We're now into year two of the Coof. Last summer my touring schedule was abruptly cut short by a cascade of cancellations. I had already booked my tickets for Seattle's Emerald City Con and for New Orleans to visit the World War Two Museum. Lighthouse Writers did a quick hocus-pocus to turn their annual LitFest into what by now is a common experience, the online conference. A big part of LitFest is the socializing and drinking and that became something you did in the privacy of your own home.
Lighthouse predicted a gloomy forecast from the expected loss of revenue. Amazingly, pretty much every class had a wait list. What came into play was that people had a lot of time on their hands, with the reduced socializing because of the lockdowns people were eager to rub virtual shoulders on the computer screen, many writers are introverts and the remote classes allowed them to remain in their comfort zones, and because the classes were offered on the World Wide Web, people could attend from anywhere. In my classes I had students from the Bahamas, Greece, and Cyprus.
It's a given that online classes and meetings are here to stay. But for months now I've been ready to step out and have some fun. I have older relatives I need to visit but I have to temper that wish against the risk of spreading the virus. The convention schedule is still tentative with folks being undecided between in-person vs. online. When will life go back to normal? This pandemic has been a very long road.
