Not that we haven’t been living in the real world the past year, but that world has been severely constricted.
Today I had lunch with three friends from my women’s group, at a restaurant outside, sitting next to and across the table from each other. It wasn’t a zoom call, it wasn’t a phone call. It was Real Life.
One of these friends lives in my neighborhood, so we had been having the occasional lunch at outdoor restaurants last summer and fall. But the other two lived in further neighborhoods, and we’re all in our 70s and 80s, so playing it very safe. At lunch today, we still played it relatively safe, keeping our masks up while not eating, and the one friend who’s only had one shot so far ordered for herself, while the other three of us ordered a selection of mezze (it was a Turkish restaurant) and appetizers. Food was delicious, if service not quite at the same level.
After lunch, as I walked up the street, everything felt and looked different. That is to say, it looked and felt as it had before the pandemic changed the world. It was a little disorienting, though eagerly so. We will continue to cautiously return to, or enter, the new Real World.
-------------------------------------
I’m participating in the 14th annual Slice of Life Challenge over at Two Writing Teachers. This is day 23 of the 31-day challenge. It’s not too late to make space for daily writing in a community that is encouraging, enthusiastic, and eager to read what you have to slice about. Join in!
Your lunch with friends sounds delightful! I'm glad you enjoyed a taste of normality in these odd times.
ReplyDeleteYour lunch sounds lovely. That's the next thing on my post-vaccination list of things to do - as soon as the weather warms up enough here.
ReplyDelete