Dashed Dreams, Damned Corona Virus

Now that the tears have stopped, I can officially announce here that my big Spring 2020 trip was canceled.  I was going to spend ten days in Romblon at The 3P Resort and then attend the Citizen Science Nudibranch Workshop (aka Slugfest 4) with Terry Goslinger in Anilao at Crystal Blue Dive Resort.

My EVA Airlines flight was still going, but the news that Manila Metro was on lockdown broke about 12 hours before I was supposed to board the flight.

I was in disbelief so I messaged with Kati at 3P, Mike at Crystal Blue, Mike's girlfriend Gladys (who was in Manila at the time), Bree (who was joining me at both locations) and Pirjo (who tipped me off to the whole situation in the first place and was going to join in Anilao).

My bags were completely packed, I had checked in online already... so in my head "if the flight was going, so was I".  It took me so many iterations of research and this one article outlining EXACTLY when the lockdown was going to be, for me to make a choice that I really could not go.  Ugh.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/12/COVID-19-Metro-Manila-restrictions-Philippines.html

As sad as this was, the workshop did get officially canceled and not going WAS the right thing for me to do.  But it still really stung.  I didn't go on any trips in 2019 and I was REALLY looking forward to this one.

After a few days of mourning, my spirit was lifted by this new Ze Frank Nudibranch video:
https://youtu.be/F7V8DRfZBQI

Hilarious!!!