Day 308: Turbulence

This is the first blog post I’ve written from a cruising altitude of ten thousand feet. We just got through some bumpy air — I’d forgotten about those butterflies.

Driving to the airport earlier, I was startled to realize that I hadn’t flown since June 2023. Pre-COVID, I flew all the time: Uganda, Brazil, Geneva, various domestic destinations.

COVID shut down all of those projects. Most have not resumed due “Academic Transformations” and other realities. Although I will travel to one conference in bodily form this summer, most public appearances now happen virtually.

Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash

I can’t say I mind. I could begin traveling more, but the virtual shift to our collective way of life suits this relatively newlywed homebody just fine. I certainly miss the people, places, and adventures of those years, but to everything there is a season.

Right now I can proceed with my historical research digitally or through short car trips, but by next year I’ll need to put in some serious miles (Stuttgart and Prague top the list). I’m eligible soon for that greatest of facult perks — The Sabbatical — and I plan to use it traveling the world learning more about How We Got Here. I look forward to becoming a road warrior again — but I’m not wishing away today.