First of many i hope

Isolated
Prison without bars
While all the world outside
Is in a battle
Fighting the Corona wars
I keep them safe
By staying in
They keep me safe
By staying out
Together
We can beat the darkness
That covers up our stars

The moon will shine
The sun will warm our skin
A rainbow will brighten up the skies
In the end, we will
WIN

Good afternoon my dear friends,

Here it is, my first blog in English since i live in Holland now and want to keep you updated on what is going on in my life. This first blog is going to be a long one probably since so much happened these last days.

As most of you know, I left Jacksonville last Saturday after being unsure for a while if it would happen or not. I had my ticket booked for April 4, scenic route, Jax to Boston to Portugal to Germany but the more news about corona, the more worried i was that one of the countries i would travel to would close their borders for strangers and then i wouldn't be able to go so after i got confirmation from my shipping company that they would pick up the boxes on monday march 23, i decided to book a more direct ticket, Air Portugal btw let me change my first ticket to a voucher, good for a year.

I was able to book with Delta, to Atlanta and then to Amsterdam for thursday but withing the hour that changed to friday.

After the shipment was picked up i started emptying the house, it was much more than i anticipated, stuff that was still there that shouldn't have been, not cleaned, a mess and its not really good for a person to get upset but i was.

I said goodbye to dear friends, from afar,no hugging but it didn't feel like it, it felt more like, see you soon, maybe because the not hugging, not kissing made it feel more distant. 

My sister in Georgia and her family, my dear friends Glory and Damon, my besties  Susan and Kim, sweet Fran en the neighbors, it was like a movie that passed my eyes, wondering if i was in it or not.

Saying goodbye over the phone, hearing the emotional words, crying without tears, not knowing if i would ever see, meet again.

On thursday, my house was almost empty and i left it like that, the furniture i couldn't move stayed in, it wasn't as clean as i wanted it to be but...nothing i could do...after all i am not 25 anymore.

At Darian's i found out, friday would be saturday so one day longer to enjoy the boys (Julius : oma i wov you, don't go) and i had time to relax, in the pool, at night, it did me good.

Then again a change on friday, moved to sunday, not Atlanta but Detroit and i thought, no, i am not going to Detroit due to corona being bad there. I called Delta, told the lady, i notice that you keep moving afternoon flights to next days but morning flights are going through, am i correct in thinking that going to Atlanta in the afternoon is the issue and she confirmed, she set me up for a flight on saturday morning, 9.45 am and then 5.38 pm to Amsterdam. I agreed and saturday morning we were up at 6. My mail showed, flight delayed to 11.45 and i sent Darian and Josh back to bed. I called Delta, flight crew had to rest but other than that, everything went according to schedule.

At 9 we said out goodbyes, Darian, the boys and I and off we went. It was quiet at the airport and also in the roads, going through customs took me 5 minutes most due to taking boots off and then on again.

I felt confident when i saw the flight crew arrive, yes, we are flying. I dozed a bit and then in the plane that was only filled for about a third.

And off we went, i saw the Dames Point Bridge disappearing under me and shed a tear, almost 12 years had gone by since i moved to Jax and that came to an end. My life there was over and all i left was memories and hopefully good ones, family, friends for life. 

Atlanta airport, like a ghost town, empty, everything closed, lucky to find a Starbucks for a chai latte en a blue berry scone. I am not too keen on plane food so i rather had something decent in my stomach.

Now this plane was almost full but since i asked early, i could get a window seat. No blankets, no pillows but good movies and the food was actually the best i ever ate on a plane. They even had Ben and Jerry's ice cream. I tried to sleep but couldn't stretch my legs so i watched movies, three, not too bad and after a 8,5 hour flight, we landed in Amsterdam.

Dutch passport so use the automated system , then pick up suitcase, very fast since most of my fellow passengers were on transit so didn't need to pick up their stuff. No one asking me questions, checking anything so i just walked out and Rob was waiting.

I was lucky, the place i normally eat my first Dutch snack was open so that tradition continued.

The highways, empty, seriously, where normally alot of trucks, cars, nothing, just us along, no one in front of us for miles, no one behind us so in no time we arrived at Rob's house. His wife and daughters were not at home and we just stopped to pick something up.

Then to my home town, about 4 miles and to my brother's house where i stay till i get my own place. Paul is my youngest brother, i was almost 10 when he was born, he is just three months older than Martin was.

Here also, no touching. Rob took me to the store, to get stuff, bread (i have a different taste in some things than my brother), meat, cheese, dairy. I tried to stay awake, best way to battle jetlag but still, i slept wonderful that first night although a small bed is so much different than the queen size i was used to.

Monday morning, Paul had to work, he cant do that from home, and i started organizing.

I called town hall to register because if you dont', no way to apply for social security or health insurance but here also, due to corona, they are closed so i have to wait. At least they know i am here, mandatory you have to register withing 5 days or so.

On tuesday i finally got my bank stuff sorted, Rob was still able to take me places, it took some phone calls and driving to the next town but i can use my internet banking again, also transfer my money to my Dutch bank account.

Also i took walks, to the river, to the cemetery where my parents rest and also Martin's ashes are.

I walked to the store yesterday, my brother has a very small fridge, about one third of the ones in the US, i waved at my aunt Mien who is in her mid eighties and to my brother Martin and his wife.

I also checked on houses since i got an email on  monday received a mail about a house i was eligible for, its lovely with a little garden front and back, laminate floors, two bedrooms en in the middle of town.

Also two others that i like lots, i signed up for them.

If i get the first one, i would move by the end of the month.

MY town of Kessel has been hit hard by the virus, so far about 15 people have died, ages between 68 and 98, funerals every day. Its empty in the street, people keep that distance if they have to go out.

Today i am not going out, its cold, no sun, freezing at night but in the weekend it will warm up to 70F or so. Tomorrow, friday, i am going to the baker's for bread and maybe some baked stuff, all walking. I wont get a car anymore, i got my bike here also.

I hope you all stay safe, be careful, i can see here what the virus does and its devastating, family of mine died, parents of friends, withing days and its a terrible way to go...

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I do not know if i will blog every week, if there will be a certain day but there is an option on this page to sign up to get my blogs in mails as soon as i click that publish button

May you be protected, love you all....Mariet