No Psychedelics for the Roosters: How to Travel to Key West

Plus, new prompt and upcoming events.

I’m nuts for chickens, as you probably know. I delete hen videos weekly to free up phone storage. I made sure to do so before flying to Key West for a quick getaway. (It’s hen haven down there.)

I say, “flying to Key West” like it’s no biggie, but this was my first flight in six years and first solo flight in ten. My misgivings about air travel have become full-blown fears. The less I do it, the more claustrophobic and germy the whole ordeal seems.

It’s pandemic-instilled wariness, in part. All those close breathers and nowhere to run. It’s the lack of control, from potential disposal of my overpriced face cream by TSA agents to last-minute appropriation of my carry-on at the gate, should overhead bins get stuffed before I board. I’m a planner. I need, at arm’s reach, my sweater, book, notebook, pen, earplugs, hand sanitizer, water, Chapstick and lucky rock to get through it all.

But Key West. The opposite of snowy Berkshire County in April. I’d get to hang out with my mom, who’s book ob…