Before the pandemic hit, planes filled the sky heading in every which direction. I live in close proximity to 3 major airports including Pearson International in Toronto. Whenever I looked up, there were always several streaks of white criss-crossing each other in the sky above me. After the Covid-19 pandemic took hold last year, planes by the thousands were grounded. While some flights have resumed, most planes remain grounded. The pictures I have seen of the many planes parked alongside each other on some tarmac somewhere astounded me.

I stepped outside this morning and didn't see a single white line caused by a jet. I didn't see a single plane in the sky, big or small. It reminded me of the days following the 9/11 attacks. That was the first time I didn't see a single plane in the sky after all planes were grounded which in turn left many people stranded around the world. Fast forward to day, and stories abound of people left stranded when Covid-19 hit. I recall reading an article last year of a Japanese man who was stranded in Mexico. More recently, I read of an Australian who was stranded in India. I hope everyone affected has or will find their way home safely

For the most part, planes have been a remarkably safe way to travel. Modern planes are marvels of technology and can transfer several hundred people at a time across thousands of miles in hours while travelling by car would take days or several weeks by ship.

The airline industry has played an integral role in the world's economies. Products are shipped around the world in mere hours, lowering wholesale and retail costs. Passengers have traveled by plane to every corner of the globe, fueling a billion dollar tourism industry that created millions of desperately needed jobs in the service sector. 

While it's nice to see a blue sky, I am bothered by the fall in air travel. It allowed us to experience the freedom to go just about anywhere we wanted. Now, our freedoms have been pared down amid rolling lockdowns. I guess it's a good time to appreciate what we once had.

I had hoped to visit Japan before the pandemic hit. Now, I can only hope to visit one day. If and when that day comes, I'll know the safest and fastest way to get there is by plane. 

For now, I think I'll go sit outside in my backyard and hope a streak of white appears in the sky above me.

BTW... I'm not a very good artist :-(

Kon'nichiwa!