Philippa Comfort, right, mom Marigke Volkmann, and children in November, 2021.Photo: Philippa Comfort
Philippa Comfort, 34, originally from Germany, is a fashion consultant living in Hermosa Beach, California with her husband and two young daughters. When the COVID travel ban ended on Nov. 8, her mother in Germany was finally able to visit for an emotional reunion. She recalls the happy occasion in her own words, as told to PEOPLE.
I hadn’t seen my mother for almost a year and a half. I was literally checking my phone every single day for an update. Is the border going to open? When is the date? You just don’t know when it’s going to end.
And he said, “I have to tell you, you won’t.” I’m not really superstitious or anything. I had never gone to a fortune teller, but I was like, “I think there’s some truth about it.” I called my husband and I was like, “You know what, I’m just going to give up on the thought that she’s going to be here.”
I was really, really, really sad about it. I cried a lot just for the fact that I know it probably won’t happen. And the worst part about it was not knowing. They never gave any updates until September.
Marigke Volkmann reuniting with granddaughter at airport on Nov. 8, 2021.Philippa Comfort
It was extremely difficult for her because of the uncertainty, not knowing when she would see us the next time. And her getting older. You never know.
I thought it also was really, really unfair that so many other countries could come here with no problem at all. But the 26 European Union countries were excluded plus Brazil, South Africa, India and China. It made no sense.
Philippa Comfort
In September, my husband walked in one morning and he said, “Look at my phone, I just got this Apple News [alert].They’re going to open the borders.” And I started crying. I think he hadn’t really realized how much it affected me. Yeah, I really started crying. My other daughter looked at me, she was a little bit confused.
At that time, I think they had said early November, but nobody knew an exact date yet. I called my mom and I said, “I’m just going to book you a flight for November. And I’m going to book you a flexible ticket” and I booked her for November 6th. Three weeks later the news came out it was November 8th, and I was able to change the ticket. She was here for a month.
On the day she was arriving, literally on the day they reopened the border, I picked up my three-and-a-half year old from preschool and I told her, “Okay, we’re going to go pick up Oma at the airport” (Oma is grandmother in German). She was super excited. When my mom came out, my daughter saw her from far away and she just ran to her and gave her a big hug. It was so cute. I hadn’t expected that from her because she hadn’t seen Oma in such a long time.
Philippa Comfort and her mom, November, 2021.Philippa Comfort
We went home, and my mother opened a bottle of champagne. That was the same bottle I had in the fridge from the time my daughter was born. I left it in the fridge until she opened it.
I’ve been so happy, the both of us. Even if we just hang out at home and do nothing, having her here is the greatest feeling. I’ve missed her so much over the years.
source: people.com
