Inspired by the lists of “What I Won’t Miss” and “What I Will Miss” in Nora Ephron’s final book (before she died), “I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections,”, the leader of one of my writing groups suggested we write these lists for our homework this week.
My first reaction is that I might be sick next week. I’m not sure this is the best project for my extroverted self’s struggle to stay cheerful, in an introvert’s paradise. I don’t need to be exploring any more dark corners in my mind right now.
Lists are very appealing however. They’re simple, short, snappy. I hate to let a good list opportunity go to waste. I’ve been mulling over lots of lists these days, so am going to run with a variation on the theme.
There’s a list of things I’ve been missing under Stay At Home orders AND a list of things I’m going to miss when we all exit isolation. I can’t have them both at the same time, but I can list them here together and pretend that there might be a perfect world where I could have it all.
It’s a way to “Honor the space between no longer and not yet” as we start contemplating a transition back to our former lives. The Stay At Home order expires tomorrow in Texas.
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“Things I miss in isolation”
‘Un-muted’ group laughter
Getting dressed up in real clothes to go anywhere but the grocery store
Loud music in body combat class
Family celebrations with champagne toasts
Seeing people outside of a Zoom pigeon hole
Movie trailers and the smell of popcorn at the cinema
Arrival excitement with hugs and hellos
Easter brunch and Mother’s Day at a fancy restaurant
Looking people in the eye
Crowded, noisy gatherings around our dining room table
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“Things I will miss after isolation”
Neighbors walking & sitting on porches
Eerie quiet weekday mornings
Every night family dinners
YouTube Sunday church on the patio with tea
Fewer cars to worry about when biking
A sense of we’re in this together
No time wasted in traffic jams
The COVID excuse for anything I do wrong or forget
Smaller credit card bills
Easier pace
No wondering what you’re missing out on
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What about you? What’s on your lists? Are you ready to give up one set to embrace the other?
The Coronaviary 