Without Reservations

Travel reservations typically mean guaranteed preselected seats, meals and even a video/music playlist. They mean I am ready to go. I was ready to go; I even had my tickets ready for Sicily and Israel. Reservations were made for Tenerife, where I was to officiate a wedding (the occasion would have doubled up as a much needed mini-break.)

Except, I did not go anywhere.

Flights were cancelled, and paid tickets were converted into travel vouchers, which will expire in 24 months. The only points I’ll be collecting are on my M&S loyalty card from the weekly visit to the grocery store! The only queues I’ll be waiting in are the ones formed of other masked shoppers. 

My reach overhead is not to put away my Mulberry trolley, which has been packed away since 2019; rather, it is in response to a nice old lady who says, “You are nice and tall, can you help me reach a box of cereal?” The other day I tried to reach down, not to tuck my hand luggage in the seat in front of me, but for the hand wash refill. Luckily for me, a lovely young girl watched my hesitation and offered to help. Up and down the (shop) aisle I go, I do not need to return to my seat, and safely fasten my seat belt. I do need to proceed to check out though, and pay for the groceries, if I do not wish to be escorted out by security. The only conveyor belt I’ll be standing in front of is the one at the checkout counter. The eggs are given one last check by the shop attendant to make sure they are not cracked.

When my grandchildren say, “We miss you Grandma”, through the crackle of shaky internet connection, it means put on your video and sing one of your silly, happy songs for us.

The past year has been about relinquishing the way I thought things would be and living my life without reservations. I finally got my Freedom Pass which affords me free travel as an older Londoner, but I have not been to London in almost a year, even though a train ride can get me there in 15 minutes. I would book my tickets in advance before popping into my favourite cinema. The smell of popcorn, the balancing act of ticket and snacks as I’d open the door to the screen room and gingerly manoeuvre to my seat, reserved of course. After watching a good film I would linger in the cinema lounge over a cuppa, like a business traveller waiting to board a flight.

Am I the first to live life not knowing, to live in a season without reservations? No. Abraham went not knowing (Hebrews 11:8). Esther may not have been chosen but she was selected (Esther 4:11). 

So the Tenerife reservations were cancelled; the young couple whose wedding I was meant to officiate exchanged vows at home in New York, and I participated via Zoom. Sicily will have to be viewed from the Travel Planet website.

However, this morning I got an email addressed to “Fellow Israel Travelers!” from Judi, the operator for the Israel trip, saying that the tour has been postponed once again for another 12 months. The good news is that the existing registration still remains, and that I must let her know I still intend to go! I wonder when?