Today is the 361st day since I began counting the days; it’s actually a year to the day that the NJ governor put us all on lockdown. I may have lost count in the middle somewhere and that’s why my day count is off. To be honest, it feels like it’s been one continuous loop of days, punctuated by crazy events and weather.
Although we were eventually allowed out of our homes, and we are able to see people as long as we’re all masked and appropriately distanced – outside, it’s been a year of almost exclusively virtual experience.
The positives abound: I’m outside more (weather permitting), biking, hiking and walking. I’ve facilitated connecting with my far-flung family via Zoom on a regular basis. I’ve become much less rigid in what I expect from people during this weird time. Until lockdown was lifted, I hosted a virtual happy hour each Friday. There was a lot of that. After years of resisting, I finally began watching shows and movies on Netflix. I upgraded my FitBit, finally. I no longer commute anywhere other than in my own house. Saves money, mileage and wear on the vehicle. I have been much more diligent in writing this blog – maybe not every day but more often than not.
The negatives aren’t so much negatives as they are not positives. That is to say, it’s mostly just missing the human interaction that comes from commuting (though I love that I am not commuting!), sharing office space (I do miss having an actual office that isn’t doubling as a bedroom), and arranging to get together in person for dinner, drinks, coffee, whatever. I miss having dinner guests and holiday get-togethers. The kids missed senior prom, a real graduation, and a typical freshman year.
Since what seems forever, I’ve not been spontaneous nor have I been especially social. I’ve turned down so many invitations to gather with people that even before the pandemic, I wasn’t on the invite list unless I initiated the invitation. I consistently found excuses not to go to happy hour or that alumni gathering, and either my work schedule, commuting or children’s schedules were convenient stand-ins. I suppose that is another positive development coming out of this pandemic: I now find excuses to say yes, rather than no. I look forward to when we can safely gather so I can get on that train into New York for cocktails with old friends. Or pack up my laptop and go spend a week in another state. In short, I intend to take people up on their invitations once it is safe.
Although there has been unthinkable loss over this past year, there is hope and the promise of a new start on the horizon.
I wish us all speedy vaccination so we can see each other in person, soon.