Nothing prepared us for for a year like this, did it? Things are very different right now: masks, distancing, stay-at-home orders, and worse: job loss, businesses closing, people dying. Some of the consequences of Covid are terrible. But let’s be real. Many are inconveniences nothing more, what I like to call first world problems, such as having to wear masks, not being able to go into bars, not being able to hang out with friends.
Even if you don’t complain, what do you miss? I think I miss spontaneity: meeting a friend for lunch, going on vacation without wipes and disinfectant spray, finding waiting at the airport a pain only for being boring, walking into a library, hugging someone, going to a craft bar, my yearly trip to France, deciding to browse at a store, and while I don’t have a problem with it, not wearing a mask would be pretty exciting. Without spontaneity, I feel as if I’m just hanging around most of the time.
So, lots of negatives. The more challenging question is has Covid done anything for you? (Spell Check wants to know if Ovid has done anything for you!) I’m not saying we should be glad Covid came along to screw up 2020, but although I know seems as if all its impacts are negative, maybe they’re not. Maybe some good has come out of this year.
Covid has made me realize again what’s important: family; keeping in touch with friends by actual mail, text, or phone; having a home to spend time in; my husband having a job even if he has to work ridiculous hours; how a blog can help me stay in touch with people; how blessed I was to be able to take things for granted; the value of libraries having e-books. It’s also made me realize that many things I complained about really weren’t worth complaining about!
How about you? What do you miss? What might Covid have done for you? ( And if Ovid’s done anything for you, you can let me know that too.)
This, that and the other thing 
I miss watching live sport but every cloud has a silver lining. After spending so much time at home with my husband, I now know we’ll survive retirement. I’ve spent many, more happy hours in the kitchen, actually watched my small terrace garden thrive and grow, rekindled my love of music, enjoyed greater interaction with the blogosphere and learned to greater appreciate what I have and how fortunate I am.
We decided not to get cable when we moved and although we watched lots of sports before, we find we’re not really missing it. I could just watch (ice) hockey, cycling, and maybe some rugby every so often (my husband played before and after we met) and I’d be fine. Knowing you can survive retirement is great and the rest of your list is full of wonderful things.
janet
Thanks Janet
I miss spontaneity
🙂 As you know, I’m with you there.
We are VERY LUCKY where we live, our State had very few cases so catching Covid isn’t a constant fear. I’ve noticed that out in the National Parks etc people actually seem more friendly and it’s rare not to be acknowledged with a smile and cheery “Hello”. Many people have also put out soft toys on trees, letter boxes etc for the pleasure of children spotting them. I think the restrictions have actually made people appreciate others more.
I think that’s true, although anyone using news more than usual (or maybe even just as much as usual), might find that there are too many who are finding it easier to hate long-distance. But then that was the case before Covid as well, I’m afraid. I’m happy to read you didn’t have many cases where you live! I hope it stays that way.
Covid certainly has disrupted lives. But I guess those of us that simply stay home due to health problems have found we can survive without the interaction of hugging and talking to family face to face. Can’t say it is much fun, but I will survive I am sure.
I haven’t hugged my parents since we moved here, even though I see them regularly. Just don’t want to take any chances. But although I’m a hugger, I’m good with just being around them.
Have not hugged my daughter or granddaughter in a very long time, but I get to see them. Is nice to at least be able to be around those you love.
There are lots of people who had relatives in nursing homes who couldn’t even visit them or had to visit through glass, so I guess we’re blessed even without hugs. ❤
😃❤
I miss being able to travel, living on an island had its upsides as we have few cases in Australia. But states are locked down and borders are closed. So it means staying close to home for the time being. Another 1st world problem.
I miss the spontaneous call from a friend to have lunch plus all of the other things you mentioned,Janet. I wasn’t a person who needed parties or bars but I miss friends coming by for some cafe or a glass of vino. The most important thing I miss is the friendliness my little town. People seem angry all the time. You would think the masks would camouflage that but no, its there. Of course, family is a given. Wonderful Monday thoughts … Isadora😎
PS: stop by to read one of my covid experiences … Cafe Chat
Just read and commented on your post, Issy. Adversity brings out good and bad and magnifies each. I’m trying to be on the side of good, as are you, I know.
Several places in our area have outdoor areas for seating, so when our daughter was here, she and I sat there for coffee. No one was nearby and it was lovely to be outside. But I do miss being able to have a glass of wine or beer with friends. Of course all our friends are back in Illinois, so it’s easier in that way. Hard to meet new people right now. 🙂
Yes, staying positive is difficult but I try to look at the good in all of this. It must have a greater force creating this test.
