I was cleaning out my iPhone the other day and came across a few photos that hadn’t been deleted.
They were from last year. The first week of March, 2020. Today is the first day of March 2021.
And let us hope the winter coating can be stored away in a few weeks!
On that first weekend of March last year, we decided to spend the (click this link for last year’s blog post about our) weekend in Manhattan.
Hard to believe this was taken a year ago and even more difficult to believe we are entering year two of the pandemic!
We stayed at the Marriott in Midtown and before arriving at the hotel, we drove to Nyack to visit my husband’s grandfather’s grave. A lifelong Parisien, he moved here due to work obligations and passed away due to a heart attack. He was living in an old house in Nyack and was buried in the town.
We stapped first to have a little visit with Bonaparte’s grandfather!
It’s a bittersweet sentiment for my Frenchman because his entire family is in France so it gives a connection here.
But more about the weekend.
We heard about this “virus” but really hadn’t known the seriousness of it. Yet.
What we did notice was traffic was eerily light. And lighter traffic is always a good thing but this was different. And it was more noticeable as we approached the City.
And once in the city, we were astounded that traffic remained so light. I mean there was no traffic at all. Under normal circumstances driving in the City, I’m usually cursing every five seconds and flipping the bird every 15. On that day, I remained unsarcastically angelic!
This was the heaviest traffic we encountered–in Times Square it was rather eerie!
And when we arrived at the hotel we were greeted as though we were royalty. In fact, Marriott upgraded us into a rather large suite. Little did we know it was because a great number of travelers opted out of staying at the hotel!
We had great views in this corner of the suite. And a year later, the hotel closed. It’s so sad.
After unpacking and headed out and about for an afternoon walk, we didn’t notice a smaller number of people. That area of the city is usually pretty crowded and the locals were going about their normal weekend errands and whatever it is they needed to do. We had a lovely dinner at Le Relais de Venise Entrecôte and the restaurant held a good crowd. It was business as usual.
We had a lovely dinner here–it’s actually our “usual” place in The City. And I”m happy to announce it has remained opened a year later!
MMM…Steak!
And despite some of the normalcy, we had a hunch that something was about to happen.
The next day, we left the city and arrived at the Holland Tunnel in record time. No one was on the road. We exited a metropolis that had morphed into a virtual ghost town.
We had never witnessed such empty city streets. It wasn’t a sign of good things to come.
It was not until the next day that I realized the severity of this virus. We were now experiencing a true pandemic.
The office I work in was now under a lockdown of sorts. Staff was now ordered to work from home. I was one of three people who volunteered to come into the office. (For me, it was a dream—not having to be with most co-workers was a delight)
Only I wasn’t sorry. I was delighted! It was so productive!
And thus, life changed. Restaurants closed. Malls and stores closed. People were now ordered to wear masks. There was no cure for this mysterious illness but we all knew it was bad. Very bad.
And last March, I had no idea that I would still be wearing a mask during the November voting process!
In the beginning, for me, it was a pleasure to drive to work with no traffic. It was even more of a pleasure to work in an empty office. I mean, it’s a beautiful thing to not have to deal with the office gossips or the slackers or the moles who spy on everyone while spending less time on their daily duties.
A year later, I think back on the empty office. There is now a handfulof people working onsite but we keep a very safe distance!
After all, how long would this pleasure of being alone last? A few weeks? A month at the most? Oh boy, were we all in for a rude awakening! Weeks turned into months and those months turned into a year. A year later, I’m not as delightfully giddy as a was during the onset of this pandemic.
I must say that I DO miss my friends! A lot!
A year later, I miss people (except most co-workers) who are my friends. I miss random conversations with strangers while we are waiting in line at a store or elsewhere. I miss seeing young parents with their babies and telling them how cute their baby is.
Suffice it to say, I even miss standing on lines like this to see a movie!
I miss going out. I’ve been a semi-prisoner in my home for one year now. No contact with family. Sure, I did get to visit Oona and Sam twice and I got to spend time with my new grandson Owen. And Roman came to visit. But Jake is still out in L.A.
Thank God I have memories of my visit to Ohio to see my new grandson!
But there were no trips to Long Island to see my sister. Our trips to France, two of them cancelled with a possible third in the queue of cancellation. For 2021 No weddings. No barbeques. No random restaurant meals. No wedding showers. No baby showers. No birthday parties. No nothing except one trip to the beach last summer.
Something tells me we won’t be hanging here in Antibes this coming summer.
And please—do not even broach the subject of Zoom events because it is simply not the same as being in a room with real human touch.
Zoom isn’t cutting it for me.
As we enter into Year Two of this pandemic, I honestly don’t have much hope for 2021. Montgomery County here in Pennsylvania is a joke—an absolute joke with the handling of the vaccines. Smokers and obese individuals are receiving their vaccination before soon-to-be-66-year-old me along with peers of my age group.
