Modern Legal wishes you a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Although historically a global celebration of the Irish culture, Saint Patrick’s Day is the one time a year where we all wish for a bit of extra luck. We wear different shades of green and hope that those tiny leprechauns share some of their good fortune… and maybe even some gold. I know most of us were down on our luck last year, and I am hoping that 2021 brings us something better. As we emerge on the other side of this treacherous rainbow, I am waiting in anticipation for that pot of gold that is supposed to be at the end. That pot of gold is what has kept me going through the pandemic – through all the gloom and doom. As I imagine the sight of that colorful light, I want to share what my pot of gold looks like at the end of the rainbow.
My first ‘pot of gold’ is traveling. Do you have unused airline credit? Due to COVID-19, some airlines have extended their credit expiration date or have provided other benefits to account for the massive change of flight schedules resulting from the pandemic. With the vaccine being slowly administered around the country and globe, it seems that our travel plans are just on the other side of the horizon…. or rainbow if I may say. My next trip is going to be to a destination that is warm, sunny, and relaxing. My dream vacation is Puerto Rico to be more exact. What about you? Do you plan on using your credit to visit family you have not been able to see this past year? What about going somewhere new? What destinations are on your bucket list? COVID-19 has given me an appreciation for the things I have taken for granted my whole life – including the ability to travel.
I am also looking forward to being able to interact with people and not just through a computer screen. I am sure we are all sick of being indoors, staring at the same four walls, and sitting at the same computer screen as we hop from zoom call to zoom call. Since winter was a bust with constant rain and dreary weather, I am excited to spend time outdoors as the warmer weather approaches. One of my favorite things to do is hiking with friends. There are many places to go hiking in the surrounding areas of Charlotte, including King’s Mountain, South Mountain State Park and Crowder’s Mountain. A day trip to Asheville, Boone or Blowing Rock is another alternative if you want to escape a little farther out of the city.
Hey parents, do your children who share some of these same frustrations? Are they looking forward to their summer vacations and hoping to socialize with friends some of which they have only seen through a computer screen? When safe to do so, invite a friend or a playmate to enjoy a nice picnic on the grass to soak in that sunshine. Vitamin D can do wonders!
Can all my single ladies and fellas raise their hands? Especially if you have just survived a divorce, the pandemic has made it difficult to meet new people and socialize. This coming year could be the perfect opportunity to branch out of your comfort zone and try something new, whether that includes online dating or meeting up with a group of singles for a hike. Various social venues are slowly but surely opening as it becomes safer. Try organizing a group of friends to check out a new brewery or restaurant in town. And as sporting events and concert venues open, buy those tickets early to have something to look forward to. If being around other large groups of people makes you hesitant, you can have fun and learn more about your community through the various self-guided walking tours around the Charlotte and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Getting to travel and being social are my two pots of gold at the end of my rainbow. What is in your pot of gold? Whether you wear green or not (which I am hoping you are because we all need an extra dose of luck this year), I wish everyone a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Written by: Theresa E. Viera
