Editor:
After an extended stay in Central America, travelling home during a pandemic was a surreal experience.
I was keeping my fingers crossed that my two-day journey to get home was still going to be possible. With the sheer chaos at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, and four to five-hour-long lineups, I was groaning about what I might have to face there as I would have to overnight before catching my flight to B.C. the next morning. However, the most important thing to me was to just get home.
There were probably about 25 empty seats from CR to Dallas and other than that the flight was uneventful. Getting up in the morning at the airport hotel, they had provided me with my TSA pre-check and boarding pass. Imagine my shock, when I saw no one at the check-in counter other than a few passengers and proceeded to the TSA area for screening.
Despite my having an N95 mask and sanitizer, and doing everything I could aboard the plane, it was an extremely difficult time to have to travel, realizing how many objects you touch with your hands and put your hands to your face. I was using my dinner napkin to open and close the bathroom door the one time I had to use it. Passengers’ eyes narrowed as I had to pass them to get down the aisle, trying not to touch them.
I was relieved to arrive at YVR to a beautiful day and zero lineups again through immigration and to collect my luggage.
My first Uber ride from the airport to Horseshoe Bay was $52 instead of close to $100. My angel of a neighbour picked me up from the ferry while I voluntarily sat in the backseat. She was also kind enough to put a few essentials in my refrigerator and turn the heat up the day before, to allow me to come home to a cosy warm house. She also provided information on how to stock my pantry and fridge with groceries.
After a quick call to receive information from the delightful girl at the IGA, I prepared my list. My order was completed and she called me to arrange payment by credit card.
I confirmed with Persephone Brewing that they actually had volunteer drivers to pick up your groceries and deliver them to your front door. I spoke with a young lady there by the name of Roseanne, who was thrilled and delighted that they were participating in this volunteer program and so happy to help out seniors like myself, and those under strict self-quarantine, and people who need them delivered.
Emma, from the Fisherman’s Market at the Gibsons Public Market, was happy to fill my order of sablefish that is on sale this month (and I did not want to miss it) and even delivered it to my door on her way home from work.
I just wanted to give a personal shout out to these wonderful people who made my arrival back to the Sunshine Coast a fabulous and worry-free experience.
And obviously to all those extremely brave, hard-working people around the world who are putting their lives at risk so others can survive this pandemic.
Frances Vandenberg, Gibsons
