Problems and Solutions

Problem: One car sits in the parking lot of a Key Biscayne condo building instead of its own driveway over 1,000 miles away. Its owners, my parents, left their vehicle behind for what they thought would be a one-week trip. Before their return flight to one more sunny stretch, news of Covid-19 took hold, and they decided it was safer to stay home. They're a hearty pair in good health, but these days, we can't mess with the data. We wrestled with the dilemma. There was no way we could let my 73-year-old father get on a plane to retrieve their car and belongings before driving 16 hours alone.

Solution: One 22-year-old makes his homecoming, forced into online coursework to finish his final semester before graduating. He's an easygoing guy, my firstborn, and he's close to his grandparents. Two or three texts later, he logged into United.com to buy a one-way ticket. He boarded the plane with a carry-on bag, a pack of disinfectant wipes, and a set of keys. Soon enough, he'll be sleeping to the sound of the ocean waves before hitting the road for one long solo road trip. While this plan seems like a logical solution to the problem, we wrestle with the dilemma. There are at least 36-hours before we will get him back safe and sound.

Problem: One family waits and worries.

Solution: Hope and pray.