On Vacation

Sunset in Cuba, from our 2017 trip.

Today, DW and I are away.

We have finally climbed aboard an aircraft for the first time since before the pandemic and gotten away from Canada. The last time we were on an airplane, together, was in April of 2019, when we were returning home after spending a week in the Mayan Riviera, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary.

The last time I've flown was when I went to South Korea, in May, 2019, on my own.

But today, we have gone back to Cuba, where we'll spend the next week soaking in the warm Caribbean sun, snorkeling, swimming, relaxing, eating, and drinking.

I have to admit that at times, I didn't think this was going to happen. In the weeks—and then days—leading up to our departure, my stress levels have gone through the roof. I wasn't sure I wanted to board a plane. Wasn't sure if I'd be comfortable at a resort that would be filled with total strangers. I didn't want to be in a country where my Internet access was limited, where I'd be cut off from news outside my resort.

There were even times when my anxiety took over my rationale, when I would tell myself that I was going to bail on DW, was going to stay at home while she headed south. We have a friend who is joining us on this trip: let him keep her company.

But I've fought through my stress and we're now on our way. I'm hopeful that once we've touched down at the Holguin airport, have boarded the bus that will shuttle us straight to our resort, and have checked into our room, I'll feel better. We're there to be pampered, to de-stress, and to find some semblance of a normal, pandemic-free vacation.

Time will tell. A sunny beach won't hurt. Alcohol may help.

I'll have more to share after the Christmas holidays—probably, in January. There will be no new blog posts while I'm away but The Brown Knowser will return for my annual holiday posts, starting on December 20. If you follow me on Twitter, I'll also point you to some posts from the past throughout my absence, thanks to scheduled tweets.

With any luck, DW and I will have a safe and relaxing trip, accompanied by our friend. Fingers crossed that we test negative for COVID-19 or any of its variants when we're ready to head home. (We'll be as careful as possible: I don't even like to get close to strangers under normal circumstances.)

And fingers are also crossed that Ottawa isn't socked with a snowstorm before we return, leaving a huge mess in the driveway.

Happy Friday!