Before the pandemic, Hubby rarely went through a drive-through line. He said it was too confusing and took too long. Even at fast food places, we parked, went in, and carried out food. To me, it was a waste of time, but I always caved unless I was driving. Our rule is the driver gets to choose music and how we pick up fast food. (Every marriage needs rules.) For the past year, drive-throughs have been our way of eating out. We also call out for food, either delivery or pickup. We have a favorite Chinese food place that we’ve helped keep in business. A nearby restaurant that delivers fried chicken and pizza needed our economic support during these hard times, and we were happy to help.
That also goes for buying groceries. I’m getting good at ordering online and having groceries put into the back of the van. I don’t have to get out or anything. Just push buttons and the back opens and closes. I’m getting spoiled!
Hubby and I talked about what it might be like to go to a sit-down restaurant. It’s been more than a year since we ate inside around other people. Do we remember our table manners? I’ve been wearing my stay-at-home clothes so long I’m not sure I’d even know how to dress. Can we eat without having a TV in front of us? That will be the big test.
That brought us to other questions. Could we shop in a grocery store and pick out our own groceries? Probably, but I’d likely overspend with all the choices.
The Home Show is going on at the Civic Center and I’d love to go, but I wonder how I will feel around a crowd like that. Will I feel comfortable around big crowds? After the events of the past couple of weeks, part of my fear would be from some crazy person taking out his frustrations on strangers with a gun. The rest would be from breathing air used by many other people. This return to normal may take time.
The pandemic may have affected us in ways we haven’t discovered yet. I wonder if social manners will return? They were becoming scarcer before the lockdown so if there are more, it will be a surprise to everyone, but a very pleasant one. I hope we’re so happy to be around other people that we’re especially nice to each other. I hope people remember to hit their mute button before speaking aloud. Words inflame, incite, and cause irreparable damage. There’s enough cruelty and animosity. The garbage heap of unkind words is big enough without adding to it.
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. James 3:2
Spread kindness in the post-pandemic world.
Carol, we went to church inside today for the first in over a year. It was such a joyous feeling! We sang the Doxology today (Pastor just asked for it, speaking of coming indoors and a new us). It felt so good, yup I had tears. I have to admit I was nervous walking it, we all are asked to wear masks (and we all did). We have ate in a few restaurants – most of AZ is continuing to social distance tables, and almost all wait staff wear masks (Governor lifted the ban Wednesday so not all wear them, BUT I have to say we feel safe). We have all our vaccine for over a month. We were told we can’t get sick enough to go into the hospital or worse to die if we contact Covid, and we have a 5% chance. Take care, and yes, we learn life does go on.
Tomorrow we get shot #1. I had “thought” about going to church on Easter, but–duh–there will be more crowds that day than ever. So we’re patient and really good at tucking extra face masks in all our pockets, just in case we’re out and about.