It can be difficult to meet people because the virus is keeping everyone away and places are closed. My library has meeting rooms. I joined a knitting group there. No meetings since January. Ssoo, I understand. At least, you can ride out to places that are isolated. Happy trails 😊
No horseback riding here, Issy. The horses are in Wyoming year-round, although in winter they’re out on someone’s ranch running free. But we can drive to isolated places which works for me as well.
Your knitting is gorgeous!
I know what you mean, but I miss it too, especially my almost yearly trip to France. Ahh, well, I was able to get away to Wyoming for three weeks this summer, so I won’t complain. 🙂 I think Covid has certainly shown many “problems” to be first world problems.
Top three I miss: not being able to hug family and friends, the deep felt isolation that has resulted from trying to stay safe, and not being able to just get in the car to go get an item or two at a store or heaven forbid actually shopping around. Top three I’m grateful for: my hubby who has put up with me, the library for their online loans and opening as soon as safe, and the many stores offering curbside service. I’ve also started and completed more indoor and outdoor projects that ever before. 🙂
Yes indeed.
At least you still have the bar, Cheryl. 🙂
I miss not second guessing the decisions I make. Is going here “safe”? am I being smart? is this reward worth the risk? am I unknowingly putting someone else at risk?
I have gained more fitness, time to journal and time to focus on myself spiritually and those two things have led to peace during this difficult time.
Very good point in that first paragraph. Trying to assess the actual risks and actual things that help can be so frustrating and since not everyone agrees, it can get acrimonious. It certainly inhibits the spontaneity I mentioned!
But the last paragraph highlights things I hope you’re able to keep once we’re passed this (however that looks and however long it takes.) They’re wonderful outcomes.
Covid has made me very, very grateful to be living away from the hot spots.
I get that! Arizona was a very hot spot for some time and I was happy to get away to Wyoming for a bit this summer as it was near the bottom of all the states for cases and deaths. Of course there aren’t nearly as many people there and many of them are “socially distant” most of the time, but it was still a relief.
You are so right Janet! I miss the togetherness of family and friends!
We’ve been blessed to be able to see my parents often and my brother and his family periodically. Our friends are back in Illinois and it’s hard to meet new people right now. But that will eventually change.
That’s great, at least you can get to see them! You will meet new people soon!
Good questions. People are more friendly here too, even if just with a look of fellow-feeling or a smile. I have reconnected with my local area and places I hadn’t seen since I was a youngster. I’ve been using the library, more than usual and have been grateful for it.
It has been interesting to know what it is like to live through a plague-like time like those we heard about in history classes, though none of us would have wanted the experience. I wonder if Shakespeare had such an intimate way of writing about death because he lived through something similar, but without our support systems and science.
Interesting point about Shakespeare and the comparison to historical pandemics, most of which were really much, much worse than this has been. Our libraries are open just for pickup, I think, but I’ve been going all e-book for now, supplemented by my own real books. 🙂
Also good point about seeing more in your local area. We’ve made a couple trips south to Tucson to visit some parks and this Saturday we’ll be venturing out again, probably to the mountains, a longer trip, but my husband hasn’t really been out much.
Like you I miss spontaneity. I was all about being in the moment before this pandemic began. Now it is planning. all. the. time. It wearies my soul.
On the other hand, being home all the time has meant that I’ve taken the uninterrupted time to clean out closets and the basement and the garage, so we are more organized now. And that gives me comfort.
Ally, I get the cleaning and organizing part. We had to do LOTS of cleaning out before we moved, so once I got things here pretty much in order, it’s mostly cleaning. When Goodwill opened again, I was glad to drop of a bunch of things and get them out of the garage. 🙂 I do have some more things I could go through, but it’s more fun to read. 🙂
Lack of spontaneity in many ways, so much planning have to be done – the creativity much challenged nowadays.
And I can’t visit your lovely towns this year. Boo, hoo. 🙂
i miss a lot of things but Covid is keeping me grounded, personally and spiritually – going back to basics, prioritizing family and health. it makes me grateful over things i took for granted and humbled me quite a bit. great post as always, Janet.
