What happened to the airport?

If I make it more than two weeks without stepping onto an airplane, my brain automatically starts to feel out of place, like i’ve lost my wallet or phone - a part of my body is missing.

Six months into the pandemic, I got the call.

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is almost never busy, I think my curb to gate average was 1 minute 35 seconds. I arrive at the airport 5 minutes before boarding time, park, TSA pre-check my way to the gate in record time, and i’m still early.

Today was something quite different though. ABSOLUTELY nobody was there. Nothing was open. If you saw two people anywhere in the airport, it was a crowd.

I knew it would be weird traveling during a pandemic, but it didn’t really hit me until I was walking the normally buzzing terminal gates, cardboard sandwich food outlets, and Hudson News general store bookshelves - all vacant.

I knew what I was going to see, but standing there, living it, felt like I was in a movie. It didn’t feel real at all. Flight boards packed with departures/arrivals were completely empty. I’ve never seen anything like it before, except for Fargo, ND where there are only five gates and six flights per day.

Boarding the airplane took all but a few minutes. There might have been twenty people total on the Southwest flight to Sacramento Airport. People were in face shields and masks of all kinds. Everyone looked paranoid of each other.

I could personally care less about the pandemic. I am not a subscriber to the fear-mongering news or politics in any capacity, not to say I don’t believe the disease isn’t real. I’m just the kind of person who will never live my life in fear. All the discourse around traveling, not traveling. I couldn’t wait to get back out there.

When the pandemic started, I walked into the completely looted Target and asked a few people WTF was going on. I had absolutely no idea.

Regardless, I followed the rules and went about my journey.

If I was going to have to wear the silly mask, I might as well make it look badass. I had this black bandana lying around and this was the perfect time to put it to use - like the wild west movies - to hide the robber’s face, or shield your breathing from the dusty southwest landscape.

Pulling back from the gate was almost as bizarre as meandering the airport. Only four or five aircraft, in the normally fully stocked twenty terminal airport.

The skies above Sacramento’s scenic countryside were peaceful, and all I could think about was what the future of travel is like.

I arrived at the hotel to a crowd full of mixed beliefs. If it wasn’t already apparent yet, this clash would be the tune of 2020.

Yes, I did inadvertently dress myself in southwestern themed clothing.

Murieta Inn & Spa is a hotel located adjacent to the largest equestrian center west of the Mississippi. It was truly a remarkable property with some of the most passionate owner/developers I’ve met. A team with tremendous enthusiasm for equestrian, wine, and developing a one-of-a-kind experience in the quiet, yet scenic farmlands east of Sacramento.

Tours of the equestrian center, hotel property, and surrounding area proved valuable as always - getting to know the story and local area is essential to success in marketing. Spending time in the field, downloading and connecting with property teams.

Chef always takes care of the troops with a monstrous pile of freshly marinated chicken, steak, and sides - grilled to perfection in the hot California sun.

“The battery looks dead, this thing has no power, I don’t think we’re going to make it. We should turn back.”
- Erik

“It was plugged in. We’ll make it.”
- Lew

Dead 3/4 into the journey. I pushed us to the equestrian center to “their chargers”, which didn’t exist, and then back to the hotel after meeting with the leadership team.

I received an extra large portion of food which included two steaks, chicken, and an excess of potatoes for my efforts, having provided the horse power - pushing a dead golf cart uphill one mile in 95º degree sun back to the hotel. I was wearing boots, jeans, and a suit jacket - nothing like getting a bonus exercise in. This task did make it into my daily recap report.

I was so glad to get out from behind the desk, back in the field. Even if I had to push a golf cart around in the dust.