Staying Apart, Together: I'm leaving my pandemic cocoon. Soon.

I've wondered a lot about who will emerge when I leave quarantine.

I'm getting my second vaccine dose on Tuesday, which is absolutely wonderful news and I couldn't be more excited. More and more of my friends and family members are getting their shots, following the inoculation trend around the country. All adults will be eligible as of April 19, and though vaccine appointments can still be hard to get, we are getting close. 

Although common sense mitigation measures will likely have to continue for awhile, especially as young children aren't getting vaccinated any time soon, many of us are thinking about what a "post-pandemic" life will be like. We can start to see more friends, more family. We can eat at a restaurant, visit a museum with less fear. We can come out of our shells. 

But I am also so unpracticed at being out in the world. I don't look the same. I have barely worn makeup in the past year, let alone the formal dresses in the back of my closet. My mental health has been at some of its worst points, and I feel a bit like a different person. What will my friends and family see when they see me?

This, of course, is a good problem to have in the scheme of things. So much more could have gone tragically over the course of the pandemic for me and my family. So I approach each day with a sense of gratitude. But I am worried about getting back out there. And I'm not sure how long this anxiety will last. 

If you are having any of these same anxieties, please write in to stayingaparttogether@usatoday.com. How are you coping? If you're not, that's OK, too. I would love to hear from you. 

A special note

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of Staying Apart, Together. I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you who have read it over the past year. I have loved writing to you hearing from you. As vaccinations ramp up and we start to talk more about a "post-pandemic" world, I have an update for you about this newsletter. 

We want to keep this wonderful community together, but thankfully coping with the pandemic will not be needed forever. Soon, "Staying Apart, Together" will become "Keeping It Together." The content will remain largely the same and will talk a lot about mental health and wellness. You'll be hearing a little more from my wonderful colleague Sara Moniuszko as we move forward as well. 

I hope you like what we have planned going forward. As always please send any feedback to stayingaparttogether@usatoday.com, including what kind of stories you will want us to feature. And once again, thank you. 

Today's summer preview: What travel will look like

Have you made some summer travel plans? If so you aren't alone. 

As vaccinations speed up around the country, many Americans are scheduling trips, although things won't look back to "normal" immediately. 

Airport terminals and hotel lobbies continue to look like hospitals, with all those masks and latex gloves. And that will continue, according to experts like Rudy Dunlap. 

"Even in destinations where vaccination is relatively widespread, mask-wearing, social distancing, and frequent sanitizing will continue to be the norm," says Dunlap, a tourism expert and associate professor at Middle Tennessee State University.

Here are a few things to expect, from our travel experts. 

• Longer trips: Travelers are making plans to leave longer and go farther this summer. "I've had requests for longer stays – even months –  to fulfill bucket lists," says Silvana Frappier, owner of North Star Destinations, a travel agency in Boston.
• Most of the world is still closed: Americans' options for international travel remain limited, says Christine Buggy, vice president of marketing at Travelex. "Most Caribbean islands have reopened to international tourists and many Americans are traveling or planning trips to Turks and Caicos, Aruba, Bahamas, and other popular island destinations," she says.
• Safety matters more than ever: The post-pandemic traveler will be much more cautious, say experts. “Travelers have adopted new filters for trip planning," says Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. "Especially for international excursions. They’re selecting destinations that have robust healthcare infrastructure and stable pandemic protocols with reliable border management." 

Read the full story here. And stay safe as you wander. 

Today's reads

• Panic buying is officially over: Now we have a surplus of hand sanitizer. 
• Jenna Ryu writes about how one Khloe Kardashian photo led to a conversation about unreachable beauty standards. 
• What to do if your stimulus check got lost in the mail. 
• All about how "Top Chef" Season 18 shot inside a pandemic bubble. 
• I talked to the creator of one of my favorite shows on TV right now, "Everything's Gonna Be Okay," about its new season and incorporating authentic stories about autism. 

Today's pet

Meet Larry. 

"I love your photos of pets who help us make it through the rough times!" says Kris Hehn of Cincinnati, Ohio. "Larry, my personal guard cat, has been of great assistance!"

I assume Larry is guarding and protecting you from laser pointers, toy mice, and other cat nemeses. 

That's all for this Saturday. Thank you so much for reading. The newsletter will be back on Tuesday. Until then, stay safe, stay well. Please send your pet pictures, coping tips, vaccination stories and anything else to stayingaparttogether@usatoday.com. 

All my very best,

Kelly Lawler