Obi and I left NYC on July 3rd. A Delta flight. Guaranteed clean, disinfected and half full. We had face masks packed and could feel the hot breath in the one we wore. Boarding passes printed, bag checked, counter wiped and sprayed. TSA security were half asleep – the airport was barren. Shoes off, bags X-rayed and cleared we waited at the gate snacks in hand. Obi begins reading, on his phone comfortable to sit and wait, as I pace up and down (on the phone with Hotels.com trying to get reimbursed for the rooms we booked in North and South Carolina which we cancelled due to the quarantine issued from the Governor) – until we are called to board. Face masks and more disinfectant wipes greet us with a warm smile as we board the plane. We inhabit two side by side seats. Window and isle, room above for my bags and room in front for my feet. We brought Clorox wipes to clean the tray table, seatbelt and any other surface areas we might engage with. Face masks, on. Face masks, on. Face masks, on, even though I sneezed. Face masks, on, between snacks. Face masks, on during lift off and landing. Face masks, on, in the bathroom. Face masks, on, at 10,000 feet. Face masks, on. We landed about 40 minutes early, maybe we flew faster because there were less people on the plane so given that we weighed less we could fly faster – hehe, isn’t that how it works? St. Louis was hot – just what I was expecting and eager to feel. Our car rental was upgraded because they ran out of economy cars – lucky us, I guess! It seems road trips are the way to go right now – a COVID solution to traveling during a pandemic? Again, we took Clorox wipes and cleaned as much of the surface area as one wipe could handle. I rubbed until it felt nearly dry. Our cool blue car with silver highlights, Obi and I cruise on out of the airport ready for our adventure to continue. Our first stop was an impromptu stop to see Grace, Obi’s mom. From her freshly cut grass we stood apart, sharing air hugs and blowing kisses many feet apart. We dropped off some gifts at her door step which she left untouched for 24 hours until she told me she was ready to start eating the salted nuts I know she loves from the food coop in Brooklyn. In St. Louis we spent time with Chike and Rachel – Obi’s brother and sister-in-law. They have a beautiful home in which we enjoyed some Chicago style deep dish pizza in their lawn. I had this pizza the last time I was in St. Louis and have dreamed about it ever since. They do a great flavorful sauce and a cheese stuffed crust, ha, tasty indeed! With Chike and Rachel we also went to visit the St. Louis zoo which is free to everyone – though we did need to make an appointment which was helpful in reducing the number of people around you as you peered into the exhibits. The zoo day was hot, very hot and I discovered how uncomfortable wearing sunglasses and a face mask together were. The elastic band paired with the weight of the glasses put pressure on my ears which I can feel in my head. I was constantly adjusting the two in hopes of finding a safe and comfortable medium. But, there is nothing one can do about the sweat which accumulates under your chin from the mask – lifting the mask for a small breeze to blow in helps. The animals were feeling the heat for sure – aside from the mating tortoise who were active and loud and a mother kangaroo bounding around with her baby’s head and front legs sticking out of it’s pouch – the lion, gorilla, camels, hyenas, rhino and large pigs were practically stone still in the small shady spot their terrain afforded them. Often we peered into an area only to turn away saying, “It looks empty.” The hippos and elephants had the right idea plunging themselves into the water and staying put. Throughout the zoo were many barricades so as to keep visitors from touching the glass displays or fences, and all of the sculptures one would naturally be inclined to climb on, as a small kid or me (for example) were wrapped up or also blocked deterring any curious explores. Aside from these necessary precautions the general tone was cheerful and the compelling thought that we would see an unusual animal propelled us along. The four of us also ventured to a near by sculpture park which afforded me the rare opportunity to see a wild owl. Rachel spotted it as it landed nearby – it was a large brown spotted owl – in charge of the branch and surely watching us. That owl made me feel so good inside – I appreciated it’s freedom and flight. Face masks, and with hands that smelled like disinfectant spray – I stared up at the owl – knowing it was a good luck sign.
It’s been over a year since I started this post (the first paragraphs was written in July 2020) – now, nearly a year later July 2021 I am bringing closure. Maybe the fact that I never finished writing about our trip was my own way of rejecting more time on a screen after having just spent the last four months on a screen from morning till night as COVID changed the world. The ending of the trip I started writing about above went something like this. From St.Louis Obi and I drove to Chicago to see his college friends, then up to Traverse City (my first dip in a Great Lake), a sandy dune walk where I saved Obi’s life and down to Ann Arbor for some love with my sister, her husband Will and their beautiful twin boys, Bertram Sinclair and Duncan Thomas. Obi and I were probably labeled as intrepid by some, brave by others and unsafe by a few for traveling when we did. Whatever the label was, we wanted an escape and so we found one. Now I am making sure the blog site is up and running for our new summer adventure. We’re headed to the North rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion, Vegas (for a night) and Joshua Tree. We’ll have face masks on when required, but traveling won’t be as I described above. It will feel a bit more like the owl we saw, free and adrift.
thefranimal.travel.blog 