Thoughts about the Corona virus

This morning Tetsu and I had a chance to video chat with Takumi and Julieta.  We have been considering whether we needed to contact them about our plans for May or if we should wait to see what they are thinking and find out what they would like us to do.  In the past week or so Tetsu and I have confirmed between us what our options and our desires are.

So...  Takumi and Julieta have had their wedding day set since the end of last year for May 9th.  The tickets have been bought for Tetsu and me to fly into LAX and within 24 hours to fly to Mexico City with Takumi and my brother's family.  Julieta and her family will go the day before prepare. 

 Less than 10 days ago, Julieta was video chatting with me and showing me the Lazo that she and Takumi and her mother had bought for the wedding ceremony.

Julieta had asked us months ago if we'd be willing to place the Lazo around her and Takumi during the wedding ceremony.  This seems to be a Mexican Catholic ceremony signifying the joining of husband and wife and the long connected string of beads is to be placed around the couple.  (I've checked out how it is supposed to be done on the Internet). 

We were honored to be asked and thrilled to see the beautiful Lazo that will encircle our son and his lovely bride.

And now 10 days later as the world changes hourly because of the Corona virus, we are wondering if we are even going to GET to this wedding!  International travel is being restricted, the outbreak is cropping up very quickly, quarantines are being put into effect.  Will there even BE air travel from Japan in early May?  Would Tetsu and I be required to be quarantined after arriving in the States?  For that matter will any of us be allowed to fly to Mexico and then fly back a few days later?

I'm not asking for advice, I'm just listing some of the concerns that Tetsu and I have right now...  concerns that aren't going to be able to be addressed until... well, until things suddenly change again, as has been happening all week.

For me, the bottom line is that I want Takumi and Julieta to have their wedding, large or small, with us or without us.  Tetsu and I don't want them to wait until a time in the future when all the circumstances are perfect.  If we can't attend, well, we will still know they are surrounded by Julieta's family and they will have our love from afar.  It makes my eyes slightly moist to think we might miss this most important day in Takumi's life, but for them to be wed they really only need themselves and God to be present.

Both Takumi and Julieta thought we were being too concerned and maybe the Japanese point of view is bordering on paranoia.  I have my bottle of antiseptic gel by the front door for people to use on their way in and way out.  But it is hard not to get a little paranoid with so many things being canceled, the stores empty of people as well as some goods, people wearing masks made out of paper towels and handkerchiefs, patients waiting out in the parking lots rather than sitting in clinics' waiting rooms.  Tokyo Disneyland has announced that their gates will be closed for the rest of March and I think Universal Studios has closed their gates for another two weeks also.

Tetsu and I are giving some consideration to flying two weeks early to the States if we can... at least we'd be on the same side of the Pacific Ocean.  After talking 30 minutes, the four of us decided that we won't make any changes to our plans until the end of March...  two weeks away.  Tetsu is most concerned about Julieta and that she doesn't get too stressed out and upset.  (He recalls that I was pretty stressed before OUR wedding day and I didn't have to deal with a worldwide crisis!)  He asks that Takumi take good care of her, respect her feelings and try to make life as easy as possible for her.

And I look at my smiling son's face and think him such a positive and considerate young man.  I just want these two to be happy.

The speed in which things change is now hourly...  Pray and wait.  Pray and wait.