After staying put for more than three months, Andy and I have ventured out only a few times. I have not been in the grocery once, preferring to order and pick up. Rather than visiting retail stores, I've gone online. We've been careful to wear face masks, avoid close contact with anyone and wash our hands upon returning home.
Our first meal out was at a Mexican-Salvadoran place we like on Lake Ray Hubbard. There was a short line to get in and people were distancing, but often not wearing masks. It's a big restaurant and we were seated far away from others. You read the menu by scanning a QR code provided by the server, who was masked and gloved. We ate quickly and got the heck out of there. Sorta took the fun out of a restaurant meal. A week later, we visited our favorite little Greek place. Family-run, it's very small. We sat far apart from other tables and enjoyed our meals of kebabs and moussaka. Same for a new burger place we wanted to try. Because we are both in our mid-seventies, I'm still feeling a little anxious about all of this A few days ago, I had to shop at Walgreens to purchase a replacement for my broken clip-on sunglasses. There was a big sign at the entry asking customers to wear masks. About a third of the customers (all men) I saw entering did not comply. I quickly made a couple purchases and headed for the door. Then I saw a nice lady entering without a mask and pointed to mine. She smiled and dug into her purse. Because my toenails were verging into Howard Hughes territory and catching against the sheets when I turned over in bed, I decided to throw a bit of caution to the wind and get a pedicure. Fortunately, my favorite nail place was taking all the right steps. Customers were spread out with a chair between and all the technicians were masked and gloved. An acrylic screen separated you from the cashier at check-out. I can't tell you how relieved I felt to have my toenails clipped, cleaned up and finished with a coat of bright polish. After deciding that getting his toes taken care of was not a threat to his manhood, my husband started had getting regular pedicures, so off he went to get one right after me. When numbers in Texas have gone down for two weeks straight, I'll be more comfortable going out into the world. In the meantime, I'll work on my 1,000 piece Monet Bridge over Waterlilies puzzle, watch movies, bake and walk Toby after the sun goes down. This, too, shall pass. Stay well, my friends.
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AuthorI'm Chris Barabasz, retired from a 35-year career managing communications for health care development (that's fundraising for you civilians). I'm a wife, mother, grandmother and freelance writer. My husband Andy and I moved from Delaware to Texas to be closer to our daughters and three adorable grandchildren. Archives
January 2024
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