you will be desensitized.... I think in this instance too much “information” has created a state of “over-sensitized” for both those inside and outside the nest...one side spilling out and attacking, and the other watching in disbelief with a sadness that left many depressed and unable to sleep. First amendment rights are one thing, and a glorious part of our tradition, but when you hear someone answer “my President told me to”, you’ve got to wonder where it went wrong...
January 23, 2021