Photography by Lori K. Tate
This morning while doing a workout on my front sidewalk, which has suddenly become normal in our brave new world, I heard a neighbor’s kid practicing the trumpet. Then I saw a family ride by on bicycles and another neighbor walk her dog. For a moment, I felt like I was in Whoville.
Remember in How the Grinch Stole Christmas when everyone in Whoville wakes up on Christmas morning, realizes all their holiday loot is gone and celebrates anyway? This is what’s happening in our hood, and I must say that I’m pretty proud. Yes, we’re all stressed, stir crazy and scared as we quarantine (what week are we on?), but that’s not stopping us from enjoying a bright and sunny spring day. Take that, coronavirus!
During the past few weeks, I’ve realized the power of sunny days so I squeeze all the goodness out of them for days that aren’t so sunny either due to rain — or the news. That’s a trick I plan to take with me into the new normal, whenever that begins.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the lessons and realizations that have surfaced during my coronacation (not my term, but I’m using it), so I’m starting to make a list. The first part of my list involves things I miss: my friends, being able to eat at a restaurant, the Y, church and the library. The second part includes things I don’t miss: being strapped for time, traffic and not getting to enjoy the outdoors as much as I’d like. The third part is about changes. How am I going to incorporate changes based on the first two parts of my list into my post-coronavirus life? I realize what a luxury it is to have time to think about this, and I’m thankful for it.
For years after 9/11, I interviewed folks about all sorts of things. More than once I heard people say that what happened on that day inspired them to make huge life changes. One family moved from Manhattan to a farm in Pennsylvania. One woman left her high-powered corporate job to work for a nonprofit, while another woman hung up her marketing hat to go after her life-long dream of being a chef.
Events like 9/11 and now the coronavirus serve as unexpected magnifying glasses. They ignite a response that forces us to examine our priorities, our values and even our dreams. One minute you’re living your life; the next minute you’re conducting a life audit that wasn’t on your schedule.
Last night, John and I sat on our new front patio. (We bought some pebbles, sat two chairs and a table on them that we already had and created what is now considered our date night space.) We try to get out there every night to chat about whatever we need or want to chat about. (Note that we never would have had time to create, let alone enjoy this space prior to COVID-19.)
As we talked under the stars, I asked him what he thought would change when all of this is said and done. Sure, there are people who have had to make drastic changes because they’ve lost loved ones or their job and/or business, but for those of us who are luckily coasting day by day through this pandemic hoping we’ll be okay, how will we change our lives?
For so long our society has heralded the art of being (or at least appearing to be) busy. Now that most of us (teachers, healthcare workers, truckers and grocery store clerks excluded), aren’t so crazy busy, look at what’s happened. We’re having real conversations with family members, we’re taking long walks and noticing flowers, we’re calling old friends, and instead of taking a restaurant meal for granted, we’re grateful that our favorite eateries figured out a way to serve us. Those are all good things that we should take with us into the future, pandemic or not.
I haven’t fleshed my plan out yet, but I know that more free time will part of my new normal, as well as my children’s. And I also know that they’ll be more starry nights on our patio.