At 10:23A on Sunday March 8th against my wife's wishes I boarded a flight from Denver, Colorado to Jacksonville, Florida along with my customer. We were headed to our annual customer event surrounding The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass. My wife had packed N95 face masks, and told me to wash my hands often. She had purchased masks for our family in early February after watching events unfold in China, but no one was wearing masks and I didn't want to be seen as akward. Anyway things seemed to be as normal... I saw only a few people wearing masks during our walk through the airport... Upon boarding the plane I asked the stewardess if she was concerned about COVID-19 and she said, "I'm not concerned about COVID-19 for my health, I'm concerned about COVID-19 for my job.
Arriving in Jacksonville, FL things seemed much like Denver with few wearing masks and life as normal.
We played golf Monday - Wednesday. During on round we were behind a group of college students who decided to come enjoy the golf tournament for Spring Break. They commented on COVID-19 as nothing more than the common flu and only the old died... As part of the event all company staff and customers were required to attend the buffet dinner and drinks at the "Main Beach House," with all staff and customers. I received more than a few akward looks when extending my hand for a fist bump rather than a shake, and most seemed to think COVID-19 was a NONE ISSUE while grabbing handfulls of crayfish from a long wooden boat which topped the long thin rows of tables. By Wednesday, March 11 major league sports teams began announcements that they there would no longer be fans. I called my wife to check in at dinner and she was MORE concerned and remind me that I shouldn't have gone on the trip. Our plan had always been to attend the first day of the The Players (Thursday) and then head directly to the airport after lunch. Thursday at the tournament seemed no different than in years past with large gallery stacked against the ropes following markee players. We watch Spieth continue to sign hats, balls and programs for kids...
While waiting in line at the gift shop the lady behind me told me the PGA had just announced that The Players would be closed to spectators beginning Friday. I was excited to go home, and arriving at the Jacksonville airport it was apparent that there was a heightened state of concern by the public over COVID-19. Upon boarding the flight home several were wiping the seats with dinfectant and wearing masks. The guy sitting next to me seemed very concerned costantily wiping things and wearing some bandage looking aterial on his nostrils.
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