From Italy to New York

“DAD, WE WANT you to come home.” Even through the poor Skype connection I could see the tightness of Karin’s face, hear the stress in her voice.

“I can’t do it, sweetheart. Everything’s closed. Flights are canceled. The whole country is shut down. Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“But we’re anxious and wish you were back in the States, at least in the same time zone.”

I had planned to sit out the crisis right where I was—in southern Italy, near Calabria, where I lived and worked as a yacht captain for half the year. But if my family needed me, I had to get back to Connecticut. My work here had dried up anyway.

“I’ll do my best,” I promised Karin.

ANGEL #1

I tried to find a flight online but had no luck, then called a travel agent friend, Sue. “Don’t get your hopes