Smoking? You’ll get your vaccine first!
Masking it has become the new normal. Caution has taken over our lives. Hand sanitizer is the new eau de toilette. Take out and curbside pickup is the substitute for dining out. Amazon is now the Mall of America.
I haven’t purchased any perfume in a year but I’ve got a steady supply of this!
A year ago, I was delighted to be away from people. A year later, I long for the company of people (except most co-workers). I daydream of arriving home from the office and having my husband suggest heading to downtown Phoenixville for a bite to eat rather than the typical weeknight dinner at home.
I want to return to France. I want to be on a TSA line that is so long that I’m cursing up a storm and my patience is tested. I want to be bitchy to overly-aggressive sales assistants but want to be kind to the nice ones.
That’s right. I want my naughty mouth to get working on a long TSA line!
I want the opportunity to mull over an invite. I want to go shopping to purchase a gift for someone special and wrap it and adorn it with ribbon and embellishments.
Ahhh. Christmas. 2019? I long to make pretty wrappings again!
I don’t want a daily count of the deaths. I want this goddamned pandemic to end.
2020 was the year that wasn’t. I felt as though an entire year of life was wasted and it won’t come back. And as I age, time is of the essence. Hopefully 2021 will see a return to life as it were. And I’m not alone. It seems that the year mark has thrown many over that mountain of patience and hope.
This is how a feel about last year.
This first day of March marks entering into the second year of COVID-19 but, this first day of March also gives an awakening that Spring is just around the corner. As the air begins to change from frigid to cooler and the days get longer our spirits will start to bloom. And as the Crayola-Spring Green crayon color appears as a sprinkling of buds on the trees, and the grass turns from stiff blades and becomes, once again, barefoot soft, our hearts will also soften.
I want real-life Spring Green back…
And next month, it’ll look like this–it’s be welcomed and we’ll be a bit happier and sunnier!
It’s been tough. We all feel it. But let’s look forward to spring and the warmer weather.
We can do this! Think happy thoughts!
How have you been coping with the realization that it’s been a year? I think it’s good to talk about this so you know that you are not alone!
You are so right what a year… When I think back to last March we went to our last wedding and it was the last time I saw my Dad in person along with my two brothers and their wives. March 13 is the day the music died as far as I’m concerned. Working in a hospital this year has been like none other we have known, I retired in November but I worry about my former colleagues who are showing the strain..
We have to count our blessings this year…so many new babies added to our family including a beautiful new grandson, my youngest graduated from University, I turned 65, my intrepid father turned over 95, I retired after 35 years..you guys ditched that goon in Washington!!!
I miss seeing my Dad and my brothers and their families, I miss my husband’s family down East, our cottage near the sea and our friends that live there. Miss restaurants and shopping IRL I don’t miss not getting Covid and hope that the vaccine hits us by July.
What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
Good days are ahead!
Hugs to you, you’re holding up really well!!
Hey Allison. Hugs back atcha! Yeah. It’s been a crazy year and now into month three—it’s not looking promising Stateside. The Governor of Texas wants to open everything up. When will these idiots learn? When? We are all tired of this pandemic but openings are not going to make it go away–more people will be sick. I’m still waiting for word on my vaccine. The way things are run here is disgraceful. It’s every municipality. What a crock of shit this is.
But on the positive, we’ve got our health and new family members.
I do worry about our healthcare workers though. Many are becoming completely burned out! XOXOXOXO!!!
Last February I left my job due to severe respiratory infection which I now believe was COVID. I was sick until April (pneumonia) and was coughing so hard it felt like I broke my ribs. I ended up retiring and we moved from Massachusetts to Rhode Island. I became a great grandmother in August to a beautiful little boy named Zakari. I have eight brothers and sisters who are within driving distance but have not seen them due to the pandemic. We talk on the phone and on Facebook it I miss gathering in my brother’s backyard for a cookout with my siblings and later sitting around the fire pit chatting into the evening. Over the year, I have worked hard to regain my health and have lost weight through your inspiration. I thank you for writing your blog. Your sense of humor has been a bright light during these precarious and scary times!😍
Joan! Thank you so very much for your compliment. It is greatly appreciated! Like you, I come from a large family. It’s just weird to not see anyone in real time and in person. You are fortunate that you live a close distance away though. And let me tell you something. I believe you had Covid too. My ex-husband had a mild case and I know of many people who had covid-related pneumonia. Thank God you are now well! XOXOXOXOXO
So right! I was in New York one year ago as well. Little did we know. I want to go back to Paris. I miss the excitement and the shopping and the food.
