A little coffee with friends

It’s been a long time since I had coffee in person with someone. Even thought it was never a regular thing for me, I miss it. But I’ll settle for virtual coffee today with Deb and Coco and my friends inside the computer.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I miss my pre-pandemic work life. In some ways, things haven’t changed. I’ve worked from home for 10 years, so working from my dining room or my couch is nothing new. But two big changes have affected my life.

1) Video. Pre-pandemic whenever I had a meeting it was a phone call. I used to walk during calls or ride my exercise bike. Heck, once I even took a call from an ice bath after an 18 mile run. Now I have to sit still and look somewhat presentable. (And let’s not talk about what it’s like with 3 of us using video at the same time.)

2) Never seeing people. Because I worked from home, I made an effort every week to get out of the house a couple of times. Most of the time, it was something like the grocery store or dry cleaners. You don’t realize until you don’t have these “incidental friends” how much of a role they play in your life. My poor grocery delivery guy gets stuck talking to me every week. (Yes, I have the same guy nearly every time.) And if I see a neighbor out on a walk? You better bet we are going to have a 20 minute socially distanced conversation.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I just realized that I have seen Shoo every day since the pandemic started. I love him dearly, but he’s a teen boy. At this point in our lives, we could use a little distance from each other. I look forward to traveling for work and to the occasional small trips that Beer Geek and I took. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’m amused by the people who think the coming cicadas are no big deal. After all, we get cicadas every year. But Brood 17 is coming and the world will become cicada coated. It’s kind of gross and fascinating at the same time. I’m excited for it though because it means Jones is coming home for the summer. My entomologist is NOT going to miss out on it.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you I’m so excited to start to see the end of the tunnel of Covid-19. Beer Geek has his first shot already and my parents have both. Projections here indicate I will likely get mine in the summer. ZOOMA has announced fall races and, assuming all goes as planned, I WILL GET TO BE THERE!!! It’s hard to believe that ZOOMA Lost Pines was my last trip exactly a year ago.

Spring is nearly here and I’m so happy to be returning to being able to do outdoor things. The weather, combined with the fact that many close to me are vaccinated or in the process, means we can have some more socially distance patio dinners. I can’t wait.