See Plymouth's Ten Minutes on Tourism

Issue 42 | January 27, 2021

Lea Filson, Executive Director, See Plymouth

This week we are learning the pandemic is mutating to twice the contagion level. Now we face more paranoia toward those walking past us. We are wearing double masks. We are staying home…again! Last night, I was up at 3:00 a.m., read a few chapters, went back to bed. Up again at 4:45 a.m. and gave up, made coffee and started working on my computer.

I know I am describing your lives as well. In the beginning, I said, “It could be worse. I lived through Hurricane Katrina. From Hurricane Katrina we lost our homes. We lost our infrastructure…” I realize now that I was wrong. A different crisis is no less a crisis. Losing 'stuff' is better than losing your mind.

What is your answer to this? I think of younger days, listen to the Lettermen, smile at the thought of my high school boyfriend’s kiss until I realize he was ‘just not that into me’. That didn’t end well, but I digress. I promise that what we are going through now will end well.

Okay, deep breath…positive thoughts. I walk the historic and cultural district and the bay. I feel the soft fur of my cat. I listen to Gregorian Chant music. I read and work and read and work. So goes the rhythm of living through the pandemic. I also realize that in six months, things will be better. We’ll all get shots, build our confidence and take all this pent-up demand and go out into the world. That’s where tourism comes into this discussion. See Plymouth has been advertising throughout and has an arsenal of ideas and great ads to welcome people to our businesses again.

We know by mid-summer the economy will take a turn for the better. We know by 2022 our businesses will begin seeing normalcy. We will see each other in person at meetings and remember each other’s smiles. (Just when we finally figured out Zoom and sharing a PDF…) I hope you’ll plan to stop and say hello to us here at 4 North Street and smile your best smile when your visitors and customers begin pouring into your doors again. We deserve to smile again!