The New Normal
“I have a new adventure for you,” said Bob, Travellin’ Rick’s boss, on the phone.
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Travellin’ Rick, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “I could use the work. It has been a while.”
“It has been too long,” said Bob, his voice warm and encouraging. “It looks like things have started to get back to normal.”
“That pandemic lasted a lot longer than expected,” said Travellin’ Rick, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Yes,” agreed Bob. “Your new assignment is to go camping for a week and find out how people are dealing with the new normal, fear, increased prices, etc.”
“I will get right on it,” said Travellin’ Rick, his mind already racing with ideas and questions.
Travellin’ Rick packed as quickly as he could, gathering all his camping equipment and supplies. He was on the road in a few hours, the sun shining brightly as he drove through the rolling hills and scenic countryside.
“I will camp at the Provincial Park just off the highway,” said Travellin’ Rick to himself, following the signs to the campsite.
About an hour later, Travellin’ Rick pulled into the campsite, the sound of children’s laughter and birdsong filling the air. He noticed a young family setting up their tent and decided to camp beside them.
“Hello, neighbors,” waved Travellin’ Rick, his friendly smile putting the family at ease. “It is a nice weekend for camping.”
“It sure is,” replied the father, wiping the sweat off his brow. “It has been a while since we have gone anywhere. The pandemic sure put a wrench in our plans.”
“It did for me too,” said Travellin’ Rick, nodding in understanding. “This is my first assignment since the pandemic broke out.”
As they set up their tents, Travellin’ Rick learned that Harry’s wife worked as a registered nurse, putting in long shifts during the pandemic. Harry himself was a delivery driver who had been laid off due to the lack of work. Despite the challenges, they had managed to make ends meet and were now enjoying a well-deserved break.
Travellin’ Rick had a wonderful time camping and made new friends with Harry and his family. He gathered a lot of really good material and impressed Bob with his article, which captured the resilience and hope of people in the face of adversity.
Moral of this Story:
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