The government closed our airport on March 23^rd to protect the country from imported cases of COVID-19. Michael, along with lots of other Grenadians who were either visiting or living in the US and wanted to be somewhere safer, had been locked out of the country for months.  People were desperate to come home. When the airport continued to be shuttered to commercial flights with no reopen date, the Grenadian Embassy assisted with a charter flight for Grenadian citizens.

The BIG question for the government: How to bring home Grenadian Nationals AND keep the country safe?

On Friday, June 19^th, Michael arrived in Grenada on a jetBlue charter flight. After landing in Grenada and getting a Rapid test at the airport, he immediately was transported to a government-approved quarantine facility.  You can read about dance to get him back in Grenada here (The Corona Tango).

Initially, we thought Michael would be in government quarantine for 2 days. Soon after, the Ministry of Health announced that the government quarantine would last four days because everyone hadn’t been able to get testing before boarding the flight. Then, they decided to keep everyone in mandatory government quarantine for 10 days.

It was confusing and disheartening as the protocols changed almost daily.  Michael was finally home in Grenada, but I could only wave to him from a field behind his apartment balcony.  It was lovely to see him for the first time in 3 months, but as the reality of us reuniting got closer, time seemed to stop. As each potential release day came and went, I got more and more frustrated.

After all the time apart, you’d think a few more days would be ‘nothing’ but the hours stretched into forever.  Finally, when only 2 days remained, I felt like I could finally breathe and started looking forward to our reunion.

I had been living in Grenada, and the island had been COVID free for over a month.  People were wearing masks and social distancing, but there was no actual fear of contracting the virus.  It felt safe, and people resumed most of their daily activities.  I started taking yoga classes three times a week.

Michael came in from Florida, a state where COVID cases were surging – with thousands of new cases every day.  People were not wearing masks or social distancing.  Florida definitely was not safe.  Michael self-quarantined and isolated for three months in a rental – with nothing familiar except for his computer.  To get to Grenada, he also had to travel from Florida to New York, stay overnight in a hotel, and then fly home. Every step was a potential exposure point for contracting the virus.

The people on the plane were all supposed to be COVID free. At the last minute, the Grenadian government decided that any Grenadian National could board the flight since so many could not get access to testing.  This was an additional exposure risk. Upon arrival, Michael spent 10 days in a stylish, but a minuscule cramped apartment.  He didn’t interact with anyone except for people passing food to him at his doorway once a day.

I picked up Michael at 6:00 PM on Sunday, June 28^th.  I was extremely mindful that we were approaching this reunion from two distinct places and perspectives.  I literally got to his hotel at 5:40 on the off chance he might get released early and was ready to jump into his arms.  I also knew that this greeting might overwhelm him, even if it was welcomed somewhere in his mind.  I decided to let Michael take the lead on how he wanted to be greeted.

When I saw Michael walk out of the hotel, my heart swelled, but I stood still and let him come to me.  One sweet kiss and we walked hand in hand to the car.  It was enough.  We were together again, finally.  On the way home, Michael peppered me with questions trying to wrap his head around Grenada’s situation compared to his experience in the US. I did my best to tell him what to expect.

Nadica and Sheila wanted to have a big all-day party on Monday to welcome Michael home.  After talking with Michael, we scaled it back to an afternoon party. Nadica and Sheila spent the morning making the national dish of Grenada, Oil Down and we had a lovely lunch with great conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of Michael’s friends also wanted to come over and welcome him home. I asked them to call to say Hi and give Michael a week to adjust to his new reality before we began inviting friends into our house.

First, we needed to get home so Michael could relax and see Red Dog.  Michael worried that Red Dog might have forgotten him.  I was sure this wasn’t the case because about a week before Michael came home, I got his car inspected.  As I drove Michael’s car up the driveway, Red Dog raced out of the house and down the driveway.  I opened the car door and he leaped over me to see if Michael was in the passenger seat.  That being empty, he then jumped into the back seat and then the way back in case Michael was hiding somewhere.  I had NO question that Red Dog would be beside himself with joy when Michael arrived.

We pulled in the driveway in my car, and Red Dog raced to see Michael.  He knows he’s not supposed to jump, and you could see his dilemma of wanting to be in Michael’s arms and be a ‘good boy.’  Red Dog resorted to a few jumps and running in circles, unable to contain all his joy and love. Everyone had said they wondered what this reunion would be like, so we videoed this joyous reunion.

We walked the property in the late afternoon light, looking at the flowers, veggies, and finally, the orchids as Michael re-acclimated.  Since the rainy season has started, everything was looking green and lush.  We lost some orchids to disease and water damage when the plastic ripped off the orchid house a few days before Michael got home, but overall, they were in good enough shape.

We then sat on our lovely patio and gazed at each other, marveling that we were together.  Gin and Tonic in hand, Michael could finally breathe in the reality of being home.  We had a quiet, delicious dinner and went to bed early.  Michael was finally in his own bed, and I finally had my man next to me once again.  We both slept better than we had in months, and each day just gets better.

I can see Michael gradually decompressing every day.  On Tuesday, we both went to yoga.  I could see his friends itching to give him hugs but respecting his space and maintaining social distancing. The smiles and greetings warmed my heart and melted Michael’s.  I can see him visibly relax more and more as he settles in. Michael has set up some photo shoots at the house, which is probably the best therapy of all, getting back into his groove.

We’re reunited.  And IT FEELS SO GOOD!

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