Overall, my life hasn’t changed all that much, as I live rurally, don’t work away from home, and only go into town once a week anyway. One thing Covid gave me was a lot more time with my one of my granddaughters from March to September while she stayed with me once schools shut down. I’m grateful for that. My daughter’s whole family have Covid symptoms right now and what I miss is hugging my grown kids and other grandkids without feeling like I’m embracing contagions, lol. I just delivered some herbal remedies to my daughter’s front porch and had to tell the grandkids ‘no hugs today’ as they all (4) rushed to the truck to greet me. That hurt. But they’re all doing well, symptoms are mild for all of them, and they’ll recover. Wearing a mask and keeping distance is inconvenient but small in the context of the losses so many others have faced. The other thing Covid has given me is a new awareness about how different people can be from one another, even within the same family, and all the various reactions people have to fear and uncertainty, and the extent politics and religion influences our society. It’s also taken away some of the rosy from my rose-colored glasses, and given me instead a new sense of dread about the future of humanity. We’re not at the end of this strange time, and I imagine stranger times are around the corner. Sorry for the long reply, but thank you for asking the question. It gave me a lot to think about this morning.
Glad they’re all doing well, Madison. That’s scary. One of the reasons we might be more careful than necessary is that I don’t want to carry anything to my parents when I deliver their groceries, help clean, or just visit. They’re certainly in the high risk category.
Strange times. Yes. It will be interesting to see where this all goes. I’ve been unhappy/depressed about the nastiness and lack of civility in the national discourse (and the personal discussions of the national discourse) for some time. So many “righteous” people on all sides that I sometimes feel despair myself. Thanks very much for the long, thoughtful comment. There have been so many excellent comments that I’m glad I did the post. I wasn’t really sure if many people would respond.
If we can’t learn to disagree, haggle and argue with civility until we reach a compromise I’m afraid the future is dim. I’ve been getting more and more disheartened too.
Yes! We have to be able to be civil and to agree to disagree and still get along.
I miss my extended family. I miss hugging them. What Covid has done FOR me is let me indulge my antisocial side and stay home, where I prefer to be most of the time.
So Covid’s letting you stay in your comfort zone, eh? Not sure if that’s good or not. 🙂 And you have blogging, which is an outlet of sorts…that still let you stay home. When this is “over”, I’ll have to come up there and get you out and about! 🙂
Well, it’s given me a lot of creative time. I was already semi-hermetic.
It’s Thanksgiving here today, in Canada. I miss seeing my in-laws and niece, but I don’t miss seeing that poor dead, roasted turkey. I’m happy for that.
My family never had turkey, so I was spared that. My husband’s family likes/ed turkey with all the trimmings, but as his parents are no longer with us and sisters are far away, we can do whatever we feel like. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving, BTW.
Whatever we want! Now that’s Thanksgiving!
Mostly what I missed was realizing I now had to click on Reader, in the “new improved WordPress” in order to find people’s posts! I don’t know. Sometimes I feel really old and out of it.
Since I do all my work from home, the only thing I’ve missed is a quiet house while husband and son are at school. Now they are teaching from home over Zoom! Now everyone is home all the time. LOL. I’ve also had trouble figuring out my days as all days are the same day.
I’m glad to have finally found your posts! Sorry for being absent.
My husband already worked from home but now he only gets out of the house to ride his bike. Sigh. I miss having the house to myself as alone time is something I cherish and need. Don’t worry about not having found the posts. There will always be more. 🙂
I miss the little circles on the WP scheduling calendar that showed the days I had posts scheduled. I double-posted a time or two and it’s such an easy thing to have left. I’ve done fine with the block editor, but I haven’t tried anything fancy. Makes me feel a bit old sometimes as well. 🙂
I have learned to better appreciate time with friends. It’s such a treat to gather with 2 or 3 friends outside, have wine, sometimes dinner, chat and laugh together. We have also started talking about how blessed we are almost every single day. Great post! 🌞
LIsa, reminding yourself of your blessings every day is a such a good idea. That’s one of the things that makes it hard to be here right now. All our friends are back in Illinois. Hard to meet people now, but eventually we will. We regularly got together with another couple for dinner or drinks or both. I do miss that. Thanks for adding an excellent point!
You seem like a lovely person, so I have no doubt that new friends are just around the corner! 🌞
If they’re on our neighborhood, they might literally vibe around the corner. But thanks. Right now it’s just not easy to meet people. But that will come.
yes! 🌞
You caught me at a bad time when I’m badly missing the hugs and my Christmas flights have been cancelled. Heartily tired of the subject of Covid-19. Ovid might be better.
I’m tired of it as well, but I thought many people who commented did have some good points. I’d love to be flying as well, but at least here in the State if I want to travel I can drive while taking care at motels. Hope you’re feeling a bit better today.
I know I’m lucky living in NZ that Covid hasn’t (yet) had the terrible impacts here it has in other countries. I am incredibly grateful to be here.