OH and don’t forget – we did get ONE good thing in 2021. President Biden!!!! The silver lining in this gray cloud…
xox
Grace in Paris
HI Grace! Yup! Joe was the gift of 2020! Wasn’t NY eerie back then at the beginning? I never experienced anything like it. Hopefully we will both be back in Paris enjoying people-watching at cafe’s and shopping and all that food…..XOXOXOXO!
I’m not very social, so the past year has been weird & sad, but I’m not really missing going out because it wasn’t part of life before COVID. I’m lucky to live in the Florida woods, so can walk around outside if I get twitchy, and it’s already bordering on hot here. I retired in December, so really not seeing anyone but the husband now, who is waiting for his vax appt call. I’m not eligible yet.
You’ve done sooo well this year of lockdown, and your big fun is just beginning, with (big) little Owen waiting to play & help you see again the everyday wonders around you. It won’t be much longer, stay strong & vigilant so you don’t get sick. It will be that much sweeter when you can once again get out & about & teach that new little guy all about this great big world. Give yourself a big hug for making it through this weird-ass year.
Hi Julie! And a big hug to yourself as well. Yeah. Little Owen is growing like a weed. I hope by the time he’s able to walk and talk this pandemic is a thing of the past! Thank you for your encouraging and kind words! XOXOXOXO
Well said Catherine. Let’s hope and pray for brighter days!
Hi Kathryn! At this point our hope is our strength! XOXOXOXO!
We were set to fly to Paris on March 12 – to buy a small cottage in a small village in central Fr. Luckily we didn’t get on that plane. Next 3 trips also cancelled. We stayed home. Tried to stay safe. Cooked every meal for at least 6 months, except 1 private dinner in June. In December my dear husband contracted Covid (from his podiatrist) had a heart attack and will be having open heart surgery next week. I somehow cannot wrap my brain around it all. How will we ever get back to normal?
Hi Lois. First of all, I’m saying a Rosary for your husband’s quick recovery from his surgery next week. I’m a believer in the power of prayer. Secondly–we have to have hope that it will get better. It’s so frustrating because we had to cancel our summer trip scheduled for June. In the big picture, I’m not vaccinated. And don’t know when I will be. It’s frustrating. Hopefully we’ll be back in November. I’m pushing for you to get that cottage and your husband’s quick heal! XOXOXOXOXO
Thank you Catherine- prayers are most appreciated!
Keith1931
A Year , the passing of that milestone seems unthinkable and yet here we are, Still looking forward slightly uncertainly.
Hi Keith! It’s so true. We are still facing uncertainty. Who knew we would enter into a second year–right? XOXOXO
Thanks for reminiscing! I think we all needed that; to remember how it was before…..
I remember that particular post well, as I very much enjoy reading about NYC.
I miss being out and about, going to restaurants, meeting friends for dinner and travelling to distant and not so distant places. For the time being many hotels are open, so you can travel within France, but the restaurants are closed. How sad is that?
I don’t think we’ll be going back to what we once considered “normal”, even with the vaccine. There’ll always be new strands, outfoxing the latest medication. The pandemic is here to stay and we have to learn to live with it.
We’re still under curfew from 6pm to 6am (since end of october 2020) and here in the Ile de France we’ll most likely be on lockdown during weekends as well, starting next weekend. The Côte d’Azur, from Menton to Theoule 🙁 and the northern region around Dunkerque is already on lockdown during the weekends. Emmanuel Macron is desperately trying to avoid another national shutdown so the government proceeds by region.
Vaccination campaign has started slowly because there aren’t enough doses to go around. Nursing homes have been prioritized and most of the elderly have had their shots. Now slots have opened up for +75 living at home and +50 with aggravating conditions. Also all the medical staff. For the rest of us wel’ll have to wait til April, at least.
To all the members in Cathy’s Atypical60 community: Stay safe, stay sane, Spring is coming. 🙂
Hugs
Hugs back to you. I think we did the best thing in cancelling out summer trip to Theoule. For the money we spend, the last thing I want is a weekend lockdown or curfew and I have no idea when I’ll be vaccinated. My husband is scheduled for his second but I’ve yet to get my first. It’s shameful the way this entire vaccine process is being handled. And at this point, I think everyone has had enough but we still need to be extremely cautious. Did you hear about Texas lifting all bans? That is horrific!
Thankfully Spring fever will hit and we’ll all feel slightly better! XOXOXOXOXO
I was in NYC the same weekend. Who knew that would be the last and only trip I took last year! It was a weird weekend. One of the cab drivers we had was yelling at his wife because he thought his son had the virus and wasn’t able to be tested. That was one scary ride. I remember hearing after that weekend that the virus was spreading like wild fire amongst Uber and cab drivers.
I’ve been pretty content until last week. And now all of a sudden I’m depressed. A year is sooo long. I hope we all get vaccinated soon! At least there’s hope with Joe.
Thank god spring is almost here. Hang in there.