Dear Maarten and Co. ~
I thought for sure that by the time I reached the end of this thread, a decision as to year would have been announced, but not so the case.
Thank you from me, as well, on the tremendous amount of work that all of you have already done to make the Ghent Event a great success. I know it's painful to postpone; yet, from my perspective, it clearly became a given, once COVID-19 became so prevalent throughout the world. The projections remain highly uncertain as to true containment of it. It will reportedly be a miracle if an effective vaccine is available to the public prior to the 1.5-year mark. Cures remain uncertain, as well, due to the highly unpredictable nature of the courses this disease takes, with no unassailable standards as to impact by age or even underlying conditions. Boris Johnson is certainly not a healthy specimen, yet he made it out of ICU and the hospital, and is taking the disease far more seriously now.
All of that is to say that as I look ahead, I can't even be confident that 2021 will work for the Hydra and Walking Weekend, much less the Ghent Event. Even the smaller two may end up having to be postponed, as well. Projections for long-term planning are tenuous, at best, according to the medical experts.
From my perspective, again, I would hate for all of you to go through all of the reorganization required for "Ghent 2021," only to have to postpone it all over again. If need be, postponing the Hydra gathering and the Walking Weekend would be far less labour intensive. My feeling, however, is that the organizers and planned participants for them would appreciate having their plans remain in place, if at all possible. If they do go forth, they offer two gathering opportunities for those who feel that 2022 is too long to wait for the next Event. Having participated in both of the smaller ones, I can attest that they, too, are exquisitely satisfying.
I have an emotional attachment to the Even years for the major Events, and the off years for the smaller ones. It feels more graceful, as well as practical, to simply move it to 2022.
I'm also not sure how people's livelihoods have already been impacted, or may yet be impacted, and the extra time for reorganizing budgets and covering expenses could be very welcome. Even those already retired may have family who need financial help, due to COVID. Many businesses have already lost revenue and who knows how many will continue to and to major levels. Prices on everything from flights and lodging to meals, et al, including your own performers and venues, may be higher, as they try to recoup some of their own losses. That, of course, represents higher total costs for us, as well. The additional year may give people a chance to 'normalize' financially *and* emotionally.
Our world has been thrust into a paradigm shift. All of our safety must come first, and you have already taken the wise first step to ensure that. As for me, personally, I can fairly easily predict that I will not feel comfortable entering crowded airports and boarding cramped planes with people from all over the world by next year. My trips overseas involve MANY takeoffs and landings and mostly long waiting periods in airport terminals. Even upon reaching my final destination, public forms of crowded transportation are a given... atop crowded sidewalks, restaurants, and attractions... and then there are the 200-250 of us, with a whole lot of loving physical closeness, touching of things and each other, talking, laughing, whispering, shouting, hugging, singing, and European kissing. And then there's the inevitable cough, sneeze, and nose blow... just because. And so much remains unknown about this virus.
My trust as far as the U.S. brain trust goes is wholly in Dr. Anthony Fauci [who was also the leading epidemiologist at the forefront of the AIDS epidemic, as well], and I sincerely think that, at minimum, the strong recommendation for social distancing will still be in place by the summer of 2021. A Second Wave, even deadlier, is a distinct possibility, even before this First Wave has finished. Barack and Michelle 'gave' us the fist bump. Zen has given us the prayerful hands and bow. By 2022, I'll be ready for a good, old-fashioned hug in an atmosphere of open-hearted safety vs. fear.
It will always be easier for those in your region of the world to attend anything in Europe. When I give you my personal preferences, I'm just editorializing. They're not intended to be a factor in your decision. Far more participants do not have the complex travel requirements that I do. Others may or may not resonate with my concerns.
On the financial aspect, 2020's being postponed changes everything. Since the Event is not happening in 2020, please take what you need now to get you through this disorienting upending of your meticulous plans. If it ends up scheduled for 2021, and I feel safe enough to attend, please kee my fee in your account, and apply it to what's required for then
, and any additional costs due to all this I will pay then, as well. If it ends up scheduled for 2021, and I don't feel safe enough to attend, please keep the whole of my fee, without any thought of a refund, regardless of time-frame percentages. A contribution for and to the good of the cause. You've worked too hard and been through too much, as it is, already. If it ends up scheduled for 2022, and I feel safe enough to attend (far more likely than for 2021), everything I wrote here regarding 2021, I'd like to apply to 2022, as well. Thanks, Maarten.
Finally, as a segue to ending this post, the Even years for Events is a lovely tradition that I would love to see remain in place. That, in itself, would allow a continuing sense of normalcy within our Cohen family and community. Many prayers for everyone's safety.
Much love, and all the best,
Lizzie
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
However, once there’s a decision and planning resumes, please check in with me again, because if I’m able to attend, I would be more than happy to organise and emcee the Open Mic segment, as I’ve done in the past. 
