These past two years have been an experience few of us could ever have imagined. Living through the pandemic has been a life-changing experience for so many. As we look for a post-pandemic life with a semblance of normalcy, we also reflect on some of the things we are more than happy to leave behind.
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The mask is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind. They've protected us and others, to be sure, but also have made the reality of the pandemic something we see every single day. In addition to taking away our "personality" — leopard-print masks notwithstanding — they became a polarizing symbol in the fight against COVID-19. And lest we forget, they brought their own kind of issues, from acne to fogged eyeglasses. Still, as mandates drop, for some they may not ever fully go away.
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No one wants to be "dirty," but the pandemic's unwavering focus on hand washing, hand sanitizers and, in the earliest days, disposable gloves were routine. People wanted to avoid touching groceries, mail, and door handles like never before. While keeping our hands clean isn't a bad idea, these protections were as useful as they were instrumental in increasing our anxiety.
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Though these are still very much with us in many situations, despite their being "see through," Plexiglas partitions created a literal barrier between people, from the clerk at the gas station to the student at the next desk over. They helped reinforced a sense of isolation at every turn with no evidence they were a good tool against the spread of the disease.
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Who could have imagined waiting in the cold or rain to be allowed to enter a grocery store? Panic buying, increased cooking at home, and grocery stores being among the few "essential businesses" we could patronize made them a go-to necessity. Stores also introduced and enforced limits on shopper capacity, as well as hours reserved for seniors.
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Once you gained entry into those supermarkets, you would be confronted with arrows on the floors, one-way signs on the ends of aisles, constant reminders over the loudspeakers and yes, those "socially distanced" dots to stand on to ensure everyone was 6 feet apart.
No disrespect to hard-working restaurant employees, but I prefer to choose my own rolls or bagels, select my own salad bar fixings or order a pound of ham cut thin, the way I like it. So much food during the pandemic was pre-packed or you had to, literally, explain how much gravy to add to your hot-bar mashed potatoes. Sure, we loved being served, but sometimes, you just want to do it yourself.
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It's hard to forget the sheer sense of panic you felt when confronted with an entire aisle devoid of products. Shortages of toilet paper, paper towels, disinfecting wipes — and even random items from canned corn to flour — made us feel like we were living in another time or place. Unfortunately, some items still remain in short supply, in large part due to supply chain issues brought on by the pandemic that have been added to by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Adding to the sense of deprivation was how people would scramble to find scarce goods ("I heard the store on Main just got in a shipment") to then face the limits on many goods, something that was at first truly startling.
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For those who do not use debit cards or other forms of instant payment, the increase in places not accepting cash was disturbing. The same went for the "coin shortage," when you were told if you didn't have "exact change," then payment by card was required. Evidently, the day finally came when cash was not king.
Dealing with supermarkets, lines, and paying for goods was still something not to be taken for granted. Knowing how many could suddenly could not afford the essentials was truly jarring. News reports of food bank lines were sobering. The generosity and volunteerism that sparked was stirring, but strained by by pandemic shortages morphing into spiraling inflation.
Anyone who ever complained when someone was loud at a Saturday night movie found themselves wishing for those "good old days." Sure, streaming services offered convenience and entertainment, but after a while, didn't you feel like you had seen everything you wanted to catch up on and longed for a first-run movie in the theater?
How many of us had ever heard of Zoom before the pandemic? What became the way to conduct business meetings, job interviews, and even seminars and conferences soon turned into a clever way to host cocktail "parties" and even go on a first date. The virtual became viable, but we just hate the name, especially as it became a verb (and also reminded us how far away we are from that favorite childhood TV show).
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Yes, we get it, you could wear your pajama bottoms (or not) when working from home. Countless commercials joked about going "pants-less." But even the funniest jokes get annoying after the first few times. (The "trend" sparked coverage on how to look professional "from the waist up at least" when working from home, as featured in the Wall Street Journal.)
It was a perverse addiction, checking the number of coronavirus cases and deaths featured on CNN. It was horrifying, frightening … and on some days, just plain numbing. But didn't you wonder where those numbers went when they stopped the omnipresent graphic?
Visiting the elderly or immuno-compromised through the window is an experience no one wants to repeat. The need to stay separate was necessary but, again, utterly isolating, as so much was during the pandemic has been. We realized that sitting across from someone and having coffee was a simple pleasure not to be taken for granted.
During the height of the lockdowns, streets in small towns and large cities alike resembled ghost towns. Forget the commuters, the rush hours, just about any traffic, as things came to a literal standstill. In many parts of the world, animals took note and roamed shopping centers and tourist hot spots. Of course, as things began to pick back up we were right back there complaining about commuting, rush hours, and the like.
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Cars sitting in the driveway for days at a time became the norm. We had lots of time but really nowhere we could go. The tiny perks? Long drives (no stops) became a way to decompress, and some car insurance companies even offered refunds.
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School could not stop completely, of course, but remote learning drained the life from students, families, teachers, and everyone associated with the education system. Kids missed their friends. Parents missed their dining room tables!
