A Return to the United States

A place emanates a soul and personality. Always.

It’s picked up on the first visit.

It can be sensed.

Positive. Negative. Lively. Dull. Comfortable. Dangerous.

There’s something tangible about a location that rings deep within.

Thailand exudes a different impression than France.

But like individuals, places change. They may mature to an exceptional version of themselves.

Or retrogress to an inferior one.

The difference was palpable when I moved back to the United States after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This time in Perú sandwiched the attacks.

This wasn’t the only time in my history living an extended absences outside the United States.

There were two other points.

Our returns to the United States in 2007 and 2014 did strike us as much as the mental psyche did in 2002.

Yet 2020 doesn’t smell like 2007 or 2014.

It reeks of 2002.

Clarity doesn’t seem to be an adjective that will properly describe 2020.

The world’s vision is blurry.

The Return to the United States

And our family lived in Qatar for the last 11 months.

Since that point. Wildfires in Australia.

Follow that with the coronavirus in China and subsequently in every other country in the world.

Schools converted to distance learning forcing people inside.

Toilet Paper Shortages.

Murder Hornets.

Now combine partisan politics with short attention spans and social media addictions, and the world appears out of focus.

Will our return to the United States reveal an unappealing new reality?

I’ll get back to you.