Emotionally, this is one of the trickiest parts of the pandemic
We're getting near the end of the pandemic. The vaccines are being approved and distributed. One two three! The new case numbers appear to be on a downward trajectory. And I think many of us have stopped looking for loopholes. Where I live, you can have up to 10 people over to your house. Six months ago people were having 11 and establishing who would run out the back door if the coppers arrived.Honestly. We were having these conversations.Now we can have 10 people over and we don't even bother. We stand a little closer to the neighbour on our front yards and call that progress.
Oh a year ago! A year ago we were traipsing around the big city, sitting elbow to elbow in crowded restaurants, popping into stores to look for non-essential purchases. (I bought a Culture Club album and we've been listening to Karma Chameleon for a year. Amélie is a pro with the record player and we set it on a low table for her to DJ her own fun.)Oh a year ago! How we were swimming in clouds of other people's breath without a concern in the world.Then slam, lockdown, masks, "the big shop" for groceries.And you do it. You hunker down, do what's best for the community, and wait it out. You're being a good sport about it, laughing about All Day PJs and hand sanitizer rashes. You Zoom like a pro.Oh six months ago! The vaccine race was on. First to create it. Then to get it. Then to discuss whether you're getting it or not. We stared at images on TV of bare arms getting shots. And we liked it.And that brings us to now. We feel near the end of the waiting and all the emotions we've held at bay are simmering uncomfortably close to the surface. We are getting choked up at the wrong times. We are about to burst.It reminds me of the two weeks before vacation.In Paris, most shops close for the month August. In the two weeks prior, everyone is fighting with everyone. Colleagues who usually have an after work apéro suddenly have to get home and can't make it. Friends are irritating. Neighbours walk by with nary a Bonjour, pretending they don't see each other. Everyone is tired. Tired of the heat. Tired of each other. Tired of tourists. So they all take it out on each other. They know all will be forgotten and forgiven after a month at the beach.So we, globally, are in this tricky two weeks before vacation.We're tired of being good sports about it and want to be big babies about it.And that's why we need to put some projects to the side and bring self-care to the forefront. We need to remind each other to drink water. We must sit in the bathtub and sulk alone. We must reduce the caffeine in order to induce the naps.And that's just the physical health. We need basic basic basic. Drink water. Move body. Eat apples. Sleep. Repeat. Buy our self some non-essentials.We need some Karma Chameleon. Go ahead, click on the photo to go listen to it on YouTube. It helps.
Amélie doesn't know all the words so she makes them up, which is perfect since I never knew all the words either. I'm not sure what we're singing during our impromptu Solid Gold moments. Speaking of solid gold...My latest book, Dear Paris, came out. It would mean so much to me if you would buy it for your favourite Francophile, especially if that is you. If you're so inclined, make this book your Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, surprise gifts, gifts to Paris lovers. Links to purchase here.
You'll be able to read 140 illustrated letters about Paris. Most of them are one page long, perfect for our short attention span lives these days. And even if you don't want to read, you have pretty pictures to look at to help you fantasize about a day when you can traipse around a big city and sit elbow to elbow in crowded restaurants without a care in the world.PS Learn more about Dear Paris and get links on where to buy it here.PPS If you'd like love notes like this delivered to your inbox, sign up here.
