COVID-19 Check-in

Well, well, well. Three months (and a bit) and coronavirus is still with us, even though it seems like it is no longer the bulk of all news coverage or the hot topic. We have had the protests take center stage, and even that seems to be waning. Because it is now normal. Living in a pandemic, living with protesters*, feeling unnerved when we go out and about, panicking when people don't distance from us, being constantly aware of how close we are to other people/whether people are wearing masks, and going days without going outside. Life goes on. And someday, we won't do any of those things, and we will get used to it just as quickly.

Personally, I'm feeling a little bored with it all. Mostly, with the part that makes everything more complicated. I needed to get quarters for laundry and had to go to a bank that was twice as far (which wouldn't be a big deal except I don't have a car). And, since I didn't have a car, I couldn't go through the drive-thru, and since I needed quarters I couldn't use the ATM, so I had to schedule an appointment. Is it a big deal? No. But compared to being able to swing by unannounced to the bank a block away from work? A bit of a hassle. 

Going to the grocery store? Also a pain. The train runs less frequently, which makes travel time twice as long. It's hot. No one is wearing masks in my neck of the woods. And, when you have to carry your groceries home, you can't really stock up for weeks on end, so you have to go to the store just as often. It is definitely time to get a car just so COVID is less of a pain.

The biggest annoyance is not being able to visit family. I wanted to see my nieces and nephews in a play, but my city is behind their city in terms of reopening so I didn't feel like I should go. I want to visit another family before the summer ends, but that doesn't seem likely to happen. So, you can imagine I get a bit frustrated when I see people not being cautious in public when I'm trying to be. I know I'm not perfect. I'm not saying I am. I forget sometimes or get lazy. I get that masks are a pain--they are uncomfortable and hot and sweaty, and you have to wash them frequently, and honestly, I don't want to pay $2 a load just to wash masks, especially when getting quarters is such a pain. I get it. But I'm trying, and it can be really hard when it feels like no one else is. It's like the world's biggest group project. Sigh. 

I'm also burned out from online meetings. And people are getting quieter and quieter in them. Also, I am not looking forward to going back to work. And not because of COVID worries. Socializing can be really challenging, and when I'm not doing it consistently, it gets much harder. So you can imagine that there is a bit of anxiety around being surrounded by people all day when I haven't been for months. It'll be fine, I'm just not excited by it. 

Also, it is summer and it's hot and I haven't slept great lately. So, yes. Bored and grumpy and tired. I need some kids to play with. 

*And note, this does not mean we have stopped caring. We have just adapted to these new developments. 

Memories

Yesterday a friend and I were chatting about stickers, and how she could have her family put stickers on her surgical shoe for her birthday. All of a sudden, out of the blue, I remembered my sticker album from when I was a kid (which, sadly, I don't still have).

I had completely forgotten about sticker collecting. I wasn't an avid collector. I mean, I didn't spend a ton of time or resources searching for new additions, but I did have a little book--well, maybe more of a booklet--where I put all the stickers I got. The pages, which is about all I can remember of the actual book.

Scented stickers were the best. My friend also liked the puff stickers. Which, I can see why, but I had a weird perfectionist streak* when I was a kid--right about the age I might have been collecting stickers--and I might have found the puff stickers problematic for keeping the book from laying flat. I may have had them, though. But I only remember the scented ones.

I haven't thought about that sticker book decades. And once I did think of it, I wished I still had it. What a treasure! That would be a delightful addition to an archival collection! And that's how my friend and I decided to start an archive that only collects materials from children. But, that's another story.

*I got over it at some point. Which may sound like a wonderful thing, but I worry I may have moved too far in the other direction. Sadly.

P.S. I felt so reminiscent I googled sticker albums to see if I could find one that resembled mine. I didn't (in the 10 minutes of searching), but I did see a picture of a scratch and sniff pickle sticker that was familiar and discovered that there is a 1980s sticker album group on Facebook, courtesy of someone else's blog. Ah, memories!

Question of the day

Today's question: If you could spend COVID lockdown anywhere you want, where would it be? Or, if you could make one science fiction/fantasy thing real, what would it be? 

Answer: The TARDIS. Or a TARDIS. Honestly, it would be so amazing. There's a library. And a swimming pool. And sometimes the swimming pool is in the library. It's bigger on the inside. So, it doesn't take up much space, but you could spend months just exploring. And then when you've got it all figured out, you can change it and start all over. It has everything you need. And don't need. And, if you get tired of the view, you can just move it through time and space and see a new one. So, perfect for quarantine (you can still travel!) and perfect for anytime (no TSA checks at the airport, no early check-ins, no delays). You may have to save the universe from baddies, but no biggie. It's perfect! Also, have you seen the console? So many fun buttons and levers and gizmos! It's every child and inner-child's dream come true. And I wish I could have one. 

Small little moment

Yesterday, I had a lie-in, which was lovely. It was just nice to lay in bed, enjoying how comfy it was, not feeling rushed or thinking about getting ready for work or anything like that.

But even better, I got to have a lie-in during a terrific rainstorm. It was a serious storm. Thunder that made you feel like the earth was splitting in two. I'm sure there was amazing lightning, but I didn't check it out--I was laying in bed. And furious rain! Just, wow. Like, a downpour on steroids.

I did have a small moment where I thought about seeing if I could get lightning photos, but 1) my bed was very comfortable, and 2) furious rain. I might as well have thrown my camera in a lake as try to take photos in that rain.

So, I just laid in bed and enjoyed. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy morning. My only very small regret? Not going puddle-hopping after it let up.