(1261) Black Wind by Cussler

In this book, the toxic brew was small pox and HIV organisms.

Now, we are facing the pandemic of COVID-19. In a way, the coronavirus acted as a game changer. What appeared to be a scourge for a limited time, may turn out to be a long-term curse bringing in what some call 'the new normal', permanently.

Some say it was the once-in-a-hundred-year pandemic. Others suspected human intervention. Fingers pointed to China, USA, and elsewhere. But whatever it is, the virus is here to stay. We humans have no option but to find a way to function and live with the spreading, or retreating of the virus in our midst.

I feel for those who laboured for the past thirty years, scrimping and saving all they could, for travelling in their golden years. It does look like the travel industry would not return to normal within the next two to five years.

God help those whose children are scattered all over the world in USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, UK and everywhere else!

Visiting one's children who has adopted those nations as their forever home, becomes enormously complicated, as countries have shut down their borders to all except their own citizens.

To walk out of my door, I need to wear a face mask. To walk into any public premises, involves compulsory recording of my full name, my phone number, current body temperature, date and time. Hand sanitizer becomes a constant fact of life. I know it is a small price to pay for the ability to walk out of my front door.