When the summer of 2020 approached, most of us were still in some form of lock-down, and it simply oozed into our lives in most cases. Each day often folded into the next without significant distinction. Time itself became almost like a puzzle and as challenging to navigate as a Rubik’s cube. It was not today and tomorrow anymore. It had become “before” and “after” with “after” in a future too difficult to discern.
Before we knew it, Fall had fallen, and Winter had arrived. Here in Texas, Winter came with a vengeance, and our February 2021 deep freeze revealed the limits of our preparation for such an occurrence. After we thawed out and homes were repaired in the aftermath of burst pipes and worse, we woke up in March last year to the availability of vaccines and the hope of the possibility of some kind of return to normal.
And in many areas of the country and parts of our society, we slowly returned to something that would at least for a season be a new normal. A normal with masks and continued worries as the vaccines helped but did not completely stop the spread of COVID-19.
Despite the ongoing concerns and outbreaks, many of us went back to work and travel. We wore our masks between sips and bites on the plane but tucked them in our pockets in the airport food courts. The world was not quite as dystopian as some protested, but it was at least a little weird. Once again, last year, suddenly, Summer was upon us, and before we knew it, the Fall had Fallen again, and in a flash of the eye, we woke up to 2022.
At the time of this writing, we are approaching Memorial Day weekend and the coming Summer of 2022. I have read reports of concerns about new surges of the virus. One article’s headline splashed across my screen with the words, “Everybody and their grandmother has COVID’ in the SF Bay Area, but hospitals not seeing a huge surge.” It seems that COVID-19 is now part of our new normal.
So now, with Summer once again nigh, even in California, the world seems prepared to go about its business as if the new normal is business as usual.
My own summer will involve travel throughout the United States. My favorite part of my travel will be the days that will be limited to traveling to the backyard. Summer of 2020, I kind of miss you. You were nigh, and then you were gone. Here’s to the Summer of 2022.
Mark Turner (aka Coach MarkT) is a Houston, Texas Metro area based Coach who is a USA Triathlon Level II and Paratriathlon Certified Coach, IRONMAN University Certified Coach,VFS Certified Bike Fitter, and Mental Strengths Performance Coach. Coach MarkT absolutely loves coaching and helping the athletes achieve their dreams. MarkT is also a US Veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. In addition to endurance sports, his interests include history, science fiction, and cooking. He can be reached at markt@teamMPI.com.