Working from home, for those who never had the option, was a challenge and a bonus. Communication sometimes suffered. Colleagues missed going out to lunch together. A hybrid schedule, though, is something many employees now demand. It's said the workplace will never go back to what it was, so perhaps lessons will be learned.
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Public libraries are community treasures. You walk in, browse, get a book or DVD, do research, sit and read a paper, or even attend a lecture or listen to a live performance. Many libraries were able to shift to virtual offerings quickly, gradually offer curbside pickup, and eventually accept "browse and grab" appointments. As they reopen, it's hard to imagine taking libraries' services for granted again.
Oh, the horns … drive-by birthday celebrations, graduation parades, and welcome-home-from-the-hospital caravans were pervasive during the lockdown. You could wave, make a video — and keep your distance. They were as festive as they were sad, vivid reminders of how different life had become.
Having your birthday (be it a 10th or 65th) proclaimed on the front lawn with oversize displays became popular, as were giant banners honoring graduates — another practice that encouraged community recognition but underscored just how apart we really were.
The lockdown holiday seasons were unlike any we experienced. Large gatherings were discouraged. Religious services were often virtual. Traveling back to your hometown was filled with risk. It was stressful, though we may have gained new appreciation for what family and friends mean — and also for simpler celebrations in the future.
Think back to before the pandemic. Bet you didn't use words and phrases including "pods," "quarantine," "variant," "herd immunity," and "ventilator" on a regular basis. The onset of the coronavirus brought with it a whole new vocabulary, much of which has already faded. (We'll be really glad if "social distancing" as a phrase really does one day disappear.)
Reports were plentiful of people delaying doctor visits during the pandemic. There were even people who thought they were having a heart attack but were too scared to consider the emergency room. While the pandemic put the medical field in the spotlight, it also created sheer fear of entering a health care facility for any reason. Telemedicine offered an option, but many simply stayed away.
One thing preserving many a day's sanity was a walk. Even with early demands to keep a mask on, you could be outdoors, getting fresh air and a welcome respite from the barrage of worrisome news. Then the parks closed, to prevent large gatherings and ensure safety. Neighborhood streets became the new walking paths in many suburbs.
The "quarantine 15" wasn't called that for nothing. People were cooking (or ordering in) at record clips, with food fads at every turn disrupting many a diet attempt. All you heard, ate, or read about were sourdough starters and Dalgona coffee, sheet-pan meals, and creative cocktails. Some learned skills that they continue to develop, while others simply gained weight.
Was it the weight gains leading to less-restrictive clothing? Or simply feeling no need to "dress up" for, well, any reason. If we never see sweatpants again, that would be fine. Sure, we savored the laid-back life — and added a few sweatshirt-inspired tops to our wardrobe — but oh, did we want to put on those nice clothes sitting sadly in the closet and go out into the world again.
Social media was already a constant, but it went wild during the pandemic. People felt the need to post nonstop about everything from new recipes to attempted crafts, from room renovations to inspirational words to the little puppy that was just adopted. Enough.
Lift that can of beans and give me 10. For those unable to get to the gym — and without a professional-style set-up of their own — makeshift exercise routines (and equipment) became popular. Points for creativity, but a return to structure was welcome.
"In these uncertain times" — let's lose that phrase — we tuned in to far too many virtual shows. You want to give credit to those who tried to keep things going, but really, on the whole, it just didn't work. Awards shows featuring multiple locations, some stars in gowns and others in flannel and audience members inexplicably masked or unmasked just added up to disorganized presentations that were more confusing than entertaining. Some things just don't adapt. (Yes, this means you, Academy Awards 2021).
Hands up if you did more than one jigsaw puzzle during the pandemic. They were the go-to time-filler for many, and became popular gifts. In fact, they became so popular there were shortages. How many puzzles remain unfinished or simply left in their boxes?
Seamless, Grubhub, DoorDash, and Slice are just a few of the food-delivery apps and services that blew up during the pandemic. Perhaps in the minority, I prefer the old-school "excitement" of parking outside and walking into the local pizzeria to pick up a Friday-night pepperoni pie.
For a time — a very long time — there were more delivery trucks on neighborhood streets than neighbors. Porches and front steps were piled with packages as online shopping reached new heights of popularity. (Retail Leader reported a $900 billion online shopping surge in the first year of the pandemic). It was fueled by the lack of bricks-and-mortar options coupled with convenience, but hitting local indie shops and mom-and-pop establishments has a certain charm we're ready to embrace again.
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With salons and barbershops closed for so long, the DIY haircut, man bun, and silver hair were the looks of the day. Vanity was threatened, as were salon manicures and other spa treatments. We may now go longer between haircuts, but not many are tempted to take up the scissor themselves anytime soon.
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The mask, bandana, or neck gaiter gave new importance to the eyes — and sadly, too often the eyes we encountered were sad, suspicious, or downright fearful. Life is far from perfect, but we'd hate to think those expressions will return.
No one likes to feel out of control. The extended period of pandemic uncertainty really did a number on people. It's fine to say we learned lessons about how little power we truly have and such, but it's good to give up living with such a strong sense of uneasiness and return to a more balanced life.
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