10 Things I Miss From BEFORE
10 things I miss from 'before.'
I've read a lot recently about how the pandemic will become a new demarcation in all of our lives. The thing that separates how things were "before" versus how they were "after" this all went down.
I know that was true for me when my parents separated the summer I turned 12. How that brought an abrupt end to one part of my life and ushered in years of feeling like the rug had been pulled out from under me.
It happened again 30 years later when I ended my own marriage. Even today, when I think back on something that's happened, I frame it in whether it was when the kids dad and I were together or not.
Anyhoo, whilst standing online to get into Trader Joe's the other day to load up on yogurt and almond butter -- sweating behind my surgical mask and annoyed at the woman in front of me who was too busy looking at her phone to keep pace with the rest of the line -- I decided I wanted to go back in time. Back to a place where we could do a quick run to Trader Joe's or sit on the beach and not feel like we're taking our lives into our own hands.
I'd like to jump over that metaphysical line back into what now seems like a much easier time (who knew?).
Here's some other stuff I thoroughly miss about Pre-Pandemic Life :
Wandering around Target admiring every Threshold item (something I was reminded by this tweet last week). I am a Target junkie and am happy to wander around looking at every basket and beauty item. But nowadays, there seems to be less browsing and more stocking up on what you need and then standing on the long line to pay. There's even a sign greeting you as your enter the store, listing all of the items they are sold out of. Like, isn't that the point of Target? The endless possibilities? Sheesh.
Sitting at the bar to eat. It's one of my favorite things and my kids joke that if all the stools are taken, their mom is gonna freak out. I think I just like the more casual vibe of eating at the bar and being a part of the action. Maybe I'll sit at my kitchen counter for dinner tonight and ask one of the kids to pour my a drink from the other side?
Going to the movies. I am an avid movie goer, or was one until all this. I wish I could remember the last one that I saw. Wait, according to my Fandango account (I’m a VIP, no big deal) it was Jojo Rabbit on February 1. Damn, the pandemic happened to strike at the end of award season when all other offerings stink. #figures
Ladycations. Last weekend, my gang of four was supposed to fly to Boston and rent a car to drive to a seaside Airbnb just over the border of New Hampshire in Maine. Instead, I sat on my patio in a beach chair and imagined the sound of waves and all the lobster I planned on eating.
Vacations. In July, I was planning on going with a big group (and my oldest girl) to a resort in Mexico for the week. It’s still not 100 percent canceled, but I don’t see us risking getting sick and landing in a Cabo San Lucas hospital bed.
A clean house. This morning, in a cleaning frenzy, I got on my knees with some Clorox Cleanup and wiped the horror that was living behind the toilet in the children’s bathroom. Like, did all my kids’ pubic hair just fall off their bodies and migrate behind the toilet? We began quarantine with rules and regulations regarding who would clean what but it’s fallen apart in the last month. I could not walk past that bathroom one more time on my way downstairs and ignore the tragedy festering within the toilet, which assaulted my line of vision each time I passed.
Eating leftovers for lunch (or dinner). I guess I’m not used to cooking for a big crowd on the reg because no matter how many zucchinis I zoodle or steak I grill, there’s rarely anything left to eat the next day.
Solitude. For as extroverted as I am, I also really like being alone. I like going for long walks listening to books or podcasts or sometimes, nothing. One time I listened to YoyoMa's Beethoven Suites and had like a religious experience. So sometimes, I'll hide in my bedroom and work in repose and I even relished the four hour roundtrip to visit my dad not long ago.
The woods. Local hiking trails have opened back up, but it’s not the same. For one thing, they’ve blocked off half the parking, so I found myself on Monday waiting in my car on a line for the ranger to let me in. Then once you get on the trail, your fellow hikers seem to be 20 year old girls wearing Victoria Secret sweatsuits talking on their phones and taking selfies. In other words, everything has changed and I can't imagine any imminent religious experiences in the woods.
Haircuts. I announced to a friend earlier that the hair cascading down my back felt like I was wearing a hot rug over my shoulders, or maybe a heavy tapestry. Most nights, I am sleeping with it piled on top of my head in a scrunchie because I can't handle how hot it feels, which only creates a crimped effect for the following day. Anyway, am really regretting holding out on spending the top dollar on my hair guy until I had an occasion that warranted the expense. Turns out, that was terrible timing for suddenly becoming a tightwad. Considering having a daughter cut it all in the next few weeks. Send help.
xoAmy
I wish you could smell this Smitten Kitchen ragu.
Friday Faves
I don't know what you've been wearing, lo these many pandemic days, but I've been thankful for all that Old Navy workout stuff I loaded up on a few months ago. However, there have been a few opportunities for bottoms requiring snaps and zippers recently. My son bought me these new kicks for Mother's Day and they have been a bright spot in my quarantine wardrobing. Also, sneakers don't care if you've been eating more carbs lately than you did in 2018 + 2019 combined. They slip right on. Also, they're pretty cozy on these old feet.
Speaking of carbs, if you've been paying attention, you would have noticed that I have been inspired by Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman's recipes during quarantine, which I find hearty and comforting during these trying times. There's something very satisfying about feeding these dishes to my family, giving them little bites of love. I thought this banana bread recipe was bonkers and this is the perfect weeknight dinner. On Sunday, my daughter and I tended this big pot of ragu for hours while playing Yahtzee (I got 3 Yahtzees in one game and no one would talk to me) and folded in some almost-done rigatoni at the end to finish off in the velvety sauce. If that's not love, I don't know what is (it also made up for the Yahtzee episode).
Listen, sometimes -- despite loving your family -- you're over cooking for them. Jesus, I know I am. If you live in the Two River Area, you would do well to avail yourself of The Blonde Shallot's new grab-n-go options at her recently reopened shop in downtown Little Silver. Starting next week, you can load up on fresh summer staples like grilled or oven-fried chicken and roasted salmon and seasonal side salads like summer corn salad w basil and tomato, artichoke salad w arugula and celery. Maybe a little Broccoli Farro, cappellini w shrimp and tomatoes? She's even serving up fresh Guac + Salsa for summer happy hours! Let somebody else do the work for a change!
Maybe one reason to endure the Trader Joe's line is these nuts.
I wish there was a better way to share TikTok videos here. This one made me die. Like I couldn't stop laughing. My daughter sent me this one (LOL) and another daughter sent this (might be a lot safer to my midsection than making treats for myself).
I finally got around to starting Season 3 of this Netflix series and I don't know what took me so long. I gobbled up the first two last night and was reminded why I A: love Laura Linney and B: had such a crush on Justine Bateman's brother back in the day.
I've heard this observation more than once: our dogs are benefitting the most from all of us being holed up together. Not that our pooch wasn't incredibly spoiled to begin with (you should see the tufts of apricot fur on my bed), but these days he has access to an unlimited amount of snuggling. We're so obsessed with him that this Mother's Day gift from my daughter felt right. This article gives some good tips to prepare our pooches for post-pandemic life.
As mentioned previously, I am drawn to tales of missing girls and humor (with a little romance on the side) to escape from all the cooking and mask wearing of our new reality. So it makes sense that I just finished this oldie (her most recent is on my to-read list) and just started this for book club.
Finally, please consider or share with someone you think might like it. My neighbor stopped me last week as I walked by with the dog to tell me she laughed at something I'd written and shared with some friends. Thank you, Maggie!! xoAmy