10 Things I Miss During the Covid-19 Shut Down

We are missing much as we navigate these uncharted waters of Covid 19. We miss our extended family and friends. We miss hugging our loved ones. We miss gathering to celebrate and mourn. We miss being connected as the days drag from days to weeks to months.

I find myself missing many people, places and things. Most are no big surprise. There are some other things though, I didn't even realize I was fond of, never-less actually miss them when gone. Here is a list of 10 things, in no particular order, that I so took for granted, I never even saw it coming. See if you can relate.

10. My face itches. It is just a little tickle right at the bottom of my nose. I will not succumb. I will be strong. Do not touch your face I say to myself. Ignore it. It will go away. But it does not. It gets stronger, more tickley and starts to spread.

The itch is now a full sensation taking over the right side of my face like a black fog rolling through London. I grit my teeth, I clench my hands, I bite my lip, but the itch is relentless. If I can just resist..but the itch knows my weakness, it knows my thoughts, it knows all. I think of my children, I think of my family members, my life flashes before my eyes. Would it all come down to this. I miss touching my face.

9. It really doesn't matter if your place is Goodwill or Target or Macy's. We all have a store that we just go to wander. We might need something, we probably don't. We just like to meander in search of the thing we didn't know we needed. I miss wandering around Goodwill.

8. I love the library. I love the stacks of books, big and small, wide and thin. All that knowledge just sitting on the shelves ready for the taking. I love a slow Saturday where I take the kiddos who need to look for a certain book.

I sit in the comfy chair by the window and look through a magazine with advice on how to properly style my hair. I love the serious librarian who shushes us when we talk too loudly about stopping for a snack on the way home. I miss hanging out at the library.

7. A few weeks ago, I was fearless and didn't even know it. I am perpetually running late so on any given night, I would sidle up in the grocery store parking lot and just get out of my car. A little pep in my step because I am probably hungry wondering what to make for dinner as I, without a care in the world, walk through the electronic doors, the air hitting my face.

I walk with purpose, picking up this, picking up that. Never wondering where the boxes have been or the health of the employee who put them there. I smile as I wait in line, absent-mindedly putting my goods on the conveyor belt when it is my turn. I grab cash out of my wallet and hand it to the clerk when they tell me the total and hold my hand out for the change. Without a thought, without a reservation, without a fear. I miss being fearless.

6. The alarm rings at 5:30 and my day begins. I hit the shower, get dressed, do the hair, makeup, all the things that a together woman does these day. I got things to do and places to go.

At about 6:45 I gather my stuff and at precisely 6:55 every morning, we walk out of the house to start our day. Busy, busy, busy. Always on the move. Kids to feed, work to do, bills to pay. Keeping all those balls in the air takes timing, skill and practice and I have them all. "It would be great to have a month to just sit around and do nothing, a break from all the busy-ness", I think to myself. I was wrong. I miss my busy schedule.

5. I never should of agreed to this. A concert at my age. There is already a crowd and we made sure we got here early. We take our place in the mile long line behind a lady with a black leather jacket and a pony tail. I start to complain and insist they should have a special line for people over 50 with an entitlement problem.

The lady, with the leather jacket, turns around laughing. She agrees with me, we share a pleasantry and gather that great minds think alike. I comment on her jacket and she smiles. The line starts to move and the concert is great, the crowd cheering and insisting on an encore with chants and shouts. I leave and vow that I will never attend another concert again because I am too old for crowds. I was so wrong. I miss crowds.

4. Noon on a rainy Sunday with nothing to do, we can grab a movie. Midnight on school night with a deadline, we can still get it at Walmart. Boring Friday with nothing to do, we can meet the girls at the local. Big day with a new graduate, we can celebrate at a fancy restaurant. A little extra money in our pocket and a week off, Road Trip! I miss going any place, any time, any where I wanted.

3. Why do I have to go to sleep-because you have to get up for school. Why do I have to shower-because you don't want to smell at work. Why do I have to wear pants-because you will look funny when we meet everyone at the bowling alley. Why do I have to get up at 6:00 am-because you've got important stuff to do. I miss a reason.

2. We are lost. Not to worry, we have our phones, just google map it. Even with the aid of Siri, we can not figure out which way to turn. New York is tricky and busy with people rushing here and there. We move out of the way to really study the phone.

We are in a doorway of a little shop as a man tries to exit. He notices us, offers his help and we quickly accept. While giving us directions he shares his favorite place for authentic New York Pizza going on about the little place in Harlem. We chit chat for a few minutes and in the end I thank him, shaking his hand. His eyes are kind and he has a hardy laugh. I miss talking to strangers.

1. Shut down restaurants and bars? In Chicago? Never! A virus that our medical industry can't handle? In 2020? No way! Wear masks? To the grocery store? I don't think so. Put healthcare workers in danger? No Masks or gloves? I hope not. A pandemic that will shut down a whole country? In America? Will they? A disease that will be airborne? And kill thousands? God help us. I miss my ignorance.

You can find Melanie Gangolf on facebook.