Think about that moment in childhood when a scary noise sends you diving under your bed covers? Then, with trembling hands, you shine a flashlight into the room and find renewed confidence to venture out.
Thatâs how I feel as my wife Becky and I board a plane to Honduras to visit our newest grand-baby. Fully vaccinated, we are finally busting out of this quarantine.
My regular readers recognize Honduras as the place we go to support Chispa Project. The charity was founded by my daughter Sara in 2015 to establish elementary school libraries.
Now, on final approach into Tegucigalpa, the capital city, I see the scarring impact of the two hurricanes that broadsided this country last year. In a region still recovering from the 11,000 fatalities caused by 1998 Hurricane Mitch, these new storms bring a double whammy into the pandemic year.
Iâm grateful to have such helpful neighbors as Ysanne Edwards and her husband Mike. Nevertheless, neighbors like Ysanne fill me with a healthy fear of April Foolâs Day.
As the famed prank day neared, she texted to ask, âCan we borrow your patio heater?â
âSure, but since weâre in Honduras, youâll need to call me so I can tell you how to unlock it.â
âWhat?â she asked, surprised by the need to secure it in our gated community.
âQuarantine has put these things in hot demand.â
A few minutes later, her follow-up text caught me completely off guard.