Where did the last two years go? It’s the middle of November and for all intents and purposes, this year is over. Let’s face it, we’re down to holiday parties, heavy traffic at the mall, and the incessant scent of Pumpkin Spice everything.
My friend and coaching client Rain Bennett did his first TEDxRaleigh talk a couple of weeks ago so I was blessed with the opportunity to see North Carolina in the fall. Let me tell you, we always hear about the ‘fall colors’ in Maine, but dang N. Carolina has some exuberant trees! I was blown away with how colorful it was. The reds and golds and burgundies were astounding. They made for a beautiful backdrop against deep blue skies that were picture perfect.
Since I was going to be on the East Coast I decided to extend my stay and head down to Florida and see another old friend and meet his four year old daughter. Going from the chill of N. Carolina to the 80 degrees and humid environment of Naples Florida was a treat and I’m glad that I had the chance to end this almost two year drought of vacation travel with such a delightful 10 days.
It’s hard for me to believe that this year is done in. It feels like there is a giant hole in my timeline. I recall just yesterday arriving back from an African safari with my brother. And then the plague hit us like a giant tsunami.
I recall walking on Main Street with my friend Anne and telling her that this was going to be bad. That millions of people were going to negatively impacted, that businesses would be destroyed and lives upturned. Sadly I was correct. Just look at the carnage that has happened on the Promenade – there’s a huge vacancy rate. Wilshire Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd have way too many openings.
The good news is that having just been touring our country, it feels like there we’re coming back. Yes we still have to wear masks, and yes many people are trying to regroup but the planes are packed with people who are traveling for business and pleasure.
On my flight from Atlanta I sat next to the number 2 flyer for Delta’s Skymiles. In just this year alone he’s flown over 890,000 miles. He averages a flight a day, and two to Japan monthly. Crazy right? And he’s done it for 30 years. What’s scary to me is that he wasn’t even the top flier ! There’s someone out there who does even more time in jets as a passenger. At first I was in awe, then a bit envious, then I thought about it and was like, ‘Nah I’m good” – I don’t need to fly THAT much. That’s like a cross country flight daily.
I love travel. I love hotels. I love being able to see new things, try new foods and restaurants. But there’s a limit and then I’m good to come home to my life here. I love the comfort of being known in a place, having a history and a connection. When I arrived back yesterday my car was a tad bit dirty ( actually covered in dust!) so I took it to the car was on Pico next to Gilbert’s El Indio. I was hungry and needed some comfort food so I thought I’d take care of two errands in one swoop.
Walking in to a place where I’ve been eating since I was literally 12 is like walking in to Grandma’s. I know the joint, I know the people, I know the menu, I’ve had probably everything on there but menudo in the past 43 years. Coming home is rewarding and comforting.
As this year, these years, this crazy period in my life comes to a close and I start to prep for 2022, having the peace and calm of home relaxes me. While it seems shocking that we’re done with 2021 so quickly, I am now ready to prepare for and engage with all that 2022 offers as we return to a semblance of normal.
The holidays are here and whatever you celebrate, or don’t, I hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable next six weeks so we can hit the ground running in 2022 and make up for the lost time. Plan what you want to do now that you can do again!
David Pisarra is a Los Angeles Divorce and Child Custody Lawyer specializing in Father’s and Men’s Rights with the Santa Monica firm of Pisarra & Grist. He welcomes your questions and comments. He can be reached at dpisarra@pisarra.com or 310/664-9969. You can follow him on Twitter @davidpisarra
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November 18, 2021 at 07:54AM
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! START PLANNING FOR 2022! - Santa Monica Daily Press
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