I miss travel: particularly not being able to visit my mum in the UK. I worry about her constantly.
I had great hopes during our initial lock-down that people might see some positives in living simoler lives, and that the environment might recover a little if we all stayed home a bit. I’m not so optimistic now.
One of my other blogging friends who lives in NZ was chronicling the pandemic there for some time and I was so happy to see that it was quite small. Hopefully it will stay that way.
I certainly understand the travel issues but in your case, with your mom all that distance away, it’s much more of a factor. I hope she stays well.
People seem to be slow learners when things aren’t just they way they’d like them to be or require a bit of sacrifice. Right now we also have the pre-election animus going on. I hate it and don’t really read or listen to the news much. It’s too depressing.
Thanks Janet. We’re pre-election too — though for us Saturday is the last day to vote. I’ve been avoiding the news too; civilised debate long since having left the building.
Lovely photo, Janet. I think Covid has affected me in much the same way as your other visitors here. I’m so looking forward to being able to see my sister and daughter in South Africa as well as family in the UK. Chris’s mom is now 107 and we’re hoping to see her before she passes, although fortunately she’s still in good health. 🙏🏻
107? God bless her. That’s quite an age and to be in good health as well really is a blessing. I read that there might be US-UK flights by the end of the year. Hope that’s true.
Even if we could get over to the UK, the care home isn’t allowing any visits because of Covid.
😢
Hi Janet – you are so right about the first work problems – 😉 and you had me laughing with Ovid! Ha
Ovid said if you are not ready today you will be even less ready tomorrow
–
I like that quote and others from him – but cannot say he did much for me!
One positive of early Covid lockdown was I slept a lot the first month and guess what Janet – my ribs finally healed – do you recall that I was in a minor car accident June 2019? Well ribs still hurt – ached at times – all in January February – and so throughout end of March and mid April – all gone! And I started doing pull ups on an over the door pull up bar! I can now do three sort of pull ups – but I went from aches on the left ribs to fully healed and then in the summer to pull ups (which can strain the core and so it takes being healed)
Now that’s certainly an unforeseen good side effect of Covid!
sleep! healing sleep
Last night a younger friend and I had a long visit. He is like a nephew, and we’ve been close for a ten years or more. He seemed so very serene, and I commented that the Covid lockdown had had a positive effect on him. He agreed and said it helped him realize that what we need is right there – especially the people we love, and most all else is nonsense… It was lovely to hear his feedback and attitudes about the future – and of covid’s effect on people.
Today I drove him to run errands while his truck was being serviced.. He emerged from one store with a big jigsaw puzzle and explained that it was for a certain uncle, – one that \i know… “He’s been a little sad lately, and I thought this might help distract him…”
What a lovely gesture – not to win favor from anyone, but to touch one he loves with emptahy and silence… I suspect they re putting the puzzle together now – about a three hour drive from here… The thought gives me peace – and hope that things might turn around, one person at a time.
Forgive my long silence — very few ops for internet these days.
Maybe tomorrow I can squeeze out a post before the global big day weekend.
Sending you positive energy from the equator.
Love
Lisa
There is so much I miss! However, what I miss most is not seeing my family who all lives all over the place. Second, is having a normal life for the kids. So much has been canceled and it has been so hard on them. Third, I miss traveling! That is who I am. Fourth, eating out (it has gotten cold here and there is no where I feel comfortable inside), listening to live music, going to a coffee shop and seeing friends at my house. I feel our world has really shrunk and it is hard. But I appreciate the little things. I will be truly happy when things can somewhat return to some sort of normalcy. 🙂
I think we’re all with you there, Nicole. Thanks for chiming in.
janet
COVID makes me miss the things we all miss; time with my family, letting my kids play at the the playground and meet friends, getting together with friends for a cup of coffee or tea. Seeing people smile would be a breath of fresh air.
But this time has brought out creativity, too. Lots of reading, crafting things, being outdoors this summer kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. The gift of time.
It’s still really hard.
But some of it hasn’t been horrible.
Thanks for adding your insights to this discussion. I think that most things have positives and negatives about them, but sometimes we have to look hard for the positives. 🙂
janet
Your post is echoing my thought. I miss meeting friends and colleagues, I miss spontaneity. On the other hand I could spend lot of time with my family. As working from home we can have lunch together and spend value time. Igain realise the importance of family during crisis.
I think that’s one of the good things to come out of Covid, realizing the importance of family and of other basic things as well. Thanks for the visit and comment and I’m praying 2021 will be a much better year!
janet