The bad news was that my flight to Las Vegas was not among the 1,300 canceled. Not even delayed!
The good news was that I was upgraded.
That is bad news for Delta Airlines. There were still 20 first-class seats open on that Boeing , even though I was on the upgrade list.
Widebody equipment for that time and route was allocated well in advance. The Consumer Electronics Show is held in the first week of January. It has been the largest trade show in the world for decades. I rent a car to avoid paying $2,000 for a middle seat in coach when I fly into Los Angeles to avoid high demand for air seats into Vegas. I got into first class this year because of $500.
This offer is for the brave and the foolish. It's not great for the events business, and businesses that see events as opportunity in proportion to the number of attendees. I was going to moderate a panel at the show that included Marriott's president, and others. The last time I moderated a panel was in standing room only. I am crossing my fingers that the room will be half-full. The panel will be on the website until the end of the month when it will be posted.
Why am I attending a crowded conference when there is a spike in cases due to the highly transmissible omicron variant? I'm not afraid of the risks of Covid-19. My immediate family has been affected by it. If another booster is recommended, I will be first in line to get it.
Although it doesn't always feel that way, I believe that we are far, far ahead of where we were a year ago. There are too many deaths, illnesses, and disruptions in everyday life. I've come to view the epidemic through a symbolic image of a fever chart, one that shows the highs and lows on a daily basis but also shows trends over a longer period.
If you monitor the stock market daily, weekly or monthly, you can see what appears to be drama and instability. The chart's lines rise and fall; it's a dynamic that can be seen in the short term.
The stock market's trend curve is hard to see if you're looking at it daily. It's as if we're standing too close to a painting, seeing only blurry dots instead of a Sunday afternoon at the park.
Am I being Pollyannaish? Maybe. Think back to where we were a year ago. There is no vaccine, no cruise ships in the water, and no leisure travel to or from Europe. Every other conference was virtual.
The omicron surge is discouraging, but we knew there would be more variant, and if you're vaccine-vaccinated, getting omicron is a better bet. Omicron proved less deadly in South Africa. The acute phase may be over soon.
It's not fun to ride a fever chart as if it's a roller coaster. A longer view gives perspective and solace. "Reasons to be Cheerful" is a favorite of mine and was started by David Byrne. The musician who wrote "Psycho Killer" became famous for it. It helps to take a long view.
The subject line of the email was "192 ways the world got better in 2021." I was on my way to Las Vegas. I found that most of the 192 are not connected to the epidemic, but it was refreshing. It's good to know there is more going on than Covid-19. Positive things being done for the environment, the poor, the aged and the marginalized were highlighted by the list.
Technology plays a role in many of the uplifting advances that I like to see at the show. Vendors displaying innovations give hope.
I know how important it is to report on the effects of the Pandemic on a daily basis. It's important to remember that there's more going on in the world than what's being reported.
There are still many reasons to be cheerful.
