I’m (not) leaving on a jet plane

Some of you may remember the old John Denver song, but in keeping with 2020, think it’s fair to say that most of us aren’t going anywhere on a jet plane.

Even if we did, what would there be to do? Quarantine for two weeks and go out to observe the closed museums, shuttered bars and restaurants, small businesses struggling to stay open?

You can probably tell that – like most of us – I’ve about had it with this year.

This image perfectly illustrates to me the travel situation in 2020 – empty airports.

Dulles airport/ Kimberly Sullivan
Dulles International Airport in the middle of a “busy” day – in times of COVID-19

On a normal weekday around noon, Dulles International airport – serving Washington, D.C. – is a bustling hub for traffic. On the day I flew from it this past August, it was simply sad, with its shuttered store fronts and drastically reduced passengers.

Kind of a metaphor for almost all aspects of daily life during this pandemic.

The Rome airport was slightly better, but still a mere shell of its former, bustling self.

Rome Fiumicino Airport/ Kimberly Sullivan
Not business as usual at Rome’s (usually) busy international airport

It has been a long and painful 2020.

Here’s to hoping 2021 will bring us a step closer to our pre-pandemic lives, including once again leaving on a jet plane and bidding a hearty farewell to empty airports…

Dulles international Airport / Kimberly Sullivan
Table for One (minus the people watching) – smack dab in the center of the Dulles Terminal

2 Comments

  1. ledrakenoir on December 4, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Really been an “annus horribilis” in many ways. Only uses planes in relation to work. The year 2018 and 2019 it were 132 and 143 single trip, the year 2020 a pure zero.

    • kimberlysullivan on December 5, 2020 at 9:40 am

      “Annus horribilis” sums it up perfectly. I am a pretty frequent traveler, though clearly nowhere near your levels, Ledrake. But in this bizarre 2020, it seems I have you beat. : ) Onward to (a normal?) 2021!

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