Remember when life was simpler, you know back in 2019 .  I remember life was good, we just didn’t know how good until it wasn’t.  We couldn’t imagine the changes that were in store for us in 2020.  

Hand washing, mask wearing for goodness sakes, who would imagine we’d all go out in public looking like we belonged on General Hospital or Grey’s Anatomy.  We took for granted the freedom to be on the go, running here and there shopping, dining out, going to the movies, maybe taking in a little live music or traveling.    

All of a sudden the rules for this game of life were different.  We learned the new rules together although we didn’t spend much time together.  We either learned to love our home or decided to make some changes so we could enjoy it more.  We decluttered, spruced up, planted flowers, washed windows maybe painted a room or two.  

We stopped worrying about looking like chipmunks on FaceTime and just tuned in so we could actually see family and friends.  We joined our fitness peeps on Zoom and actually loved meeting there.  We became a family of friends instead of acquaintances across the room.  

I think everyone was both surprised and excited when a vaccine was ready for distribution in the spring of 2021.  The main topic of conversation turned out to be where the vaccine was available and how to get an appointment.  Remember the questions?  Did you get your appointment on line or did you phone in, how long was the  wait, did you do walk up or drive through, which vaccine did you get, how did you feel, etc, etc.

Many of us jumped through the hoops and waited in line sometimes at strange hours of the night, some people drove up to Phoenix or volunteered to stand outside in December and work through the night for that prized shot. Most were anxious to get that passport to freedom, get out of the house, get on with our lives.  Now that the first crush is over and millions have been vaccinated, they are offering lottery tickets to the stragglers.  Go figure, but that is another story.  

Now most of us are ready to go out and embrace the world again.  OK, that may be a bit over reaching, maybe we just aren’t so anxious about going to the grocery store, visiting the mall or going to lunch with a friend.  I know I’m feeling pretty darn good about hugging friends and family. There is something so rewarding about saying, ‘so good to see you’ with a nice hug.  I even said hello to a stranger at the grocery store.  Oh yes we are back.

When we were told to stay home, wear a mask if we had to go out, practice social distancing  and for goodness sakes wash our hands, we made the adjustments.   Everyone looked straight ahead and hurried in and out of stores, I stopped talking to strangers, I stood 6 feet away and waited patiently while the lady in front of me fondled the avocados.  I grabbed one from the back of the pile and hurried on my way.  I tried to remember to watch for the directional arrows taped to the floor of the store.  I did my best.  

I have to admit now that the rules are changing again I’m having a hard time figuring out what I’m supposed to be doing.  I’ve gotten pretty comfortable wearing a mask when I go out.  Should I still be wearing it? My main adventure out is to the grocery store so I take my cues from the folks there.  Some are mask-less and I admit I enjoy seeing their faces, others are still wearing masks.  Is there a statement there?  Something to be read into that action?  Maybe, like me, they just decided to be comfortable with a mask,  that lip gloss in my purse might turn out to be a lifetime supply.    

When we instituted the ‘lockdown’ thing I adjusted pretty quickly to the new lifestyle.  I gave myself permission to do nothing and discovered I was really pretty good at it.  Other than a few housekeeping chores, and cooking I was perfectly content to enjoy sitting in the back yard while I read one novel after another.  I figured that was what everyone else was doing also, so it became the new norm. To be honest the pressure was off to be accomplishing something and I could just be.

I’m suffering a bit of anxiety, what am I supposed to be doing now?  People are going about their business; shopping (which I’ve never enjoyed) or going to the movies (can’t think of anything we want to see) or going out to eat (we were homebodies enjoying our wine while fixing dinner). So what am I supposed to be doing?  Spending the afternoon enjoying a good book seems sort of decadent, lazy even.  Surely I should be doing something. It’s not like I have to account for myself, I don’t have to tell you I’m perfectly happy sitting here reading but I admit it there is some guilt involved.  

Life is complicated I need better instructions.

 

 

 

6 replies
  1. Doug Kreutz
    Doug Kreutz says:

    Another great and timely piece of writing on the challenges of the new world order.

    Thanks!

    • Carrie Bonello
      Carrie Bonello says:

      I really need better instructions! I wasn’t prepared for all this nonsense. Thanks for reading me!

  2. Jackie Patterson
    Jackie Patterson says:

    Carrie,
    Another great piece from you…….love your musings and especially your humor about
    real life situations.

    Jackie Patterson

  3. Richard
    Richard says:

    Carrie as we adjusted to the idea of doing “not much” and lots of home activities we find we have enjoyed much time on our back porch sipping wine, occasional cocktails and meal adventures. We have a sign on our porch that says ” Welcome to the Porch where wasting time is considered time well wasted” and that is part of our “life instructions” and keeps any thoughts of guilt or worries at bay. Just sayin’

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