It is August of 2021, and it is the weekend that Brainy Bird moves into his dorm room at the University of South Carolina. I am sitting in the lobby of a hotel in Augusta, GA, where we stayed last night after the longest part of our drive from Houston. Just sitting here, I am surrounded by signs of the times.
A woman, who appears to be a manager is apologizing to two gentlemen. The two gentlemen await the opening of the hotel restaurant for breakfast. The eatery opens at 7:00 AM, yet it is 7:15 AM, and it is still not open. She explained that they are having a problem staffing the kitchen, and they are not able to open yet. There is a labor shortage across the nation, with the service and hospitality industries being hit the hardest.
All of the hotel staff and about half of the hotel guests wear masks. We are now about 18 months into the Corona Virus pandemic. A large sign at the front entrance of the hotel lobby says that no one with a fever or signs of illness can enter.
An elderly couple just came down for breakfast to find the restaurant closed. She appears shocked. I guess she didn’t get the memo of the ongoing challenges that restaurants face just to stay open. They are now standing six feet behind the man in front of the Starbucks line as they dutifully social distance. I guess they will settle for breakfast from the little Starbucks in the hotel lobby, as it is opened. She is now asking for lactose free milk. Something tells me that little Starbucks that could does not have that.
A television in the lobby is set to national news. This morning’s news headline is that the Taliban has taken back control of Afghanistan. Now, the news is reporting on the resignation of NY Gov. Cuomo amid sexual harassments allegations. The headline on Cuomo this morning is they ceased impeachment hearings upon his resignation. Personally, I want to see him brought up on manslaughter charges for his involvement in misrepresenting the situation of the nursing homes, leading to countless deaths.
The news story is now about the border crisis, which is clobbering Kamala Harris’ approval rating. Oh, and it is national bowling day, so there is that.
The news just cut to commercial, and the commercial is of food, which I admit looks amazing, but is from a buffet. Finally, the commercial shows us that it is for Golden Corral. I am fascinated that buffets survived the pandemic. I thought the pandemic would spell the end for them.
Nearly a thousand miles away from home, and nothing is different other than we have a sort of break from the local news. On the positive, just as people are back home, those who are out and about are super friendly, as if appreciating every social interaction after a year of being in isolation.
Brainy Bird and I are now off to Columbia, South Carolina!