Offspring #1 had a splendid plan for the infamous gap year. (That glorious time between finishing school and starting university in 2021.)
In point of fact she was due to fly to Cal-if-horn-eye-eh on Sunday and start her summer vacation job on 1st July. Tickets bought, red tape tidied away, forms completed, decks cleared, worries neatly stored: ready to roll.
The genesis of this plan was germinated years ago and the job secured in 2019. I don’t recall having ever bought a flight ticket so far in advance. Talk about vision, mission and intent being aligned. Girl with a plan. (Plus proud, expectant parents bursting with hope.)
But wai… 2020.
2020 had other ideas.
As the roller-coaster year progresses, we are mercifully in good health, yet seriously crestfallen.
From here on the last day of June 2020 I note that California has reported a significant uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases. Social spaces are being re-closed and people are being locked down 2.0.
There is no perpetrator blame in this situation* but there is a strong sense of victim in the air. A sense of unfairness if you will.
Imagine you were eighteen right now and were striving to burst through that long anticipated finish-line tape of the education marathon only to be hideously thwarted. It’s bad enough being a parent and watching – powerless – but even worse for J.
So I write this as a kind of parental catharsis (above) and as an advertisement (below) for offspring.
Active, bright, friendly, articulate eighteen year English student seeks gap year adventure. Willing to undertake paid employment to facilitate travel and new experiences on planet earth. Brilliant with kids and a strong work ethic. Well travelled and sensible, needs to be back in the UK for September 2021.
If you or any of your network have any ideas or suggestions for a kid interrupted, drop a note in the comments below or contact the Beers directly.
We are waiting for your response. Feel free to be awesome.
*clearly PM Johnson and the Cummings crew have a lot to answer for, not to mention the omnishambles in the White House.
aroundtheworldin84days 