Once September arrived I hoped things would feel different. I hoped as every year once my favorite month arrived the magic of autumn would begin. The darker cosy evenings, the fresher, cool weather and the feeling I get as the year end approaches and we get ready for a new year to begin. But 2020 was far from a normal year, and for sure there was a September issue. No matter where I am in the world, be it Cinque Terre, Lofoten, Berlin or home in New York - September’s a month I always look forward to and enjoy. As a man who fell in love with Hygge way before English speaking countries had even heard of it, September is my month.
Not this year. Most international travel around the world is still limited with many countries facing the reality of a second lockdown. Schools have started again but for how much longer is not sure and we are all making the most of what we can before the winter starts. All this combined with the disbelievers refusing to follow the guidelines, COVID-19 - the unwelcome guest - is making a return visit.
How much longer can this go on for? Well if you listen the experts there could still be another 12 months of living with our new normal, and potentially many years after this for the world to start to return to anything that resembles the world we knew at the start of 2020.
So what did September 2020 have is store for me? I had my first visit to beautiful Lake Vermilion in Minnesota and stayed for a few days at a friends lake house. Water, nature and solitude was exactly the escapism I needed from the reality of NYC. The first time I’d been to an airport and got on a plane since all this began, but the experience was really straight forward and felt completely safe.
When I was back in the city I found my escapism each weekend in Central Park and discovered new areas of this beautiful heart beat of the concrete jungle, just as the greens of the trees and plants were starting to change to the autumnal shades of yellow.
As this lockdown roles into yet another month with very little hope of change coming soon, I truly wonder, are we living life or just killing time until better days arrive?
Until then I just want to nap, wake me up when September ends…
One of my favorite parts of Central Park