RHYS BOWEN: Last week Hank posted about our reluctance to come back to normal life after the pandemic. Didn’t she compare us to groundhogs, peeking out of burrows?
Like all of you I have spent the last year and a half Zooming--wearing a nice top, make up AND sweat pants or shorts, plus bare feet. I had thought that the pandemic was over I’d go on a shopping spree. But now I have the chance, I have looked through my wardrobe and it seems I have plenty of everything. Most things practical and serviceable. So I find, to my surprise, that I have no interest in that shopping spree. Because I have no interest in returning to the symphony yet. Or going to conventions (who is going to Boucheron? Not me, I’m afraid. All those people at the hotel bar?) In fact I seem to be content to watch TV or read a book, chat with a few friends, occasionally, walk in nature. Have I become a hermit? Me? Total extrovert me?
I also noticed that it was about time I had a pedicure. Then I thought ‘nah! It can wait a while.’
So now I’m concerned. Have I lost my joie de vivre? Will I eventually be willing to hurl myself back into pre-pandemic life? I hope so…. But how about you? Who has been on that shopping spree? Who has had a pedicure? Been to a show?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Prairie dogs!
HALLIE EPHRON: Not me. None of the above. What’s the opposite of a prairie dog? An ostrich!
My biggest adventure has getting my hair cut. And last night I went INTO a restaurant to pick up takeout. It was very raucous in there and they were playing Trivial Pursuit. Maskless, of course. I did not want to linger.
And like you, Rhys, I find my closet has all I need for the moment. How did I accumulate so many shoes??
One thing I’ve been doing more of since the pandemic began is walking, and now I’m carrying rather than wearing my mask.
JENN McKINLAY: No pedicure here but then I’ve only ever had one in my life and both the manicurist (pedicurist?) and I discovered to our mutual dismay my inability to sit still for that long. Maybe if they’d let me write while getting one...hmm.
I have been out to restaurants and to shows (Hub is a musician, so it’s my spousal obligation but also my joy). I have found that I am much more interested in visiting with people one on one. No big groups not because of COVID fear but because there is so much to catch up on individually that I want to give my people my undivided attention. So small coffee meet ups and luncheons are good enough for me for now.
LUCY BURDETTE: Yup, we’ve been out to dinner several times, though I much prefer eating outside. And I have an appointment for a pedicure, but she will come to the house. And hmmm, my haircuts have been one on one in someone’s house with both of us masked. I can’t quite yet picture going to the movies or the theatre, but I miss that and hope it happens fairly soon. And when I go into stores, I wear my mask. I guess I'm inching back into the world!
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I agree with Jenn - I’ve been socializing in very small groups because it feels so important to have that one-on-one experience. No big trips planned; just (finally) getting to see and hug my Dad and later this summer, the Sailor. My watchword is “easing in,” so, for instance, I’ve been going to the 5:15pm service at my church, which usually has about six people attending. Lots of the concerts and theater in Maine is outdoors by design, so those will be an easy thing to say yes to.
One thing I’m doing old school? F9 hits movie theaters the weekend of my birthday, and I’m strapping on a mask and heading to the movies. “Ride or die!”
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I think about this every day. And I am completely worried. I have, as I said the other day, NOTHING TO WEAR. Oh, well, does it really matter? I learned how to do my own manicures, and it looks great. (Great enough for the all-forgiving zoom.) Pedicure, truly, that is the Rubicon. I need one. Tomorrow, maybe.
I said to Jonathan--We HAVE to get over this. There is NO NEED for us to be hermits.
And he said: But we like it!
I mean, not the fear and the terror and the sorrow. But wearing comfy shoes? Staying in our cozy home, lucky lucky lucky people that we are?
And there you have it.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: No pedicure yet and I've discovered I really haven't missed it. Now if I was going someplace where I really wanted to look sharp--but I'm not, so I'm fine for the moment. A couple of haircuts, several lunches out, but I haven't wanted to go anywhere really busy and crowded. As I am partially deaf, I find I'm not looking forward to trying to hear other people in crowded places. Small group visits are so much better.
But my big recent excitement was FIRST MOVIE! Last Saturday my friend Gigi, my daughter, and I went to see IN THE HEIGHTS, and it was great! Both the film, which we loved, and the theater experience. Now, like Julia, I'm all geared up to see F9!!
RHYS: So who is happy with the new normal and sees no need to burst forth and experience LIFE again? I have to confess that I am itching to travel. When I go through my photos of Europe I give a heavy sigh. But I have to confess I'm not ready to travel there in person yet--not until the countries report zero Covid deaths and zero restrictions. I'm booked on a cruise next February and hoping that the world might be safe and sane by then, but who knows.
