The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

The day has come, and this is the test; am I ready to travel maskless?

I had an early morning flight scheduled for my next sojourn to Los Angeles this last Monday. It’s a dreadful time to wake up and make it to the airport, but it’s nice to get into Los Angeles around noon. More time to hang with friends and eat sushi.

But, as luck would have it, I received a text from the airline around midnight advising me that the flight was canceled. They rebooked me to a flight leaving on Tuesday afternoon and arriving in Los Angeles around 10 p.m. Considering my appointments were scheduled for seven hours before my arrival time, I was on the phone immediately to beg for a solution.

A wonderful airline representative changed my flight to one that fits my schedule. So here I am on my first flight sans the mask mandate. I am sitting on the plane with my mask on, next to someone chomping on gum, mouth agape, and coughing!

I guess my question is answered; I am not ready to travel maskless. If I had been on the 7:00 a.m. flight, I’m not sure I would be awake enough to care. But, this afternoon, standing next to coughers, spitters, and drooling babies, I care.

I’m not the only one not ready for bare-faced travel because I noticed about one-third of the passengers were also masked. There is comfort in numbers. I’ve always been a fan of remaining inconspicuous, except when I brag on Facebook about my success on Wordle. Solving the puzzle in fewer than four guesses is braggable.

Full disclosure, when they offered me a beverage on the plane, I took the mask off and enjoyed the wine. I wore a white shirt and drank red wine in turbulence without spilling a drop. Will wonders never cease?

Before leaving on this very quick trip, I planted some of the tomato plants gifted to me, and I sincerely hope they survive without my constant oohing and aaahing over them. Typically, when I first put in the season’s new plants, I spend hours making sure they are damp but not drowning, planted properly so they won’t bend in the breeze, and generally are looking happy. There are more tomatoes still to plant after I am home on Wednesday (assuming flights aren’t cancelled). I will do the ceremonious cooing over the new ones along with those already planted.

Daniel has been so consumed with the deck he’s building, that he has stuck to his decision not to plant anything before May 1st.

However, he has accused me of planting lettuce in his strawberry patch. I didn’t; it must have been the birds, wind, or other random occurrence. Of course, he doesn’t believe me. He swears I’m crazy! But, if my app is correct, we now have blackberries, an elderberry tree, and wild violets growing that I didn’t plant, and I’m happy they’re growing. Thank you, birds and wind.

I am still somewhat amazed at the plants that made it through this winter, especially the April snow. I was sure I would lose most of my garden. But, somehow, the seeds are sprouting, the lettuce has returned (in various places), and the mini-irises are already blooming.

Masked or not, Mother Nature recognizes me as the one in awe of my garden’s perseverance. And everyone knows: Masked or not, you can’t fool Mother Nature!