Season One - Episode 13 - A Visit To The Parents

Hi, you are listening to The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Our Lives from Podcast Pioneers. Podcast Pioneers is a Toastmasters club devoted to sharing stories with the public. During this first season, we will publish stories about our pandemic experiences twice a month. "A visit to the parents", by Jan-Paul Roodbol. Throughout our first season, making lemonade even with corona lemons seems to be theme showing up throughout the past two years. Today I want to share with you how the Covid lockdown was responsible for an unexpected, special, positive experience in my life, despite all the suffering that even came close to me. In this episode I want to share how the pandemic made it possible to quality and quantity time with my parents, something that had not been possible in the 30 years since I left home, and what I learned about myself and my parents. Many people have experienced sorrow and stress throughout the pandemic – after all, the pandemic was a once in a lifetime, harrowing experience that profoundly impacted us at so many levels. On a personal level, I went from liking the idea that we were now washing our hands more frequently, to disliking the fact that two of my broadway shows were canceled to being very worried as one of my friends ended up in the ICU in a coma, all in the first week when the illness was very new. Over the next few months, four relatives and friends died because of covid-19. Being cocooned up, working from home, with only the bare minimum trips to the supermarkets, provided a reasonable amount of personal protection, but it couldn't shield me from a lingering concern about my parents. I am blessed that my parents are still around - in their 80s. They still live on their own in a large standalone house in suburbian South Africa, but this independence also means they have to look after themselves, even during the pandemic Regular phone and skype calls can only do so much to check in on them. Most countries had locked their borders, even for their own citizens, at least for the first 6 months of the pandemic, so when the South African borders opened up slightly in October 2020, I immediately started planning. I had experienced a unique claustrophobia not being to plan any travels for myself or my family. My boss confirmed that I could work from my parents' home so I was elated. Checked. I then wanted to ensure that nothing would go wrong with the trip itself. I personally went to the consulate to confirm all the requirements, and also did a test run to the airport the day before my own flight, to ensure the airline would accept my paperwork. This trip was going to be crucial. The actual flight was almost empty, uneventful and there was a special camaraderie between the 10 passengers, and the dozen cabin crew. Border checks were friendly and efficient, although a bit nerve wracking. What if the temperature check would show I was sick - but I could proceed as my negative PCR test was accepted, the thermometer clicked, and showed green, and I was into my country. The airport was deserted, nobody allowed inside to meet arriving passengers. Only skeleton staff and passengers were allowed inside. A small group of family members were eagerly waiting outside, socially distanced, masked. I almost didn't recognize my mom with the mask, and her new hairstyle because haircuts had been impossible because of the 6 month lockdown. This was the start of spending two wonderful months with my parents - the longest period I had spent with them since the 80s. Why do I say that these two months were wonderful? a) Spending time with my parents - my mom's and dad's wonderful cooking my favorites. My mom bringing up my dinner while I was still on a work call with the US because of time zone differences. Joining my mom drinking her protein shake.... joining my dad picking up his favorite fish and chips takeout. - And ultimately seeing my parents’ day to day lives, I could f