MADRID, SPAIN, October 29, 2020

“You’ll need special authorization to leave the country and a travel form to the airport just in case the police stop you.”

That was the advice of my friend as we hugged and said our final goodbyes.

The Spanish government had imposed a curfew and lockdown just days before my scheduled flight home to the US.

Suddenly I had flashbacks to the scene from The Sound of Music when the Von Trapp family flees their Austrian homeland.

This time there was no Julie Andrews and family.

2 days later with papers in hand, I quietly left my flat at 4 am and rode nervously to the EL Plat airport and arrived without incident.

The airport was like a scene out of a sci-fi movie - only 2 airline check-ins were open. I counted 18 people on

I counted 18 people on my flight to Amsterdam. I tried not to think about this being my final goodbye after many years in Spain and somehow filed all of my emotions away in the back of my mind.

A few hours later I boarded my connecting Delta flight to JFK and it was surreal. I believe the Airbus A330 - 293 passenger plane only had 11 people on it.

This was a first. 10 rows were open in front of me and about 20 behind.

A nice flight attendant asked in her Atlanta southern accent and if I was Dutch.

“No I’m American – do I look Dutch?” I said.

She giggled, said she was sorry and asked how I got on this plane.

“We don’t see too many Americans coming or going to or from New York due to the government flight restrictions. You must be special..

I laughed and told her I was originally from South Carolina and living in Spain. I had been teaching English and had a special visa but was leaving due to the covid crisis.

She told me she had just recently started flying again and seemed happy to be back.

Throughout the next 8 hours she periodically checked on me, which made me feel special.

The JFK airport which normally processes thousands of people from all over the world had only a few.

At customs only one gate was open.

This re-entry to my homeland was like nothing I had ever experienced.

As I wrote this on May 10, 2021, the Spanish government lifted its curfew and lockdown 7 months later.

Next: We don’t live like the Spanish.