Going to have to start using checklists

As I was falling asleep last night I suddenly realized I didn’t remember putting my bike helmet in the car as I was packing up. in Margate City. I should have had it on the handlebars to avoid this but I had laid it on a stack of old cushions inside the garage. Yesterday morning the stack of old cushions was put out for trash collection and my helmet would have had to have been set aside. I didn’t notice when I got my bike out and put it on the car. This wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the fact that I already left my tire pump in Lewes. The pump was kindly mailed to me and was here when I arrived in Vermont. Amazon to the rescue – a new purple helmet with a flashing light in back will arrive tomorrow. I am only two weeks into this adventure so I think a checklist is in order.

I had the opportunity to support the local Brattleboro economy today. Charming town with locally owned businesses. I got new cycling gloves (that were inside the helmet), sandals with good arch support and several pieces of summer clothing from a shop called Malisun. All of the shop owners were extremely friendly. We then had a drink at the Whetstone Station that is built on the Vermont/New Hampshire border. I bought the beer in VT and drank it in NH.

Vermont has 70% of its eligible population vaccinated. Indoor mask mandates remain and there is still a fair amount of masking outdoors. As I have been moving around through different communities and states that past 2 weeks as CDC guidance is changing, it has been interesting to observe each communities response. There is no question that I have seen much more outdoor masking since I left Tennessee. Masking or not needs to become a personal choice. No CDC guidance based on the best evidence will guarantee any individual will not get Covid. Even though I am now 2 weeks past my second vaccination and fully protected, there are going to be circumstances that I am feel more comfortable masking even if I don’t have to. It will not be a political statement, it will be a health decision. Now that we know what we look like in masks, wouldn’t it be nice if we made a choice to “mask up” the next time we feel a cold or flu coming on? No need to share.

We took an evening walk (without my phone unfortunately) and I saw 2 adult geese with their goslings. It was last Friday that I saw the same thing outside Philly. Rather than taking time to smell the roses, perhaps for me it is taking time to notice the baby geese.